AQUA !
is the first European association to take an interest in all aspects of water heritage: social historical cultural natural.

― News

AQUA ! is the first European association to take an interest in all aspects of water heritage: social historical cultural natural in a single approach for knowledge, protection and enhancement. By bringing together citizens, experts and local authorities, we are working towards water management that respects all its dimensions. Our approach aims to place this open and complex vision of water at the heart of European public debates, to build a common and sustainable future.

― Our commitment

A collective vision of water is possible !

The rivers, ponds, lakes, water bodies, wetlands and canals of Europe are the result of the long reciprocal influence of nature and society, in a history that has lasted for several millennia.

The water in our environment is thus a physical and cultural, social and economic, material and symbolic phenomenon: all these dimensions are intertwined. Only an integrative, global and open vision of water will enable us to support sustainable development. This is an important issue for present and future generations, since water is a critical resource for both animal and vegetal living species.

This rich, complex and hybrid reality of water has already been highlighted by scientific research, but it is still too little studied and has not earned its place in the European public debate.

The dialog is today made impossible through two predominantly opposite approaches : a naturalist approach, which sees water as a theoretical ideal of nature without human impact, and an economist approach, which sees water as an exploitable resource without life or history.

The association AQUA ! aims to inform, raise awareness and defend the interests of citizens, users, local communities and environments in order to promote a societal and environmental approach to water as a “common good”, via all kind of heritage in Europe. It is open to citizens, associations, territorial and public actors, experts and researchers.

― Our actions

SPEAK OUT
Advocacy, speeches by experts, presentation of territorial feedback from expertise at events (local, regional, national, European), relay of information from partners

ANALYSE, WRITE, CONVINCE
Drafting arguments supported by scientific sources / Summary work based on conferences, documents, videos, books… / Drafting responses to public enquiries / Data collection and position papers for public consultations

SET UP COLLABORATIVE PROJECTS
Setting-up and supporting the creation and management of European projects: European Commission programmes (Life, Interreg, Horizon, Cerv, Erasmus, Creative Europe, etc.), European Investment Bank facilities

CONSULT, ANIMATE
Development of tailor-made tools for local consultation and coordination / Organisation of site visits, itineraries, exhibits / Increasing knowledge on water heritage in river basins (territorial inventories)

UP-SKILL
Creation of tailor-made training courses/modules (online, on site, in class, hybrid) / Skills leverage using varied and multidisciplinary expertise / Specific interventions in courses (secondary and higher education)

BRING KNOWLEDGE
Setting-up webinars and events relative to water heritage / Supporting and supervising students and trainees / Capitalising on European projects and good practices / Science popularisation

NETWORK
Bringing together resource players / Partnership initiatives and working groups / Running social media communities / Taking part in trade fairs, forums and congress

― Who are we ?