Luxembourg's Water Management Authority Unveils New Logo for 20th Anniversary

On the occasion of its 20th anniversary, Luxembourg's Water Management Authority (Administration de la gestion de l'eau - AGE) has unveiled its new logo, which aims to reflect its role as a reference centre on water in Luxembourg.

The different shades of blue in the logo symbolise the various areas of activity of the AGE: drinking water, groundwater, surface water, wastewater, rainwater management and bathing water.

Created in 2004, the AGE now has nearly 200 employees who work daily to guarantee sustainable water management in the Grand Duchy. Water being the source of all life, constitutes a good and vital resource. Sustainable water management is therefore essential for the protection of nature, economic development, the preservation of human health, the safety of the population and, more generally, for the well-being of society as a whole, the AGE stressed.

The missions of the AGE are closely linked to the European Union’s Water Framework Directive (WFD) which has, among other things, the objective of returning all European water bodies to a good ecological state and avoiding any further deterioration. Much effort has already been made in the areas of construction and renovation of wastewater treatment plants, the construction of retention basins as well as the renaturation and ecological continuity of watercourses. In addition, 48 protection zones have been defined around drinking water sampling points.

Despite these efforts, the majority of Luxembourg waterways remain “in a worrying state”, highlighting the crucial importance of the participation of all actors, public or private, in the AGE initiatives aimed at continuing the implementation of its natural restoration programme for banks and watercourses, the AGE added.

Likewise, faced with the economic and demographic development of Luxembourg, AGE noted the importance of securing the supply of drinking water.

The main mission of the AGE is also to manage flood risks in order to reduce the negative consequences for citizens, the environment, cultural heritage and economic activity.

With climate change, the challenges remain significant, the AGE stressed. Luxembourg will be increasingly exposed to torrential rains which can lead to flooding, as was the case recently. At the same time, periods of heat waves causing droughts will also occur more often. The prevention and protection measures put in place by the AGE, such as the renaturation of waterways, will help to mitigate the inevitable effects of climate change and increase the resilience of our society in the face of these extreme weather events.

However, the AGE emphasised that it cannot address the current and future challenges that will impact our entire society by itself. It stressed that everyone should adopt responsible behaviour concerning this resource, which is both abundant and rare. Water is an omnipresent but precious resource that must be preserved so that future generations can still enjoy quality water and a healthy environment. Protecting water resources thus means protecting humanity, the AGE concluded.