We Know How to Manage Waters.
Slovenia is a land of water. With over 26 thousand kilometres of rivers and torrents, the country prides itself as one of the more dense hydrographical networks in the world. On average, each square kilometre of land in Slovenia has 1.3 kilometres of surface watercourses. It poses some 1300 natural and artificial lakes, a sea, springs, waterfalls and extensive areas of groundwater. As one of Slovenia’s greatest treasures, water must be managed carefully. Water has an environmental, economic, social and cultural significance. Water resource management is a modern, socially-beneficial and environmentally-sound activity. For this reason, we treat all water-related development initiatives and activities equally and comprehensively.
»From high tide to low tide, from waves to depths, from silence to noise, from pollution to purity, from streams to rivers, from lakes to dams, from status of life to life preservation, from navigation to energy, from status regulation to status determination, from profession to science, from development to administrative procedure – all of these are part of our work and care, our knowledge and pride and our occupation and life.«
mag. Neža Kodre, Director of the Institute for Water of the Republic of Slovenia
The mission of the Institute for Water of the Republic of Slovenia (IWRS) is to provide independent, high-level professional support to the Ministry of the Environment and Spatial Planning, in particular its Water Directorate, and, where appropriate, to other national public authorities involved in water management.
IWRS carries out professional, development, and analytical activities based on the applicable legal framework, primarily the Water Act, the Drinking Water Supply and Urban Wastewater Collection and Treatment Act, and other legislation governing the protection, use, and management of water resources.
The Institute prepares expert technical bases for legislation, strategic documents, technical guidelines, and implementation plans. It contributes to the implementation and monitoring of river basin management plans and reporting to the European Union, develops innovative approaches to addressing water-related challenges, and promotes the efficient use and protection of water resources.
In addition, IWRS strengthens research and innovation in the field of water management, participates in national and international projects, and contributes to raising public awareness and knowledge about the importance of sustainable water management.
The vision of the Institute for Water of the Republic of Slovenia (IWRS) is to become the leading national centre of expertise and research for integrated water management, systematically contributing to the achievement of the strategic objectives of the Ministry of the Environment and Spatial Planning in the field of water.
IWRS strives to be a key institution in the development and transfer of interdisciplinary knowledge in the areas of water resources management, protection against harmful effects of water, water quality and quantity, water infrastructure, and emerging environmental and technological solutions. Particular emphasis is placed on resilient and innovative approaches to protecting the aquatic environment and ensuring the sustainable and efficient use of water resources while reducing pressures on aquatic ecosystems, in line with the principles of water resilience.
As an independent professional institution, IWRS supports evidence-based decision-making founded on scientific knowledge, reliable data, and long-term environmental objectives.
The Institute for Water of the Republic of Slovenia (IWRS) is a public institute whose work contributes to research and development in the fields of natural sciences and technology. It carries out its activities in accordance with its founding act and its entry in the court register of the District Court in Ljubljana.
The Institute is organised into four professional departments and a Department of General Services. For the implementation of specific projects or tasks, dedicated project teams are established. The Director appoints the project leader and team members by formal decision and defines their roles and responsibilities.