Rezo from Croatian Waters: We have plenty of water, but it needs to be managed strategically

Milan Rezo, director of the Croatian Water Company for Mura and Upper Drava, warned today that despite Croatia’s abundant groundwater reserves, strategic management of this vital resource is essential. He emphasized that while the country possesses large quantities of underground water, particularly in the northern regions, long-term water security requires more than just monitoring total volumes, it demands attention to renewable groundwater supplies. Rezo highlighted the importance of assessing replenishable groundwater resources rather than simply measuring current levels. As an example, he pointed to the northern part of Croatia, which lies above major alluvial aquifers connected to the Drava and Mura rivers. According to data from Croatian Waters, three key aquifer systems, Varazdin, Međimurje, and Legrad/Slatina, have estimated annual renewable groundwater reserves totaling approximately 563 million cubic meters. He noted that while water is currently available, pressure on these aquifers is increasing. The boundaries of these hydrogeological units do not align with administrative borders of counties, and groundwater is not an unlimited reservoir. Prolonged droughts and low river levels of the Drava and Mura can reduce natural recharge of aquifers, while high temperatures simultaneously increase demand for water from households, industry, agriculture, and other sectors. Rezo stressed that current river levels in the catchment area are above historical minimum records. “We have water, but pressure on the aquifer is rising,” he cautioned. One of the main challenges he identified was losses within public water supply networks. Reducing these losses could potentially ensure additional water availability without opening new sources or placing further strain on groundwater. The government, the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Green Transition, and Croatian Waters have therefore instructed public water suppliers to develop programs aimed at reducing such losses. Rezo also drew attention to the growing need for water in agriculture during dry periods. “Irrigation is not a problem, but part of the solution. Therefore, the solution is not to ban irrigation, but to make it more efficient,” he stated in the official statement. Among the priorities for enhancing water security, he listed reducing losses in water distribution networks, protecting sources, implementing more efficient irrigation practices, constructing retention basins to store rainfall, and connecting water supply systems with one another. “Water is not scarce in Croatia, as we have ample groundwater reserves in subterranean aquifers, but it must be managed as a strategic resource,” Rezo concluded. His remarks underscore the urgent need for sustainable water management strategies in the face of climate change and increasing demand.