A Water agent is a free Reviews published on the World Water Day March 22nd 2019
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DearWater agents, Now, in accordance with established practice, we welcome you with the new issue of the Review Water agent. The Review is our greeting for the World Water Day 2019! Also, the new issue of the Review is a call to make a recapitulation of events that mark the last year in the project Water agent . We are presenting you some of the new partners because our network last year significantly internationalized. In addition, all these acquaintances grow into partnerships and some new project ideas. Some of them are presented here. One of the most important event in project Water agent is the International Conference. We are reporting you on the IV Internationl conference held on October 5th in Rogaška Slatina in and we invite you to Anniversary jubilee f the 5th International conference and we we announce a lot of surprises. However, the intensified strengthening of the movements for the fight against water privatization, against the construction of small hydro power plants, against the sale of bottled water, the seal of privatization of water supply systems, the adoption of directives that water is human right had marked this entire year. Definitely something has started to change in the consciousness of people. We are happy to be part of it. Our activities in the education of young students primarily go in direction not only to draw attention to them, but also to lead to changes in behavior about water. This year, the Water World Day 2019 is celebrated under the motto WATER FOR ALL! Our Water agents are getting more and more serious. It is very important for us to draw their attention to tap water and to change the habits. Drinking tap water is one of the the priority of education in the project the Water agent . Invite you to enjoy reading the new issue of The Water Agent Review!
Jože Cvetko, President of the Water agency Association St. Florijan , March 22th 2019
IMPRESUM Publisher: The Water agency Association 56a st. Florijan, 3250 Rogaška Slatina, Slovenia Phone: 0038651848234 Email: info@vodnaagencija.org Web:www.vodnaagencija.org | www.wateragent.eu Editor: Majda Adlešić Graphic design: Studio Art Therapy, Bački Petrovac Printing: PODOBA d.o.o. Rogaška Slatina 200 pcs
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Majda Adlešić, Program manger Jože Cvetko, President of the Water agency Association
Water - underestimated the potential of Slovenia? Forests and water are the largest strategic source of Slovenia. Unfortunately, this can hardly be traced in the long-term development plans of the country, in the strategies of tackling climate change, and also not in our positioning in international geostrategic forces. Slovenia is predominantly a perspective country and the question arises whether in the future we will be able to take advantage of the strategic importance of water for our development and, last but not least, to establish more equitable interstate relations with neighboring countries. Water is highly sectoral in various fields of treatment, which is often an obstacle to the sustainable planning of water resources. Besides, the general public is not sufficiently aware of the importance of this valuable natural resource. For this reason, professions that are in one way or another dealing with water, politics, governmenPhoto: T.Kikec, Lower Kriška Leke in the Julian Alps tal and non-governmental organizations should in the future do more to recognize the importance of water as an important factor of development. For our country, the containment and use of boiling water is as important as our exit to international waters, which is often mentioned in public. Awareness of the importance of water is crucial if we want to make it meaningful to divide and use, while ensuring sustainable management of its resources. Water knows no boundaries and is not limited to the territory of one country. Therefore, international agreements on the use of common waters are of great importance. Slovenia can be an example to many countries in this field, because we have concluded interstate agreements with all our neighbors. We are also the initiators of the conclusion of an important international agreement of the countries in the Sava River Basin - the Sava Agreement (Internet 1). With this, Slovenia opened a new water use option for us, namely extending the waterway along the Sava River from Belgrade to Slovenia. The importance of international cooperation in water management planning is illustrated by many examples around the world, unfortunately negative. We can be remindedan ecological catastrophe due to the disappearance of the Aral Lake as a result of the irreparable use of water. For example, plans for the unsustainable drain of practically non-renewable groundwater in