The Zero Drop Mornos project is a cutting-edge initiative designed to address the challenges of water scarcity and climate change in the Municipality of Tanagra, Greece. Implemented by the Global Water Partnership – Mediterranean (GWP-Med) and funded by The Coca-Cola Foundation and Coca-Cola in Greece, this project provides a sustainable solution by recycling and reusing water through an advanced filtration system at the Schimatari Water Treatment Plant, the largest of its kind in the municipality.

The Mornos lake and canal in central Greece is the main source of water supply for the Greek capital, Athens.

Project Overview

The Zero Drop Mornos program saves over 320 million liters of water annually, by applying an innovative water filtration and recycling system at Schimatari Water Treatment Plant, while at the Plant's full capacity operation, savings can reach up to 500 million liters. This intervention is a vital response to the growing challenges of water scarcity and climate change, ensuring that valuable water resources are used efficiently and sustainably.

The project builds upon the success of a smaller-scale implementation of the Zero Drop Schimatari program that was previously introduced at the Municipality of Tanagra. This earlier initiative achieved excellent results, with tests confirming that the recycled water is of exceptional quality, making it safe for reuse. The new, expanded implementation will be completed by June 2025 and is expected to further enhance the region’s water conservation efforts.

The Zero Drop Mornos project is upgrading and optimising the infrastcture of the Schimatari Water Treatment Plant, the largest in the Municipality of Tanagra.

A backdrop of urgent water challenges

Recent developments in Attica have underscored the critical importance of sustainable water management. As of March 2025, the region's key reservoirs, including Mornos, Evinos, Marathon, and Yliki, have seen significant declines in their water levels, with Mornos Reservoir holding only 350 million cubic meters, down from 500 million cubic meters in March 2024. These reductions have sparked growing concern about the availability of water in the broader Attica region.

Key Achievements

The Zero Drop Mornos program has already demonstrated significant success in the following areas:

• Water Savings: The project achieves a 15-20% reduction in water consumption at the Schimatari Water Treatment Plant, resulting in the conservation of over 320 million liters of water each year.
• Energy Efficiency: The implementation of the recycling system also leads to a 7% reduction in energy consumption at the water treatment facilities.
• Improved Water Quality: The treated and recycled water is of excellent quality, ensuring its suitability for reuse in various local applications.

These benefits contribute directly to the sustainable development of the region and the strengthening of local water resilience, ensuring that Tanagra remains prepared for future water challenges.

Innovation and Sustainability

The Zero Drop Mornos project integrates advanced water conservation technologies, ensuring that precious water resources are recycled and reused, rather than wasted. This innovative approach helps minimize water loss and optimizes resource use. The project represents a model of sustainability in action, not only in water management but also in energy efficiency and environmental protection.

Public-Private Collaboration

Zero Drop Mornos exemplifies the power of public-private collaboration, with local government, private companies, and international organizations working together to create long-term, sustainable solutions for water conservation. The partnership between the Municipality of Tanagra, GWP-Med, and Coca-Cola serves as a model that can be replicated across Greece and beyond, contributing to the global effort to safeguard water resources.

Education and Community Engagement

In addition to the technical improvements, the Zero Drop Mornos program includes extensive education and awareness activities for local residents. Special programs for schools aim to educate students about the importance of water conservation, promoting responsible water usage and best practices in water management.

A Broader Impact

Zero Drop Mornos is part of a larger initiative launched in 2022 and has already been successfully implemented in Folegandros and Heraklion, Crete. Over the course of 17 years, Coca-Cola in Greece and GWP-Med have successfully carried out more than 80 projects across 38 Greek islands and cities, ensuring the conservation of billions of liters of water for local communities.

Recognition for Excellence

The Zero Drop Mornos program was recognized at the Greek Green Awards 2025, where it received an award for its contributions to sustainable water management. This recognition underscores the significant impact of the project in promoting the responsible use of natural resources and its potential as a scalable model for other municipalities.

The Zero Drop Mornos project is not only improving water management in the Municipality of Tanagra but also paving the way for future innovations in water sustainability which can be replicated across the country. It also exemplifies a successful public-private partnership, complementing the water operator EYDAP's efforts to enhance water sustainability and resilience in the face of ongoing water scarcity challenges in Attica.