This year, the Josip Juraj Strossmayer Water Institute celebrated World Water Day with the youngest children. As responsible behaviour and habits are formed from an early age, Dr Tanja Šikić gave an interactive lecture on water on Friday, 22 March 2024, at the Holy Little Teresa kindergarten in Zagreb. The children used their senses to describe water as a colourless, odourless and tasteless liquid. They observed that water dissolves various substances well, but not oil. They discussed the different uses of water and why it is so important, where it is found in our environment and where it comes from in our taps.

They learnt where wastewater is produced in a city and the dangers and consequences of discharging untreated wastewater into the environment. They learnt how wastewater is treated at the Zagreb wastewater treatment plant. The importance of rational water use and the collection and treatment of wastewater to protect human health and the environment from pollution was emphasised. The children showed great interest and actively participated in the presentation.