eastern Sahara that we do not even mention the conflicts between the Israelis and the Palestinians in the Middle East over ground and surface waters. Slovenia is very rich in water, and maybe we are under-esteemed too, and we are not fully aware of its extremely high potential. About 34 billion cubic meters of water is flowed in our rivers and streams annually, which is almost four times more than the European average (Internet 2). Although water sources are quite unevenly distributed across the country, the most abundant water is from the Julian Alps to Snežnik, while the eastern and southwestern parts of the country have less water. According to the results of the study in the UK on the water resources of 147 countries of the world, Slovenia ranks 14th (Lawrence 2003). In particular, the uneven spatial and temporal distribution of available quantities of water is a major problem. About 70% of the country’s surface is in the basins of the riverside rivers Sava and Soča with more than three quarters of all water quantities. So we are the master of three quarters of rainwater in our country. So are we a good master? A good master in wet seasons saves a part of the water in water retainers and then provides it in the arid periods for the areas they need. It also equally provides sufficient water to the downstream countries. Climate change, which we are witnessing, also increases the importance of water. The driest areas in the future will probably be even safer. Reducing the amount or even the absence of snowfall also affects the lower watercourse of the watercourses and reduced groundwater enrichment. Let us only remember the severe drought in 2003 when the whole eastern part of Slovenia was affected from Prekmurje to Bela krajina and the western part of the Goriška Brda to the Slovenian coast. In the past decade, we have already witnessed the multiannual droughts of groundwater in north-eastern Slovenia (Prekmurje and Mursko polje) when groundwater during the dry years did not return to the normal level. Any take-away of water in such situations means that its use is unsustainable (Kikec 2014). The most important water resources in the country are numerous watercourses, aquifers with groundwater, and natural and artificial lakes. With the aforementioned aquatic resources, the lack of water in drought periods could be addressed by the appropriate infrastructure. The trend of the gradual decline in the wateriness of some rivers and the reduction of snowfall reminds us of the need for a deliberate and sustainable use of water resources. The loss of snow cover and low water in drought years could at least partly be compensated by storing the waters of normal abundant autumn precipitation in water retention basins. By appropriately and well-planned management of water resources, they could solve most of the problems with occasional local water scarcity. Water has an adequate market price in the developed world, which is likely to increase in the future. In Slovenia, the current water price is relatively low and does not cover even the costs of modernization and maintenance of water supply systems. Therefore, it is also not surprising that still 27.6% of pumped water is lost in water supply networks (Internet 3). Therefore Slovenia has a lot to do in water management. The Water Framework Directive is an important European framework within which we need to establish a structure for efficient water management with a clear hierarchy of objectives. However, in the preparation of water management plans, we must come up with good practices from the past, which we have more than enough. And what can NGOs and individuals do? First and foremost, we have to contribute to protecting and conserving water resources in our capacity and to raise awareness among the general public with common forces. Educational institutions (schools, universities) play an important role in this, which educates today’s youth and raises awareness about the need for sustainable use of water resources. The World Water Day, March 22, is an opportunity to talk about water as an important potential of Slovenia, which is often underestimated, although it is still important.
PhD. Tatjana Kikec Expert of the Water agency Association Sources and literature Kikec, T. 2014: Geografska tipizacija Pomurja glede na sušo in možnosti za prilagoditev pojavu. Doctoral dissertation, Faculty of Philosophy, University of Maribor. Maribor. Lawrence, P., Meigh, J., Sullivan, C. 2003: The Water Poverty Index: an International Comparison, Keele University, Keele. Ineternet:1.http://www.savacommission.org/dms/docs/dokumenti/documents_publications/publications/leaflets/ leaflet_i/prospekt_i_slo.pdf (7. 3. 2019). Internet 2 https://www.stat.si/StatWebPDF/PrikaziPDF.aspx?id=5027&lang=sl (7. 3. 2019). Internet 3: https://www.stat.si/StatWebPDF/PrikaziPDF.aspx?id=7727&lang=sl (7. 3. 2019).
