From 27 to 31 October 2024, representatives of the Josip Juraj Strossmayer Water Institute, Dr Tanja Šikić, Margareta Krešić and Dr Igor Stanković, together with representatives of Croatian Waters, Komunalac Delnice, the Ministry of Regional Development and EU Funds and the Embassy of the Swiss Confederation, took part in a study visit to Switzerland. This study visit was organised as part of the programme “Second Swiss Donation – Water Supply and Sanitation in the Gorski Kotar Region”. The aim was to explore the entire system of water management for human consumption and wastewater in Switzerland in order to implement the best solutions and practises in the Republic of Croatia and to strengthen the capacity of the Water Institute in the field of training of public water utilities.

During the four-day visit, the representatives of the Croatian delegation had the opportunity to visit several wastewater treatment plants (in Schwyz and Gossau) and a drinking water plant (in Glarus) and learn about innovative technologies used in Switzerland in the management of water for human consumption and wastewater. As part of the visit to the plants, a visit to the Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology (EAWAG) was organised, where EAWAG experts presented their projects dealing with sustainable wastewater management, including the use of advanced filtration and recycling methods.

In addition to EAWAG, one of the most important aspects of the visit, especially for the representatives of the Water Institute, was the visit to the Swiss Water Association (VSA) as a leading educational institution in the field of water management and water economy, where Dr Igor Stanković presented the organisation of Croatian water management and the challenges Croatia is facing. In addition to sharing experiences and best practises in education and training, the aim of the visit was also to develop cooperation in the creation of a more detailed and constructive educational programme that the Institute of Water Management will implement for the employees of public water utilities. The educational programme will be developed jointly by the two leading educational institutions in the field of water (the Water Institute in Croatia and the VSA in Switzerland). The aim is to educate experts in the sustainable use and protection of water, adaptation to climate change and effective and efficient public awareness of the importance of water and its preservation for future generations. Such organised cooperation forms the basis for the development of further educational modules and processes as well as for the effective fulfilment of all educational obligations of the Water Institute towards the wider public.