One of the gestures will be a call by a Slovenian MEP to formally make clean water an inalienable right.

While Slovenia is a water rich country, "this does not mean that quality drinking water will always be available to us...Thus it is right to already do all in our power today to keep water the way it should be: a clean and universally accessible natural good", the Statistics Office wrote on the occasion.

Recent months have seen rising fears in Europe as well as Slovenia over privatisation of water resources by multinationals and an initiative in Slovenia has echoed the Europe-wide Right2Water petition calling to formally make water and sanitation a human right.

The For Slovenia and Freedom initiative, which wants the right to water protected by the Slovenian Constitution, has been backed with more than 53,000 signatures and will be presented to the European Commission today by Slovenian MEP Igor Šoltes (Greens/Believe).

The Environment and Spatial Planning Ministry has been trying to assuage fears of water privatisation in Slovenia, saying that both water and water land are defined as a public good in the country and protected against ownership by the Constitution.

Several events around the country will mark World Water Day. Ljubljana's water utility authority will for instance demonstrate in front of the Town Hall how much water is contained in foods and goods used in everyday life.

Drinking water quality in Slovenia is considered generally good and most people regularly use tap water. A recent study of water streams in the country showed 59% to be in "a good ecological state".

World Water Day has been held annually on 22 March since 1993 as a means of focusing attention on the importance of freshwater and advocating for the sustainable management of freshwater resources.

Each year, a specific aspect of freshwater is highlighted; while last year the focus was on "water and sustainable development", this year it is on "water and jobs".