WATER AGENT
Establishing of an international system of social responsibility towards water
Overall objective:
Basic idea of project Water agent is to restitute international co-operation and
connection
through
encouragement
of
rethinking
our
everyday
actions
and
suggestion on changes about rational and responsible behaviour with water as the
existentially essential resource.
Specific objectives:
1. The introduction of direct supervision of water consumption, which initiates a
process of rationalization of water consumption in schools and kindergartens.
2. Connecting by application that allows insight into consumption and creates
the possibility of international communication.
3. Educating on the topic of responsible treatment of the water (water in nature,
needs and consumption, pollution, water management and energy efficiency of
the production of drinking water and wastewater treatment).
1
Background:
Water is essentially important resource needed in everyday life through the aspect of
drinking and technical water, food production, as well as transport, tourism ant it is
important to draw attention to the necessity of responsible behaviour toward the
water in terms of rational consumption, reduced i.e. Eliminated pollution and
conscientious management. Lack of drinking water is the problem that half of the
world's population will face by 2030. Less than 1% of water is avaible for use.
Average consumption in Europe is 150 l/day and water consumption is two times
faster than production. Early childhood education in the field of environmental
protection is the foundation of education for sustainable development. Children are
very curious and researchers in orientation. And with a minimum of incentives they
can make good contact with nature, and to develop proper attitude towards the need
for environmental protection.
2
Target group:
Project is intended for everybody.
1. Active participants of the project are schoolchildren who as target group are
very receptive for co-operation. With education and awakening of the children
we are building the future adults with re-established awareness of water as a
natural resource, which is not inexhaustible and is strategically important for
the survival of the human race and the entire planet. By educating children
and influencing their immediate environment and thus indirectly
educate practically the entire local community.
2. The target groups are also local governments with whom we establish
communication in order to facilitate the implementation of the project.
3. Professional department institutions and public companies with which it is
necessary to establish cooperation in terms of technical support and project
support at the level of specificity and complexity of the topic i.e. of the
problem we are solving.
4. Companies that are aware and working on programs of social responsibility,
volunteerism and engagement in projects and civil initiatives.
3
Activities:
For the implementation of direct supervision of water consumption and networking of
users, the technical didactic tool was made, in the form of measuring device and
internet applications Water agent through which the children exchange and compare
the data on consumption of water with their peers in other schools. The measuring
device is an innovative product from Slovenia, unique in its characteristics and
opportunities of use.
The project is based on work with children, they are transferring their
experiences in project activities to family members, and there appears a
possibility
to
include
partner
organizations
and
interested, due to its own strategic marketing,
companies
that
are
to find space in the
expansion of the network of ecological project in the area of global
conservation activities of quality the quantity of water resources.
Monitoring of consumption is the process of utilization of measuring device that is
installed directly on the faucet and reads the water flow. In addition to monitoring of
consumption, every teacher organizes education. For these purposes, an educational
package is prepared, that includes: measuring device, instructions for installation
and use of devices with a video attachment and a program for working with children
with
instructions
for
the
use
of
applications
i.e.
entering
data
to
www.vodnaagencija.si/agent/. Project activities include the design and preparation of
flyers, posters, badges and printing of flags marking the school Water agents. All
printed material, addressing the public and media contacts will be accompanied by
information and labels of the donors and partners. National coordinators submit a
work report to the project i.e. The Water Agency.
Activity of education programs that are conducted in schools is adapted to the age
i.e. existing knowledge gained through former education (in each country different)
and it covers theoretical and practical part. The theoretical part are interactive
lectures in the form of interviews with children, quizzes, presentation and general
4
conversation. The practical part of the activities are creative workshops on the topic
of water, a wide range of sub-themes i.e. aspects where we can talk about water.
Techniques are various, are adapted to the age. The register of polluters of water
flows is also carried out, it is done in local communities where the project is
implemented and activities towards solving this problem are being planned. Part of
the project activities is connecting with public utility enterprises in order to
familiarize children with the technology and manufacturing process of water and
wastewater.
