Professional paper
https://doi.org/10.21860/j.11.2.14
Lifelong Learning in the Water Sector - Bioethical Observations
Krešimir Veble
; Training and Competence Center Danubius EEIG, Ulm, Njemačka
Vatroslav Veble
; Veble i Veble d.o.o., Karlovac, Hrvatska
Abstract
Today, at the end of the second decade of the 21st century, 900 million people, nearly a
seventh of the world’s population, have no access to sufficient quantities of hygienically correct
drinking water. With accelerated population growth in the world, as well as urban growth,
increased exploitation of forest areas, and the already present effects of climate change, this
problem is becoming more and more globally influential. Taking all this into consideration,
it is increasingly difficult to ensure and maintain adequate water levels. Fortunately, Croatia
is the wealthiest country in Europe in terms of potable water supply. However, unfortunately,
over 50% of the water entering water supply systems is lost on the way from the source to the
end-user, leaking out from the network. The loss of the world’s most important resource for
life and health, in addition to biological, also has significant financial consequences related
to increased pumping and water production to compensate for losses. All of these inevitably
contribute to the unjustified increase in water prices. Last year, the Croatian State Water
Agency allocated 100 million HRK for solving the problems of excessive losses in waterworks,
of which only half was spent, while half of the funds were not used. Taking the bioethical
context of the problem into account, this article has several tasks: (1) to emphasise the need to
establish a continuous lifelong education and training in water management; (2) to emphasise
the urgency of the same organisation for the widest knowledge base in the water sector, which
currently has virtually no training opportunities; (3) to prove that rational investment and
advanced equipment without parallel raising knowledge level in the communal sector is not
rational; (4) lifelong education of employees in the water sector should be accompanied by
adequate translations of the literature that is abundant in world languages; (5) to work on
educating the youngest so that time introduces them to the importance of water as one of
the essential resources on Earth; (6) at the same time, all users of water supply, drainage, and
wastewater treatment systems should be informed about the ways of saving water and the
correct use of the water supply, drainage, and wastewater systems. Of course, the preservation
of water resources is closely related to raising bioethical awareness and knowledge about
the importance of water to all users. We believe that only the lifelong learning and multidimensional improvement of employees working in the water sector can achieve the best
results. It is not only an economic imperative but rather an imperative to revive life care.
Keywords
bioethics, education, preservation of water resources, social awareness
Hrčak ID:
251870
URI
Publication date:
24.12.2020.
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