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The path towards the introduction of Right to Water in the European Legislation is still open Two basic UE Directives on water, the Drinking Water Directive (DWD) and the Water Frame Directive (WFD), are under revision and it’s quite difficult to foresee the outcome at the moment, especially for what concerns universal access to water and governance of water as a common good. Situation is evolving, so that the progress status here reported could be not completely updated at the issue of this note. In any case, whatever will be the final result; it’s advisable to know the main factors come into play in the revision process. Special attention should be paid also for the impact of possible liberalizations and trade agreements on the right to water. First, it’s worth mentioning the main normative of interest. Waters subject of the UE normative in course of revision are essentially surface waters and groundwater. Where necessary, waters classified according to different criteria (i.e. wastewaters, transition waters, mineral waters) are considered. The WFD frames all the matter and establishes the methodology for determining the water quality. But it pertains to the DWD to fix the quality parameters of water intended for human consumption. As a complement, more sectorial directives fix characteristics and measures needed to assure conformance to the primary requirements established in the DWD and the WFD.
The request of inclusion of right to water in the revision of the normative
participants of EWM Meeting in Belgrade (12-14 oct, 2018), photo L. Gentili
These rules, in their original version not yet revised, cover the quality of water, reflecting in this way the issues on environment and human health protection, but they don’t mention any right to water or access to water services and sanitation, nor a possible governance of water resources as commons not subject to commodification. But, since 2010, many events, social struggles and grassroots initiatives have put the issues of right to water and of public and participative governance of water on the table of European institutions. Amongst them, following key events contributed most to the requests of revision of UE normative:
- the Resolution of UN General Assembly of 28 July 2010 that recognizes the universal human right to safe and clean drinking water and sanitation - the European Citizens’ Initiative (ECI) on the human right to water, the first successful one in EU history, collecting from Apr 2012 to Oct 2013 almost 1.9 ML of signatures - the Resolution of EU Parliament of 8 Sept 2015 that approved with a large majority the ECI demands and proposed the inclusion of the universal access to drinking water and sanitation in the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights Many further events, like the (re)municipalisation of water services all over Europe, the Italian referendum on public water of 2011, the introduction of the right to water in the Slovenia Constitution in 2016 etc., complete this scenario and constituted a strong support for the initiatives at European level. On this basis, various organizations elaborated proposals of improvement of DWD and WFD, also in view of their announced imminent revision. In particular, the proposals elaborated by the European Federation of Public Service Unions (EPSU) and by the European Water Movement, and finally pursued by EWM, are of primary reference for our purposes and could be summarized in the following items: - universal access to safe, clean and affordable drinking water and sanitation - minimum quantity of water for everyone based on WHO and UN standards (50-100 l/person/day) and related prohibition of water disconnections - adequate updating and monitoring of water parameters and information to the public - exclusion of drinking water supply and water resources management from any liberalization and from Directive on Concessions - exclusion of drinking water supply and water resources management from trade and investment agreements These items constituted essentially the platform of confrontation during the negotiations for the revision of DWD and similarly they will be of reference for the revision of WFD. The ups and downs of the revision process DWD has been the first Directive subject to the revision process, to date still under way, whose developments could be summarized as follows: - Consultation of the various stakeholders from the second half of 2017 up to Sept 2018. This phase was concluded with an hypothesis of compromise that, though lacking of some points of EWM proposal, maintained a minimum of provisions on right to water and on universal access and remained still open to possible improvements in a subsequent stage - But on 11 Sept 2018, just few weeks before the scheduled plenary vote of the European Parliament, the Environment Parliamentary Commission voted and submitted to the UE Parliament a surprise proposal, never previously announced neither discussed, that made the revision absolutely unacceptable and provoked the firm opposition of EWM that appealed to the MEPs (Members of European Parliament) to vote a series of amendments to restore as much as possible the right to water and universal access to water services
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- On 23 Oct 2018 European Parliament, in plenary session, voted a revised text of DWD (to be successively submitted to the Council of EU and to the Commission for the final discussion and approval of the Directive) improved with respect to the above mentioned proposal of Environment Commission, but achievement of this result required a large number of amendments, making the voting process entangled and difficult to manage. Moreover, further amendments introduced a large variety of derogations, making it difficult the effective application of some provisions and, last but not least, an amendment about the pollutants PFAS removed in practice the limit of the allowed content for the majority of these dangerous pollutants.