The widest region of the Danube Basin
The Danube is, after the Volga, the second longest and the second richest river in
Europe and the longest river in the European Union, also. The Danube raises in the
Schwarzwald (forested mountain area, in the province of Baden-Württemberg, in the
southwest of Germany) merging rivers Brigach and Breg in Donaueschingen. Further
flowing eastwards through several major cities in Central and Eastern Europe
(Vienna, Bratislava, Budapest and Belgrade) and after 2850 km, on the Black Sea
coast, creates a delta in Romania and Ukraine, which is listed as world heritage by
UNESCO.
Through the history and today, the Danube has always been an important
international waterway. For a long time it was the north-eastern boundary of the
ancient Roman state. The river now flows through, or it forms the border of ten
countries, namely in order from source to the confluence: Germany (7.5%), Austria
(10.3%), Slovakia (5.8%), Hungary (11.7%), Croatia (4.5%), Serbia (10.3%),
Bulgaria (5.2%), Romania (28.9%), Moldova (1.7%) and Ukraine (3.8%).
The river basin includes ten other states, whose rivers as a tributaries, are water
supplying the Danube: Italy (0.15%), Poland (0.09%), Switzerland (0.32%), Czech
5
Republic (2.6%), Slovenia (2.2%), Bosnia and Herzegovina (4.8%), Montenegro,
Macedonia, Greece and Albania (0.03%).
The only major European river that flows from west to east is exactly the Danube.
Following the path of 2850 km river flows into the Black Sea in the area of the
Danube Delta (4 300 km²) in Romania and Ukraine. Unlike other rivers, the Danube
length is measured from the confluence to the source, the starting point is
considered to be a lighthouse in Sulina on the Black Sea. The current Danube basin
has an area of 805,000 square kilometres. The tributaries that are located mainly in
the Alps are mostly coming from the right side. Start of Danube is created by two
rivers in Schwarzwald, Breg and Brigach. Source of the Breg is near Furtwangler, at
1078 meters altitude. Because of the fact that this river has exceeded the long way,
it is geographically regarded as the source of the Danube. The two rivers merge in
Donaueschingen where, in the castle park, there is a fountain from the 19th century
called "Donauquelle" which symbolizes the official source of the river. Danube is from
6
Baden-Wuerttemberg moving through Sigmaringen and Ulm, enters through Bavaria
(Regensburg and Passau) in northern Austria (passing through Linz and Vienna), and
the south of Slovakia, where it goes through Bratislava, passes through Hungary
(through Budapest) from north to south and between Baranja and river island
Karapandţa enters into eastern Croatia. Then it goes to the Croatian border and
Serbia (Vojvodina), and roughly follows the border of the two states. Passes near
Vukovar, and then near Ilok is leaving Croatia and entering Serbia. At the entrance
to Serbia passes Backa Palanka, then Novi Sad, Belgrade with Zemun, and
Smederevo. The river later represents the border between Serbia and Romania, and
later between Romania and Bulgaria, after which it flows into the Black Sea in
Romania, creating a large delta on the border with Ukraine. The Republic of Moldova
in 1990, gained access to about 300 meters of the rivers left bank at Giurgiuleştija
(between the towns of Galati and Reni).
The potential of the Danube (reasons of preserving water quality)
The Danube is an important source of drinking water for ten million people who live
along the river. In Baden-Württemberg, the water enterprise that supplies drinking
water to the area between Stuttgart, Bad Mergentheim, Aalen and Alb-Donau
district, 30% of water of 30 million cubic meters (2004.) makes processed Danube
water. Other cities like Ulm and Passau also use larger amounts of Danube water as
drinking water. In Austria, 99% of drinking water is drawn from underground
sources and Danube water is used only during periods of extreme heat. Similarly, in
Hungary, where 91% of the drinking water is water from underground sources.
Other countries are also poor users of water from the Danube, due to the strong
pollution. Only the places on the Romanian coast are using this water for drinking,
because the river in this area is again clean (Drobeta Turnu-Severin, Danube Delta).
