Right to water and sustainable financing

Water is a common good, and access to it is a fundamental human right. Water needs to be managed in a socially responsible way to ensure everyone has a fair share, and to secure its conservation for the benefit of future generations.

Aqua Publica Europea works to help its members realise the right to water, and reconcile it with environmental and financial sustainability.

Members' activities

Promedio distributes reusable water bottles to reduce waste in schools

In April 2019, the Promedio consortium, gathering the public water operators of the Badajoz province in Spain (Extramadura), distributed 2.000 reusable water bottles in local schools . The objective is to reduce plastic waste whilst also promoting tap water consumption and raising awareness amongst younger generations and families on the

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NEWSLETTER | Summer 2019

In our Summer 2019 newsletter we talk about sludge management and public operators' perspectives on the conditions necessary to moves towards more circularity. We also present the public water sector's commitments and actions for transparent and accountable services, as well as for sustainable energy. And whilst we continue working together,
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INTERVIEW | Tap water in Belgian restaurants

Aqua Publica Europea met the campaigner behind ' Free Tap Water in Belgian Restaurants' , a campaign which has been gaining traction in Belgium to encourage restaurants to start giving patrons the option to request tap water as their beverage , a practice not so common in the country. The

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Water Operator Partnerships: Solidarity to realise the global right to water

The members of Aqua Publica Europea have long been committed to implementing strong not-for-profit partnerships to support access to water and sanitation in developing countries with the set-up of 'Water Operator Partnerships', which are peer-to-peer, decentralised cooperation projects between utilities based on solidarity. Such projects are recognised as highly effective

Members' activities

WORKING GROUP MEETING | Aqua Publica members exchanges on communications campaigns, June 2019

On 27 June, the members of the Working Group on Communication met in Edinburgh (UK) to continue their exchanges on public water operators' campaigns to promote tap water , tackle plastic pollution and encourage careers in the water sector . A lively discussion took place and several members presented their

Members' activities

Eau de Paris launches the zero plastic waste water movement

On 29 May 2019, the operator from Paris, Eau de Paris launched a new initiative to tackle single-use plastic pollution and make Paris the first city with plastic waste-free water through a change of habits and citizen mobilisation. Noting that, each year, in France, 8,7 billion litres of water are

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PRESS RELEASE | DRINKING WATER: EU Ministers finally move forward on the legislation but more ambition needed in interinstitutional negotiations

The EU Environment Ministers have adopted their position on the Drinking Water Directive to secure access to safe drinking water in Europe. Public water operators welcome this step forward but hope for more ambition before the final legislative adoption. Aqua Publica Europea welcomes the adoption of the Council’s general approach

Members' activities

Aqua Publica's Vice President presents at the conference on 'The management of a common good: access to drinking water for all', Rome

On 8 November 2018, Alessandro Russo (Gruppo CAP), Vice-President of Aqua Publica, presented the perspectives from the municipal water management point of view during the conference organised in Rome (Italy) by the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development: ' The management of a common good: access to drinking water for

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Aqua Publica participates in discussions on access to water in Spain

On 23 November 2018, Aqua Publica Europea participated in the high-level conference organised by our Spanish member EMASESA (the operator of Seville) in Madrid on ' The Human Right to Water and Tariffs in the Ecologic Transition ' . As the Spanish government is current working on reforming water governance

APE Events

The Human Right to Water and Tariffs in the Ecologic Transition - Madrid, Spain

Spain 23 November 2018

On 23 November, Aqua Publica's Spanish members AEOPAS (Spanish association of public operators) and EMASESA (Sevilla), along with the Instituto Estudios de la Tierra, organise an event on the human right to water and tariffs in policies for the ecologic transition, hosted by the Ministry for the Ecologic Transition in

Members' activities

New Water Erasmus: Scottish Water exchanges on public fountains with Eau de Paris

In the framework of the APE Water Erasmus programme , members of Scottish Water’s personnel travelled to Paris in August to exchange on the supply of water in public spaces . As Paris is currently deploying forty new water fountains in the city, Scotland is also planning on proposing the

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Aqua Publica Europea calls on EU Ministers to support improved access to water

EU Environment Ministers are expected to discuss the recast of the Drinking Water Directive on Monday 25 June . In view of their meeting, Aqua Publica Europea sent a letter, on 21 June 2018, to all the Ministers urging them to support the European Commission's efforts to improve access to

Members' activities

Aguas de Cádiz presents its new strategy devised through citizen participation

The Spanish operator Aguas de Cádiz has presented its new strategic plan, which spans over 10 years and foreseen the investment of over 60 million. This plan is unique of its kind in the sense that it was put together through an innovative process of citizen participation. Read more on