Be the change you want to see in the world!

We observe World Water Day on 22 March annually, and highlight another theme every time to draw attention of the general public to relevant and pressing issues surrounding water. Accompanied by various events and activities in the world, this World Water Day is about solving the water and sanitation crisis.

This year’s theme Accelerate Change refers to Sustainable Development Goal 6 as part of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which stipulates that within the next seven years everyone should have access to water and sanitation and addresses sustainable management of water resources. As this is the goal where a considerable lag has been noticed at the global level, on World Water Day we appeal to each individual: Be the change you want to see in the world! This is an excellent opportunity to contribute to preservation of water resources by making changes in the way we use, consume and handle water in our daily lives. Action for water will be presented at the UN 2023 Water Conference (22–24 March), which is the first such event in almost 50 years.

Clean drinking water, which must meet strict chemical and microbiological quality requirements, is essential for the pharmaceutical industry. We devote much effort to preserving the quality of water bodies at our production sites. All water systems at Krka are managed in compliance with Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) and the HACCP system. We ensure consistent water quality by preventive maintenance and by monitoring operations of machines. With technological improvements we ensure quality, extend the useful life of the equipment, decrease use of water and chemicals, and generation of waste. Wastewater that comes from rinsing the machines for preparing pharmaceutical water and does not contain chemicals is reused in the preparation of water for energy supply. Krka maintained the 2021 water consumption level despite a significant increase in production volume in 2022. River water use was down by 3.9%, while drinking water went up by 4.8%.

At all our production sites, wastewater is treated before it is discharged into rivers. Wastewater in Ločna, Novo mesto (Slovenia), is treated at our advanced in-house industrial wastewater treatment plant using the best available technologies to meet the requirements. Wastewater from dislocated plants is treated at highly efficient municipal wastewater treatment plants.