Demonstration on March 26th, 2011 in Rome to support the referendum for public water. Photo @maxwolf00
More in general, a process of revision more respectful of a fare discussion among the various stakeholders, given also the long duration of the consultation period, would had allowed to discuss in advance the most critical items and to submit to the Parliament a clearer and more conclusive proposal. As a result, the text voted by the Parliament shows positive and negative elements. Positive elements include: the confirmation of access to water as basic right for all; the inclusion of vulnerable and marginalized groups; free access to water in public areas and availability of tap water in restaurants and canteens. On the contrary: minimum individual daily quantity of water, prohibition of water disconnections, affordability of water services, exclusion from liberalizations and from Directive on Concession, exclusion from trade and investment agreements are totally missing and the content limit for a large portion of PFAS pollutants has been removed
- Finally, the discussion of the text submitted by European Parliament inside UE Council and Commission is still under way and no agreement has been reached so far and the final result is completely open. All the options are on the table: from a further improvement of the text voted by the Parliament at best; to the hypothesis of “freezing” the Directive until the next legislature; or, for the worst, complete removal of the right to water and issue of a Directive strictly limited to the assessment of water quality within the present legislature. Whatever will be the conclusion of the DWD revision, in the meanwhile also the revision process of WFD has been initiated with a public consultation started on 17 Sept 2018 and to be concluded on 4 Mar 2018. However, since DWD and FWD are strictly correlated (DWD is limited to the final distribution stage and consumption, while FWD covers all the integrated water cycle) the issue of a revised WFD before the completion of the DWD revision seems rather difficult. The same conflict occurred for the DWD revision could be expected also for the revision of WFD. On the one hand, supporters of the ECI and EWM platform demand a public and participative management for all the water cycle, since a public management, to be effective, cannot be limited only to the DWD (final distribution and consumption), but needs to be integrated by provisions of WFD stating public governance and management of the integrated water cycle. On the other hand, opponents to public water will try to remove the right to water from WFD as from DWD. Also the intermediate hypothesis of “freezing” WFD, together with DWD, until the next legislature cannot be excluded. Conclusion Prospects for an effective implementation of right to water and for a public participative management of water resources are presently uncertain. In particular, failure to exclude water from liberalizations, from Directive on Concessions and from trade and investment agreements implies the risk of possible privatizations of water services. Regarding international trade, agreements like TTIP (USA-EU), CETA (Canada-EU), JEFTA ( Japan-UE), etc., once operative, will prevail on local, national or European regulations that should state the public nature of such services. In this context a key role is played by arbitration courts like ISDS, ICS or something, outside the normal jurisdiction assured by the public institutions of justice: such un-transparent bodies are responsible for the resolution of claims by investors against public authorities. As experienced in numberless cases, majority of their verdicts implied payment of heavy reimbursements to the claimers by public authorities as a consequence of nationalizations or municipalisation of public services; even the threat of a claim could compel a state, a region, or a municipality to refrain from undertaking policies for a public management of public services. However the wave for a democrat government of natural resources in the respect of environment is going on in Europe and in the world, as evidenced by many mobilizations, grassroots initiatives, the introduction of right to water in the Slovenian constitution, law proposals for public water like the one currently under discussion in Italy, the municipalisation and remunicipalisations all over in Europe, the petitions against TTIP, CETA or similar trade agreements, like the collection of signatures against arbitration courts currently under way. So, in spite of obstacles and difficulties, there is the ground for believing that, sooner or later, right to water will be introduced in European legislation and even in the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights. Lucio Gentili, Italy
Lucio Gentili Italian Forum of Water Movements
Until 2011 Lucio Gentili worked as engineer for the Italian electrical company Enel in the field of large power generation plants. Since 2010 he’s a supporter of the Forum Italiano dei Movimenti per l’Acqua (Italian Forum of Water Movements); in particular he collaborates in the international field, especially in the sector of European normative. He’s also member of ATTAC and supporter of campaigns against international trade and investment agreements (Stop TTIP, Stop CETA, Stop ISDS etc.).
