The Municipality of Tanagra has been recognized at the Greek Green Awards 2025, receiving an award for the Zero Drop Mornos water recycling and reuse program. The project, which is being implemented by GWP-Med and is funded by The Coca-Cola Foundation and Coca-Cola in Greece, saves over 320 million liters of water per year through the application of a water filtration and recycling system at the Schimatari water treatment plant, the largest in the Municipality of Tanagra. At a time of visible climate change and severe water scarcity, this intervention has been deemed extremely valuable.
Mr. Evangelos Karygiannis, Head of Environmental department of the Municipalty of Tanagra, receives the award on behalf of the Municipality.
About the Greek Green Awards
The Greek Green Awards are organized within the framework of the Verde.tec exhibition, with the aim of awarding organizations, local government authorities, and businesses that use scientific knowledge and technological innovation to serve the environment. The selection of the awardees is made by a specialized scientific committee.
Successful implementation with improved water quality
The project is currently being implemented at the Schimatari water treatment plant, following a previous smaller-scale implementation of the Zero Drop program also in the Municipality of Tanagra. The previous implementation was a complete success, with tests confirming that the water that is treated and recycled is of excellent quality. This results in significant water savings, which is highly beneficial given the current water scarcity conditions. The new implementation will be completed by June 2025.
The Zero Drop Mornos project is upgrading and optimising the infrastcture of the Schimatari Water Treatment Plant, the largest in the Municipality of Tanagra.
Innovation and Sustainability in Practice
Through the Zero Drop Mornos program, the Municipality of Tanagra has integrated advanced water conservation solutions, ensuring that precious water resources are reused instead of being discarded. The technical intervention brings significant benefits, including: • A 15-20% reduction in water consumption at the Schimatari water treatment plant, equivalent to saving over 320 million liters of water annually.
• At least a 7% reduction in energy consumption at the water treatment facilities.
• Strengthening the resilience of local water supply, contributing to the sustainable development of the area.
A Model of public-private collaboration
Zero Drop Mornos is an excellent example of successful cooperation between the public and private sectors, with the catalytic support of an international organization. This technical intervention has special value as a model that can be replicated in other municipalities across Greece, contributing to the sustainable management of this precious natural resource.
"This water replenishment project has provided us with the opportunity to strengthen public infrastructure through an innovative technical solution. In a time of increasing water scarcity in Greece, we are proud to work with our long-standing partners, The Coca-Cola Foundation and Coca-Cola in Greece, to implement initiatives that can be scaled and replicated, delivering lasting benefits to local communities", said Dr. Nikos SKondras, GWP-Med Senior Programme Officer.
Dr. Nikos Skondras, Zero Drop Mornos Project Manager, GWP-Med.
Education and Awareness for Water Resources management
In addition to the technical improvements, the program includes awareness-raising and educational activities for citizens, as well as special educational activities for students, aiming to spread best practices in water management.
A Program with a Broader Impact
Zero Drop Mornos is part of a larger initiative that began in 2022 and has already been successfully implemented in Folegandros and Heraklion, Crete. Over its 17 years of action, Coca-Cola in Greece and GWP-Med have implemented more than 80 water resource protection projects in 38 Greek islands and cities, ensuring the savings of billions of liters of water for local communities.
The award at the Greek Green Awards 2025 recognizes the commitment of the Municipality of Schimatari and its partners in the Zero Drop Mornos program to the sustainable management of water and the protection of natural resources for future generations.