The two-day festival will feature Slovenian and international experts in water, representatives of NGOs, business and hospitality industry as well as artists.

The purpose of the event is to connect various institutions, international experts, activists, film workers, businesses, politicians, schools and the wider public, according to Mario Gajić, the organiser and head of the Bled Water Festival non-profit organisation.

"Water, including water which runs from our taps, should be talked about," Gajić said, announcing a round table debate called New Dimensions of Water, which aims at connecting tap water with food and art.

The first day will also feature the tasting of water from ten high-profile restaurants from various Slovenian regions, with an award going to the best Slovenian water source.

On Friday, several awards will be conferred, including for the most daring project, the best environmental film, the best-tasting water in Slovenia and for the best underwater environmental project.

The festival will be opened today by Environment and Spatial Planning Minister Irena Majcen and Ramraje Naik Nimbalkar, the chairman of the legislative council of the Indian state of Maharashtra.

Before the opening, Minister Majcen will attend a meeting of the signatories of the Framework Agreement on the Sava Basin and representatives of various organisations, institutions and governments.

According to the ministry, the meeting will review the implementation of the agreement and discuss key challenges in the future, in particular those relating to cooperation in the management of the Sava basin, flood risk management, and navigation on the Sava.