Aim & Objectives
The Rainwater Harvesting Programme aims at revitalising and reintroducing traditional rainwater harvesting combined and improved with innovative techniques and methods in the Greek islands, as a tool for water availability and climate change adaptation at local level.
The Rainwater Harvesting Programme objectives are:
- To position rainwater harvesting as a helpful tool for climate change adaptation at local level.
- To promote rainwater harvesting as a sustainable way of providing community access to water in water scarce areas, thereby contributing to the improving ecosystem conservation.
- To promote multi-stakeholder partnerships for local rainwater harvesting initiatives.
- To promote knowledge and sharing of experiences on aspects of rainwater harvesting systems and approaches.
This project is essentially a “demonstration case” aiming at educating people of all ages towards a “new water culture” necessary for addressing the current and future water scarcity challenges.
Duration and Partners
The Rainwater Harvesting Programme (RWH) is designed and implemented by the Global Water Partnership – Mediterranean (GWP-Med) in partnership with the Environmental Programme “Mission Water” by the Coca-Cola System in Greece (Coca-Cola Hellenic Bottling Company & Coca-Cola Hellas) and in collaboration with the local Authorities (Municipalities) of Cycladic and the Dodecanese Islands and the Mediterranean Information Office for Environment Culture and Sustainable Development (MIO-ECSDE). The Programme is funded by The Coca-Cola Foundation and the Coca-Cola System in Greece. From 2014, RWH activities are part of the a broader 5-year Programme, titled "Climate Change Adaptation through Non-Conventional Water Resources Management in North Mediterranean (Alter Aqua)" in Greece, Malta, Italy and Cyprus, funded by the Coca-Cola Foundation.
The Programme started in 2008 and is currently in the sixth year of implementation. It has so far been implemented in 23 Greek Islands including 19 Cycladic Islands: Syros, Tinos, Naxos, Heraklia, Koufonisia, Santorini, Ios, Anafi, Sikinos, Folegandros, Milos, Sifnos, Serifos, Paros, Antiparos, Kythnos, Kea, Andros and Amorgos and 4 Dodecanese Islands: Rhodes, Chalki, Kastellorizo, Symi.
In 2013 the RWH Programme expanded its scope of activities to a new cluster of islands, the Dodecanese. Activities for the year 2014 will be implemented in the islands of Patmos, Lipsi and Leros.
Activities
The activities conducted within the framework of the project include:
- RWH Applications in water scarce islands: installation of new and reinstatement of existing rainwater harvesting systems in selected public buildings and areas in 23 Greek Islands including 19 Cycladic Islands and 4 Dodecanese Islands; pilot installation of a greywater system and two water kiosks.
- Water Saving activities through distribution of water saving kits to households in water scarce islands.
- Educational and Training activities:
o Enhancement of related technical skills of local workers and technical services of local authorities, on traditional know-how as well as on modern technologies for rainwater harvesting schemes and water related innovations.
o Development of the Educational material for the Cycladic Islands "The Gift of rain" (in Greek) by the MIO-ECSDE/MEdIES secretariat aiming to raise awareness and educate students toward sustainable water use.
o Development of the second version of the Educational material "The Gift of Rain" (in Greek) by the MIO-ECSDE/MEdIES secretariat aiming to raise awareness and educate students on the use of non conventional water resources and sustainable water use.
o Educational activities for students in all project islands aiming at raising awareness on rainwater harvesting, sustainable water use, etc.
o Education of local teachers and educators through seminars organized under the auspices of the Hellenic Ministry of Education in cooperation with the Heads of Environmental Education of the Prefecture of Cyclades& Dodecanese Islands and the local authorities.
- Awareness raising and dissemination of Programme results through targeted events and/or conferences.
- Regional Conference on Advancing Non-Conventional Water Resources in the Mediterranean, 14-15 September 2011, Athens, Greece. The Conference was co-organised by the Hellenic Ministry of Environment, Energy and Climate Change, the Secretariat of the Union for the Mediterranean, GWP-Med and Environmental Programme “Mission Water” by Coca-Cola Hellenic Bottling Company & Coca-Cola Hellas. The Conference hosted ca. 160 targeted high level participants from 15 Mediterranean and EU countries.
The activities conducted in the framework of the project aim to constitute a model / best practice to be replicated in other local communities in Greece and other countries of the Mediterranean.
The environmental programme Mission Water of the Coca-Cola System in Greece (Coca-Cola Hellenic and Coca-Cola Hellas) , with RWH as the major Programme, has received the European CSR Award (Brussels, June 2013) and was recognised as the best CSR practice for the "Environment" sector category at the Hellenic CSR Excellence Awards (December 2013).
The RWH Programme in Figures (2008-2013)
- 23 Greek Islands, 19 Cycladic & 4 Dodecanese Islands
- 5346 students participated in school activities in the Greek Islands and in Athens
- 747 teachers trained
- 175 technicians and citizens trained/informed
- Installation of 21 Rainwater Harvesting systems
- Repair of 24 Rainwater Harvesting systems
- Installation of 1 Greywater system
- Installation of 2 Water Kiosks with Reverse Osmosis systems
- Estimated water yield: 39 million liters per year
Photo: Konstantina Toli