Drinking Water as a Strategic Resource: A Case Study of the Republic of Croatia

Pitka voda predstavlja jedan od najdragocjenijih prirodnih resursa u svijetu. Razlog tome nalazi se prvenstveno u nemogućnosti održavanja života bez dostupne pitke i čiste vode. Njene blagodati su višestruke, pa se osim za piće i higijenske potrebe, koristi u nebrojeno mnogo ljudskih i gospodarskih aktivnosti. Iako planet na kojem živimo obiluje pitkom vodom, ona je neravnomjerno raspoređena te je uvjetovana klimatskim prilikama. Također, njene zalihe ugrožene su i nerazumnim ljudskim djelovanjem. Problem nestašice i zagađenja vode sve je učestaliji, zbog čega se dostupna pitka voda u mnogim djelovima svijeta smatra luksuzom. Upravo zato pitka voda smatra se jednim od najznačajnijih strateških resursa 21. stoljeća. U fokusu ovog rada nalazi se Republika Hrvatska, država bogata zalihama pitke vode. Rad prikazuje kako ona gospodari pitkom vodom, odnosno čini li dovoljno kako bi zaštitila i racionalno iskoristila taj prirodni resurs. Također, prikazuje se pomoću kojeg modela upravlja vodenim resursima uz njegove prednosti i nedostatke te se daje ocjena učinkovitosti gospodarenja vodom, uz preporuke za daljnje djelovanje.Drinking water is one of the most valuable natural resources in the world. Reason for that lies primarily in the inability to sustain life without clean drinking water. Its benefits are multiple because it is used not only for drinking and hygiene purposes, but also in many human and economic activities. Although the planet we live on is full of water, it is unevenly distributed and it is conditioned by climatic conditions. Also, its supplies are compromised by unreasonable human activities. The problem of water scarcity and pollution is becoming more frequent, which is why available drinking water is considered as a luxury in many parts of the world. Because of that drinking water is considered as one of the most significant strategic resources of the 21st century. Focus of this paper is on the Republic of Croatia, a state rich with drinking water supplies. Paper shows how it manages drinking water and is it doing enough to protect and rationally use that natural resource. It also shows water resoruce managment model with its advantages and disadvantages, and gives an evaluation of water managment efficiency, with recommendations for further actions