Information in the Water Sector

The expectations of citizens and stakeholders as regards information in the water sector have been increasing in the last years. On the one hand, consumers are paying greater attention to the quality of the product they consume and the services they use. On the other hand, there is growing awareness that, due to the nature of water as a common good, inclusive and sustained stakeholder engagement is needed to address potential conflicts between competing needs and, more generally, to ensure effective governance. Water operators are among the main actors when it comes to the management of water resources and, as such, they also have responsibilities in the field of information to users and to society as a whole. Building on the contribution of water experts, consumers representatives, policy-makers and academics, the seminar will explore the role of public water operators in ensuring adequate information and in contributing to stakeholder engagement. In addition, the seminar intends to be a timely contribution to the debate on the future EU policies on water.