Besides being the large navigable river, therefore the Danube is one of the
most
important
factors
of
economic,
urban,
cultural
and
historical
development of the region, which is inhabited by 115 million people.
7
This is a factor of effective European cooperation, as well as national and regional
development, where the river with its potential influence on the intensification of
agriculture through irrigation, industrial development associated with cheap water
transportation, transport, port activities, seasonal recreation and cultural tourism.
This region is considered a "macro-region" based on shared values, common
historical heritage and a common future. Also, the countries of the Danube region
share a long history of cooperation. Convention on the Protection of the Danube in
1994 has been signed by 14 countries with a total territory of more than 2000
square kilometres. States parties to the Convention are also signatories of the EU
Strategy for the Danube Region.
Environmental resources are shared between countries and go beyond national
interests.
This
is
particularly
true
for
the
Danube
Region,
which
includes
mountainous areas such as the Carpathians, the Balkans and part of the Alps. This
region also has a rich and unique flora and fauna, aquatic and terrestrial, including
the few places in Europe that are home to pelicans, wolves, bears and lynx. There is
under growing pressure from human activities. Cooperation is crucial; otherwise
good work in one place is quickly undone by neglecting elsewhere. Existing
cooperation structures should be reinforced.
8
Time for establishing a system: 5 years
Activities: First year of implementation
Cities of the Western Balkans:
Slovenia Maribor Murska Sobota Ljutomer Gornja Radgona Ptuj Slovenska Bistrica
Rogaška Slatina Celje Slovenj Gradec Velenje Laško Breţice Krško Novo Mesto
Ĉrnomelj Ljubljana Domţale Kamnik Kranj Bled Jesenice Postojna Logatec Vrhnika
Idrija Nova Gorica Vipava Koper Ankaran Izola Piran Portoroţ Škofja Loka Trţiĉ
Trbovlje Zagorje ob Savi Croatia Osijek Vukovar Ilok Đakovo Varaţdin Ţupanja
Vinkovci Bjelovar Virovitica Slavonski Brod Sisak Poţega Zagreb Koprivnica Ĉakovec
Karlovac Petrinja Rijeka Pula Opatija Rovinj Umag Šibenik Zadar Trogir Split
Makarska Dubrovnik Korĉula Hvar Bol Krk Cres Mali Lošinj Serbia Beograd Leskovac
Vranje Dimitrovgrad Kuršumlija Prokuplje Niš Kruševac Kraljevo Ĉaĉak Uţice Valjevo
Paraćin Ćuprija Zajeĉar Bor Jagodina Poţarevac Smederevo Ruma Sremska Mitrovica
Panĉevo Vršac Kikinda Novi Sad Baĉka Palanka Sombor Subotica Kosovo Priština
Prizren Novi Pazar Kosovska Mitrovica Albania Tirana Draĉ Skadar Vlore Macedonia
Veles Negotino Kavadarci Demir Kapija Struga Ohrid Kiĉevo Debar Strumica
Djevdjelija Skopje Tetovo Gostivar Prilep Bitola Kumanovo Štip Berovo Koĉani
Montenegro Podgorica Nikšić Herceg Novi Bar Kotor Ulcinj Berane Pljevlja Cetinje
Bosnia and Herzegovina Sarajevo Banja Luka Bihać Zenica Tuzla Mostar Bijeljina
Brĉko Prijedor Bosanska Gradiška Priboj Doboj Zvornik Prnjavor
Greece Solun
Komotini Kozani Atina
II year of implementation: 4B - 4 metropolises on the Danube: Vienna Bratislava - Budapest-Belgrade
III year of implementation:
Cities on the Danube:
Tuttlingen, Sigmaringen, Ulm, Ingolstadt, Regensburg, Straubing i Passau, Germany
9
Mauthausen, Enns, Durnstein, Krems, Linz i Vienna, Austria
Bratislava, Komoran, Slovakia
Gyor (Djer), Szoba, Višegrad, Dunajuvaroš, Baja, Mohaĉ, Budimpešta, Hungary
Vukovar i Ilok, Croatia
Apatin, Baĉka Palanka, Novi Sad, Beograd, Panĉevo, Smederevo, Serbia
Baragana, Dobrudţa, Turnu Severin, Giurgiu, Braila i Galati, Romania
Giurgiulesti, Moldova
Vilkov, Izmail, Kilija, Ukraine
IV year of implementation:
Cities in countries that are directly connected with the Danube:
Germany, Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Croatia and Serbia (continuation of), Romania,
Bulgaria, Moldova, Ukraine
V years of implementation:
Cities in states which its tributaries belong to the Danube basin: Italy, Poland,
Switzerland, Czech Republic, Slovenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro,
Macedonia, Greece, Albania
We plan to achieve targets through these activities primarily in the cities of the
Western Balkans region, which is part of the already initiated project to establish a
system which is now covered under 4 countries: Slovenia, Serbia, Croatia and
Bosnia-Herzegovina. The first phase is the involvement of all 9 countries of the
Western Balkans. After that we would connect four capitals that are directly on the
Danube and that each in their relations towards this river has some peculiarities.
With that, we will create the ambience of linking these cities in terms of exchange of
experiences in all aspects from production and distribution of water to wastewater
treatment. That part of the project would include the addition of 3 states, Austria,
Slovakia and Hungary. Directly on the Danube are 40 cities and approximately 10
