Respect water Within the framework of the European Union Program “Sustainable management of water resources in rural areas of Uzbekistan”, on the initiative of the NGO “Ekomaktab” and UzWaterAware, a youth environmental expedition “River of Life – Life of the River” was held in the Tashkent region. The goal is to raise awareness and partnership for sustainable water and environmental development in Uzbekistan. Participants – journalists from republican youth and children's publications, bloggers, student members of environmental volunteer groups – received valuable knowledge about the sources of the Chirchik River, saw with their own eyes how human activity and negligence negatively affects water quality. They talked about smart water use, that everyone can contribute to water conservation. The accompanying specialists answered all questions. Sightseeing tours took place at each stop. Participants learned new facts about the Ugam-Chatkal National Natural Park, the Charvak Reservoir, the Chirchik River and its tributaries. The trip was summed up by meeting a representative of the Upper Chirchik hydroelectric complex, who spoke in detail about the purpose of the important hydraulic structure. We completed one more task – we recorded examples of human influence on the life of the Chirchik River. Water was taken three times: at the springs of the Ugam-Chatkal National Natural Park, at the mountain village of Yangi-Kurgan from the bed of the Gulkam mountain sai, and also at the Chirchik River after the city of Gazalkent. The result is obvious: having passed a difficult path through populated areas with industrial enterprises, recreation areas, farms… the water loses its crystal purity. What needs to be done to ensure that people treat water with respect? As the expedition participants noted, large-scale campaigning through the media, social posters and videos will help.