"Water is life - a priceless gift that we must protect and appreciate every day!" With these words, the Minister of Environment and Water Manol Genov welcomed the opening of the photo exhibition "Stories of Water" and a discussion forum on the topic "Protection of Natural Waters. Monitoring and Purification of Drinking Water". Every year, the event is held by the Bulgarian Water Association - BWA and is dedicated to World Water Day - March 22.

The motto of World Water Day in 2025 is "Glacier Conservation". The importance of the topic is also emphasized by the fact that the entire year 2025 has been declared by the UN General Assembly as the International Year of Glacier Conservation, and March 21 - as World Glacier Day, which is marked for the first time this year, was announced during the celebration.

“Although there are no active glaciers in Bulgaria, their preservation is an important global task that directly affects us,” said Minister Manol Genov, pointing out that our most beautiful natural landmarks - such as the Seven Rila Lakes, Popovo Lake, and the Banderishki Circus - were shaped by glacial activity in the past.

The minister outlined key factors for the role of glaciers in the global water cycle and climate. The major threats to glaciers are global warming, which, with increasing temperatures, accelerates their melting and leads to a rise in sea level. The reduction of glaciers threatens the water supply of entire regions and leads to the loss of water resources. “Therefore, World Water Day sends a message to all of us to work together to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and manage meltwater in a more sustainable way for people and the planet,” urged Manol Genov.

“Water is not just a resource, it is life. It connects people, ecosystems and economies. But we increasingly see challenges such as pollution, scarcity, and unsustainable management. That is why we are here today to talk, to learn, and above all to act for its protection,” said BWA Chairman eng. Ivan Ivanov. He called on us to use this day to inspire change in our personal habits, policies, and decisions that we make every day.

Deputy Minister of Environment and Water Reneta Koleva participated in the discussion forum later in the day. She pointed out that the latest report by the European Environment Agency on the state of water in Europe highlights the serious threat of climate change to water resources and ecosystems – more than 20% of the territory and 30% of the population of the continent are affected by droughts. "This inevitably requires all institutions, the non-governmental sector, the local administration, and the scientific community to work together and actively for sustainable water management," said Reneta Koleva.

As part of the World Environment Day program, the rector of the University of Chemical Technology and Metallurgy Prof. Dr. Eng. Senya Terzieva-Zhelyazkova presented the competition "Chemical Technologies Around Us", which began more than 13 years ago. This year's edition has 77 participants from 21 cities with 56 presentations.

Minister Manol Genov awarded a certificate of participation in the competition to Damyana Dimitrova from the 11th grade of the Sofia 133 Secondary School "A. S. Pushkin" on the topic "Green Wastewater Treatment Systems".