10
cities in states which belong to the basins of the rivers tributaries to the Danube
region, about 200 cities. The total the project includes cca 244 cities.
Education of coordinators for work, in the cities on the Danube, conducts Society
Water agency with its experienced associates in the territory of these states.
Education of National Coordinators, for the states that are in the Danube region, is
carried out continuously from the first year of implementation, i.e. continuing its
system from 2013. The training is carried out by the project, the Water Agency with
the
support
of
NGOs and their examples of good practice with the involvement of relevant
professional associates.
Education
is
organized
annually,
at
an
international
conference
where
the
coordinators, who are already involved in the project and the newly submitted meet,
based on the calls, which The Water Agency is sending to them. National
coordinators are responsible to create teams that will work in the territories
according to the plan to engage in activities of the given country.
The entire project, i.e. establishment of the system from the beginning is visible by
the media, so that they are part of the activities and the press conferences and
individual contacts and media appearances. Project activities are professional
conferences*, working and video meetings, reports of work, monitoring and
evaluation. A special part of the project are expert camps and study tours for
coordinators and partners*. All materials for the work will be adapted to the needs of
education and translated into the languages of the countries.
11
Results:
-
Establishing communication and cooperation between countries in the Danube
region, their schools, institutions and local governments or authorities,
companies and NGOs;
-
Establishing a network of coordinators;
-
Applicable application which is the foundation of networking and databases for
international program;
-
Quantitative data obtained by scanning devices and data analysis that should
point to the reduced water consumption and thus confirms change in daily
habits, which represent a database for further scientific and technical
research;
-
Improved web page www.vodnaagencija.si with interactive, video and other
contents for more active involvement of children and teachers in the
communication with this media;
-
Educated children in addition to a sufficient amount of information about
water
and
its
importance
have
changed
the
daily
habits
in
water
consumption. Also the increased awareness and knowledge regarding the
necessity of all forms of energy and natural resources and their conservation
-
because they are not inexhaustible (water, specifically in many parts of the
world is already missing to the limits of survival of life);
-
Established communication of children within the class, develop a sense of
working in teams and positioning of leaders;
-
Connected children at the international level and mutual influence on different
levels of development in accordance with the culture of environmental
protection and awareness of the importance of the aforementioned
-
Connected schools and created relationships that can be permanent and
multilayered and are applicable in some new projects
-
Learning through the games and the ability to bring all the experience in the
house because they are, as a good mediator suitable for transmitting ideas
and new technologies;
12
-
Schools as institutions gain new knowledge, but also receive didactic
equipment for work (measuring device is usable for work in various fields)
and also get the possibility to save water and energy, which will be longlasting effects on the finance
-
Designed, printed and distributed flyers, posters, badges and schools Water
agents will be marked with a flag
-
Organization
of
press
conferences,
individual
contacts
made
and
performances with the media and information published in the media;
-
Created situation and environment to the measuring device, it becomes part
of the system of education in the schools as a didactic tool that helps in the
process of raising awareness of children on the rational use of water as it
allows us to monitor consumption with direct supervision and is an excellent
tool for more school subjects
Indicators:
5 years of establishing the project:
- 20 states
- 244 cities
- 44 national coordinators
- 1280 schools
- 3840 educational packages
- 3840 teachers
- 115.200 children
- 11.5 million indirectly connected users
- 10 press conferences
- 5 international conferences *
- 4 research camp *
- 4 study trips *
13
Responsible for the Project:
Society Water Agency, was established in 2013 in the Republic of Slovenia with
the aim to draw public attention to the necessity for a responsible attitude
towards water in nature. First of all, the irrational use and all the side effects
from production through distribution of drinking water to wastewater treatment.
