Public management of water services

Public management of water services

Public authorities must have the power to establish public water operators responsible for managing water services; these companies should operate under the authority of elected representatives.

Aqua Publica Europea works to defend the interests of European public water operators and ensure that the European legal framework allows them to perform their tasks in an efficient and effective way.

  • News

    Public water operators as actors of public health: Supporting efforts to track the spread of COVID-19

    In the wake of the COVID-19 crisis, the role of public water operators in their communities has proven critical. Throughout the lockdowns in Europe, committed essential workers have supported our societies by ensuring that clean and safe water was flowing and that sanitation services were available 24 hours a day, immediately at home. Now that lockdown measures are being lifted throughout Europe, this central role for public health role continues as waste water is appearing to be an important tool in tracking the virus in populations.
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    APE Publications and Studies

    The public water services of the future

    On 17 October 2019, Aqua Publica Europea, the European Association of Public Water Operators, launched its new publication 'The Public Water Services of the Future'. Celebrating its tenth anniversary, the association proposes to outline the role that public water operators across Europe are undertaking, as actors of their communities, fully embedded into their environmental, social, economic and knowledge ecosystems, and striving to contribute to a sustainable future. Based on the long-term strategies and concrete actions of the member operators, the document addresses how they are preparing to address the great challenges of tomorrow and to harness opportunities.
amapa event
Members' Events

Webinar: Right to water. Risks and challenges for the future

16 December 2020
On 16th December, the Barcelona City Council organise a webinar to present the UN report on Human rights and the privatisation of water and sanitation services. The event will count with the participation of Leo Heller (former UN SR), Pedro Arrojo (UN SR), Bernard Van Nuffel (APE), Eloi Badia (Barcelona City Council) and Míriam Planas (Aigua és Vida).
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News

New book released on the essential role of public water during the COVID-19

‘Public Water and COVID-19: Dark Clouds and Silver Linings’ provides an overview of public water operators' response to Covid-19 and the impact that the pandemic has had on the public water sector. Released this week, the book has been jointly published by the Municipal Service Project, Latin American Council of Social Sciences (CLACSO) and the Transnational Institute.
aeopas
Members' Events

AEOPAS | Webinar on the human right to water and sanitation

10 November 2020
On 10th November, AEOPAS, the Spanish association of public water operators, in collaboration with the Spanish civil society organisations, Aigua és vida and Red Agua Pública, organise a webinar with the Léo Heller (former UN Special Rapporteur on the human rights to safe drinking water and sanitation).
Water Erasmus logo
News

EU Committee of the Regions encourages participation in Water Erasmus

The Committee of the Regions' Opinion on the Fitness check of the Water Framework Directive, Groundwater Directive, Environmental Quality Standards Directive and Floods Directive, adopted on 2 July 2020, highlights Aqua Publica Europea's Water Erasmus initiative as a best practice to support the implementation of EU water legislation and the improvement of water management.