World Water Day is approaching and public water operators are joining this year's campaign on the value of water. Furthermore, the UN Special Rapporteur on the human rights to safe drinking water and sanitation and UN-Water has raised this question "what does water mean to you?" 
 
In this context, Miguel Lemos Rodrigues, Executive Director of public water operator Aguas de Gaia (Vila Nova de Gaia, Portugal) and Aqua Publica member of the Management Board, has joined the campaign sharing his views on the "value of water" with an open editorial in the Portuguese "Ambiente magazine."
 
"First, understanding the real and multidimensional value of water(...). Valuing water means promoting rigorous, economical, and environmentally responsible management while continuing to invest in better and more modern distribution systems. and of course, maintaining high levels of quality and quality control", says Miguel Lemos Rodrigues. 
 
To mark World Water Day 2021 several events will be organised across the world to discuss the "value of water". Water means different things to different people, but it's clear that water is the source of life and so needs to be protected.
 
From Italy, public water operators Padania Acque (Cremona) and Acquedotto Pugliese (region of Puglia) are organising online events to celebrate this day and raise awareness on the value of water. 
 
On 21 March, the Italian public water utility Padania Acque will organise the online conference "Riflessi d'Acqua Pura" (Reflections on water) with local authorities. The conference aims to raise awareness of the important role that water plays in our society. Padania Acque will invite citizens to reflect together about the role of water in our society. 
 
The next day, 22 March, will be the turn of Acquedotto Pugliese, highlighting the cultural value of water. Thus, the utility organises an online talk with the Icelandic writer Andri Snær Magnason on the cultural value of water. Acquedotto Pugliese has chosen Magnason to talk and discuss the value of the water as a valuable resource in their territory as in the rest of the world. 

The members of Aqua Publica Europea are joining the campaign as well by developing easily understandable materials on the value of water. For example, Como Acqua, the public water operator of the Italian Province of Como, has created a short booklet dedicated to water and its long journey from tap to treatment. Access the digital version here.

What does water mean to you? Join the online conversation with the hashtag #WorldWaterDay and #Water2me