Even before the official formation of the organization, in schools in the Republic
of Slovenia activities of monitoring consumption of drinking water have been
initiated. The project evolved through time in order to contribute to global
activities for the preservation of water resources. In the first phase of
measurement application Water Agent is improved (on www.vodnaagencija.si),
which in addition to monitoring the results of measurements allows networking
users which now, also are outside of the Republic of Slovenia. Already at the end
of 2013, operation of the organization received the regional character by the
inclusion of the Republic of Serbia in the activity. The project was called simply
the Water Agent.
This not only expanded but an educational pilot project has been done, which has
given excellent results. Now we have educational package the Water Agent that
is easily accessible to all interested schools. In 2014, several schools in the
Republic of Croatian actively joined the project. So far the system has been
activated in 84 pre-schools and schools in 4 countries of the Western Balkans. In
early October 2015 in Celje, was organized the International Conference which
was attended by 48 coordinators, of which sixteen are from the countries that
participate in the project.
14
PARTICIPANTS OF THE I CONFERENCE
THE I CONFERENCES HOST
MOS 2015
ECOFAIR BELGRADE 2015
WA & EKO LIST
WA & ECOSCHOOL
15
WA & SPAR
Project activities were carried out with its own funds and with the support of
partners gathered in the group Energo Go, settled in 2014. We cooperate with
several retail chains that have enabled us the public presentation of the project.
We have also participated in the MOS (International Trade and Business Fair) in
Celje in 2015, the Ecology Fair in Novi Sad in 2015 and Eco Fair and Energy in
Belgrade in 2015. We have developed a Water educational system with which in
schools with the support of partners, we demonstrate the water supply system
from the factory to the tap water.
As examples of good practice we include the fact that the Local government of
Rogaska Slatina included all schools in Rogaska Slatina in the project i.e. a
system of direct supervision, and from 2016 with Public Communal Company
Rogaska Slatina we implemented a joint project Water Agent "With steps of
knowledge to re-use and environmental protection." It is carried out in 20 schools
of 6 districts which activities include PCC Rogaska Slatina. Also, PCC Hum on
Sutla in Croatia, on the same way.
We achieved a system of cooperation with the NGO organizations in the region
which are dealing with environmental protection and education of children and
have experience in it. From the beginning of international activities, we have
media
support
from
specialized
magazine
for
environmental
sustainable development and healthy life style, Ekolist.
16
protection,
Contact:
Majda Adlesić, Program director of the Water Agency
E-mail: [email protected]
Phone: 00381 (0)61 229 0 829
Joţe Cvetko, Coordinator for Slovenia
E-mail: [email protected]
Phone: 00386 (0) 40 193 197
www.vodnaagencija.si
http://www.vodnaagencija.si/agent/
https://www.facebook.com/Vodna-Agencija-1656385401243704/?fref=ts
17