The new water saving community program "Zero Drop" in Schimatari, implemented by Global Water Partnership – Mediterranean (GWP-Med), funded from The Coca-Cola Foundation, in collaboration with Coca-Cola in Greece, was delivered to the Municipality of Tanagra at a special event on 30 November 2023, held in the presence of Tanagra Mayor Mr. Vasilis Pergalias, Mr. Vangelis Constantianos, GWP-Med Executive Secretary, Mrs. Maria Tzelepi, Corporate Affairs, Communication & Sustainability Manager, Coca-Cola Hellas, and Ms Angelica Patrouba, Corporate Affairs and Sustainability Director, Coca-Cola Hellenic Bottling Company.
watch the Zero Drop program video:
The "Zero Drop" water resources protection program, after Folegandros and Heraklion, Crete, continues its "journey" in Schimatari, transferring a water saving best practice that was originally implemented in private sector industrial facilities, to the public sector. Through this program, technical interventions were implemented focusing on the recirculation and reuse of the filter backwash water in the water treatment unit located in Kallithea community in the Municipality of Tanagra, which is supplied by Lake Mornos, providing drinking water to the communities of Arma, Kallithea, Asopia and Tanagra. This way, water saving is achieved, and millions of liters of drinking water are saved for the local community.
The Zero Drop program inauguration on 30 November 2023, at the Municipal Water Treatment plant in Kallithea. left to right: Mr. Giorgos Kampouris, General Secretary of the Municipality of Tanagra; Ms Angelica Patrouba, Corporate Affairs and Sustainability Director, CCHBC, Dr. Nikos Skondras, GWP-Med Senior Programme Officer, Mr Vasilis Pergalias, Tanagra Mayor, Ms Maria Tzelepi, Corporate Affairs, Communication & Sustainability Manager, Coca-Cola Hellas; Mr Dimitris Gkikas, Director of Technical Services, Municipality of Tanagra.
The works were completed in November 2023, and the project was delivered to the local community while it is noted that the inspiration for the “Zero Drop” program in the Municipality of Tanagra was the successful installation and operation of similar systems used in the private sector.
The benefits of "Zero Drop" in Tanagra Municipality are multiple for residents, employees and the local community as a whole, as the program aims to achieve:
- Saving millions of liters of water per year
- Energy savings and elimination of water losses for the Kallithea water treatment plant
- Significant benefits for the Municipality, due to less water and energy consumption for its pumping
At the same time, public awareness actions will be implemented, promoting the responsible use of water at home. Also, a specialized team will carry out educational activities to students of the Municipality of Tanagra regarding the water cycle, the challenges of the climate crisis, as well as the responsible use of water in our daily lives.
Mr. Vassilis Pergalias, Mayor of Tanagra, said: "Water is one of the most important goods on the planet. But the challenges we face today due to climate change are increasingly greater and make its rational use necessary. Through the Zero Drop program, with the support of the Coca-Cola Foundation and GWP-Med, we managed to drastically reduce water losses, strengthening the resilience of our Municipality."
Mr. Vangelis Constantianos, GWP-Med Executive Secretary stated: "Based on an impactful partnership of public sector, private sector and civil society, the “Zero Drop” project in Schimatari implemented an innovative technological solution for the effective recycling of water in the Municipality of Tanagra. The impressive results, almost 15% water savings and up to 7% energy savings in the water unit located in Kallithea community, constitute a best practice that can be imitated in many municipalities throughout Greece. As the Municipality of Tanagra is supplied with water by Lake Mornos, which, along with the reservoirs of Evinos, Yliki, and Marathon, covers the needs of more than 40% of the Greek population, this responsible practice is even more important. Integrated interventions such as this, focusing on new technologies for water saving, raising citizens' awareness and educating the next generation, are an essential shield against the consequences of the climate crisis we are already experiencing".
Ms. Maria Tzelepi, Corporate Affairs, Communication & Sustainability Manager, Coca-Cola Hellas, said: "For Coca-Cola in Greece, the responsible management and preservation of Water is a key pillar of our strategy for sustainable development. With the support of The Coca‑Cola Foundation, through the "Zero Drop" program, we strengthen the water sufficiency of local communities and it is our great pleasure to be in the Municipality of Tanagra today, seeing in practice how the know-how of the private sector can have tangible benefits for local communities. We are committed to continue our efforts so that this invaluable good is always available to everyone, as every drop of Water is precious."
The "Zero Drop" water resources protection program was launched in July 2022 with a project in Folegandros, achieving savings of millions of liters of water annually and enhancing the island's water sufficiency. In June 2023, it traveled to Heraklion, Crete, upgrading the irrigation network of the agricultural communities of Profitis Ilias and Voutes. In total, over the past 17 years, Coca-Cola Greece, in partnership with GWP-Med, has implemented more than 80 water protection, preservation and sufficiency projects in 38 Greek islands and cities, with thousands of beneficiaries, saving billions of liters of water annually for local communities.
Find out more at gwp.org/zerodrop