Who we are
We are people who no longer want to passively watch the gradual contamination of Slovakia’s groundwater, leading to the degradation of what we’ve always been proud of: our drinking water. We want to advocate for its protection on your behalf too, so that everyone can continue to drink clean and safe water. We are people already thinking about what our children and grandchildren will drink.
Ing. Annamarie Velič, PhD.
An environmental and corporate social responsibility consultant, she works on sustainability, measurable environmental solutions and responsible business practice; she is also vice-chairwoman of the civic association Za našu vodu.
„I studied water technology and, over years of practice, I keep coming back to working with water. The civic association Za našu vodu, however, is about something else — drinking water for each of us. Until recently I too treated care for drinking water as someone else’s responsibility — a virtual state’s. Today I know that everything that truly matters has to be attended to in person, not virtually.“
Barnabáš Kováč
Professionally I work on sustainability management and on connecting sustainable solutions with how business operates. In the association I focus on research into specialist topics and on preparing the basis for designing and carrying out its activities.
„I grew up by Veľkolélsky ostrov and from childhood I saw how water shapes the landscape and life in it — so I know it is a strategic resource that deserves our protection and respect.“
Prof. RNDr. Mikuláš Huba, CSc.
Environmental geographer, landscape ecologist, civic activist and publicist. Institute of Geography of the Slovak Academy of Sciences (and a founding member of the Slovak Conservation Assembly, founder and honorary chair of several NGOs).
„Water is a condition of life. And so, quite logically, poisoning wells was always a capital crime. If the well is a major source of drinking water, that is a hundred times more true. An elementary instinct of self-preservation should tell us to prevent such crimes. It is not only in our interest, but in the interest of our children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. And it is also our moral duty toward non-human nature.“
Ing. Jakub Mrocek
A documentary maker, filmmaker, programmer and activist, he works on wild nature, animal protection and nature films. He is the director and producer of Think Like a Lynx and also took part in Life in Carpathians and Wild Slovakia.
„I believe our planet can be saved, and I am convinced that education will play the leading role…“
Ing. Martina Paulíková
An environmental consultant and water-protection manager at WWF Slovakia, she works on protecting and restoring aquatic ecosystems, climate adaptation, participatory planning and nature-based solutions in water management, and she is also coordinator of the Slatinka Association.
„Drinking water does not begin at the tap. That is why it is so important to use and protect the landscape properly, and not only formally, on paper.“
Mgr. Andrej Somora
An environmentalist and conservationist working at the State Nature Conservancy of the Slovak Republic and the civic association Protection of the Danube Region’s Nature, he focuses mainly on protecting the Danube floodplain forests, the water regime of the Danube arms and restoring river ecosystems.
„Water fascinated me from early childhood. As a small boy I spent much of my childhood fishing by the Danube. Later I carried that relationship into my studies at the Faculty of Natural Sciences of Comenius University, where, within environmental ecology, I worked on water protection. As a conservationist I watch with concern how indifferently this state approaches the protection of our waters, and I do not want to merely look on. I consider contributing to the protection of the Danube and river ecosystems my mission, which is why I decided to join this initiative.“
Campaign ambassadors
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Zuzana Kronerová -
Zuzana Mauréry -
Jana Kirschner -
Alexander Bárta -
Csongor Kassai -
Lukáš Latinák
What do we demand?
The quality of the water we drink is a matter of existence. Access to safe and tasty drinking water has been taken for granted, guaranteed by the state. However, it appears we are losing this certainty.
According to recent findings, in the upper part of Žitný Ostrov with an average depth of 100 meters, contaminants were found as shallow as 80 meters. More than 5000 residents received tap water containing a harmful pesticide. But this specific issue may be just the tip of the iceberg. This is a problem that concerns the health and lives of every one of us.
It’s time to speak up!
Therefore, I, a citizen of the Slovak Republic, invoking my constitutional rights, demand:
- a guarantee of effective monitoring that the water flowing from my tap is clean and safe;
- complete and timely information about the quality of my tap water, available online and at my local/municipal office;
- strict protection of both groundwater and surface water as sources of my drinking water.
If you want to ensure the quality of the water you drink, you can financially contribute to its testing – either individually or together with others in your municipality.
Why?
Protecting groundwater as the main source of drinking water is not just an environmental challenge – it’s about our survival instinct. Once we lose access to drinking water, there will be no “after”…
Because without water there is no life
A person can survive weeks without food, but only a few days without water. Neglecting water protection is a gamble we cannot afford.
Because drinking water is irreplaceable
Two-thirds of the Earth’s surface is covered by water – the basis of life. But less than 1% of it is drinkable water. And its supply is decreasing. Even today, there are megacities suffering from acute drinking water shortages. We want our people to have access to this water.
Because Slovakia’s groundwater is our treasure
Water is strategic, and if today oil is expensive, tomorrow it will be drinking water and its reservoirs that are worth gold. Žitný Ostrov in southern Slovakia is the largest drinking water reservoir in Central Europe.
Because our children and grandchildren will also need to drink clean and healthy water
Drinking water from wells is replenished by groundwater, so we want to protect groundwater — especially that which flows toward drinking sources — throughout Slovakia. Our children would not forgive us if we allowed it to be destroyed today.
Because groundwater is protected by the constitution
The right to safe drinking water is one of the fundamental human rights. Moreover, the Constitution of the Slovak Republic guarantees the protection of groundwater as the main source of drinking water, ensuring access to drinking water.
Because having luck is not enough
We’ve been lucky in Slovakia: the accumulation of massive underground water in Žitný Ostrov is possible due to a suitable subsoil made of hundreds of meters of gravel and sand deposited by the Danube. This created a reservoir of high-quality drinking water, continuously filtered by the natural self-cleaning properties of the subsoil. But if we allow contaminants to enter this underground mega-reservoir, the self-cleaning will be lost — and so will our luck.
Because the water in Žitný Ostrov needs constant replenishment
Conditions for natural water accumulation and water quality have deteriorated significantly in recent years. One threat is the sediment in the Hrušov reservoir of the Gabčíkovo dam, which prevents Danube water from infiltrating Žitný Ostrov and worsens the oxygen regime. Groundwater replenishment and flow processes are also affected by massive construction.
Because we must identify sources of pollution
More than the quantity of water, it is the quality of water in Žitný Ostrov that is under threat. There are numerous risks that negatively affect water quality: many old and new environmental burdens; poorly regulated use of agrochemicals; waste landfills; and the practices of some industrial companies.
Because beyond Žitný Ostrov, other drinking water sources across Slovakia are at risk too
It’s a paradox that people living near drinking water reservoirs like Starina and Nová Bystrica often lack access to good quality drinking water. Other areas across the country are also at risk.
Because only living rivers create conditions for the formation of drinkable groundwater
To preserve this function and protect life in rivers, we must fundamentally change how we manage river basins. We must stop destroying trees near rivers as we do today. Riparian vegetation is vitally important for keeping our water clean.
Because even soda and beer are made from drinking water
Still, drinking water is the healthiest option. We must ensure that unhealthy imported drinks or bottled water don’t become our only option to quench thirst.