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ONLY WITH PRESERVED WATER WE DEFEND THE RIGHT TO LIFE On Rogaška Slatina, the kingdom of water, in the exclusive area of Ana’s Maison, on October 5th 2018, was held the 4th International Conference of the Water Agency. The conference was officially opened by the Mayor of the Municipality of Rogaška Slatina, mag. Branko Kidrič. He pointed out that infrastructure projects are in the first place in the municipality, but they are always ready to support projects aimed primarily at educating children and events that attract a large number of guests. The conference was attended by 70 participants. Expert contribution to the conference was given by 15 participants from 6 countries - Slovenia, Croatia, Hungary, Serbia, Austria and Netherland. In addition, as part of the conference, was organized a round table. In this open form of discussion, 6 representatives of companies presented their projects and entrepreneurial ideas, in a very dynamic atmosphere. All their technological processes or products eliminate water pollution. The topic of this year’s conference is “The impact of international communication on our Water Footprint”. Participants in their presentations and during the discussion, each from the domain of their work and dealing with water, gave completely new insights into this insufficiently known concept. Of course, the most important is the fact, the methodology of work and the results presented by the school project coordinator at the Water Footprint Network organization, Lara Wohler from the University of Twente in Netherland. The data she provided as results of research work, gave us a completely new dimension to the real consumption and pollution of water for each of us. Especially surprisingly large quantities of water in the production of food and clothing materials. This led to a figure of 4000L / person in Europe as the average amount of water needed to serve everyday needs. Representatives of public water management companies of Hrvatske vode and Vode Vojvodine presented their educational programs and contents, as an impact on reducing the degree of vulnerability of the living and protected world around us. The conference was also attended by representatives of public utility companies for water and sewage from Rijeka, Slavonski Brod and Subotica. It was especially interesting presentation by Karin Kaiblinger from the gutessen consulting. She spoke about the methodology of implementing a project promoting drinking water from the tap in the City of Vienna. Vienna is a city that gets water from the Alps, and residents have the privilege of drinking spring water. There are 900 public taps in the city. However, the mentality of the consumer society has led to the fact that it is now necessary to educate and motivate the children to return to the taps and drink water from the water supply instead of from a plastic bottle. Presentation of the project development started by phd. Tatjana Kikec, associate expert of the Water Agency. After that, we have heard several successful examples of the implementation of the project Water agent in primary schools in Slovenia and Croatia and examples of good practice of cooperation between public utility companies and schools. It was particularly interesting to hear about the development of the project beyond the regional level. Bence Cseke from IMRO DDKK Nonprofit ltd from Hungary presented two currently activated European projects: Water agent 003 financed from the Višegrad Fund program, as first. The other is Wat.Edu, a project financed by the Erasmus + program, with partners from Hungary, Greece and the Czech Republic. In addition to the Water Agency in the project Wat. Edu a partner is I Primary School from Rogaška Slatina, also. A special thematic block - a round table was particularly interesting and dynamic. The discussion was preceded by several surprises. First we had a live stream from Bled Lake, from captain of the boat that sails on that lake. The boat is completely ecological, it is run exclusively by rowing. Subsequently, the voucher for the best Water Agents was presented to Jože Cvetko, President of the Water Agency Association. The voucher was awarded by mag. Margarita Maruškić Kulaš, general manager of Aquatika - Freshwater Aquarium from Karlovac. The excursion is intended for the best participants of the project and winners of the creative competition that we open soon and is intended for the participants in the project Water agent. After all, the participants visited very interesting exhibits in the Ana’s Maison. Music program at the opening of the conference was performed by the students of the Music School from Rogaška Slatina and the children’s choir from the I Primary School from Rogaška Slatina, also. After the program during the conference day, participants on October 6th organized a professional thematic excursion. First, they introduced mineral resources and the history of Rogaška Slatina with the expert for waters, mag. Aljaž Čoh. The especially interesting part of the day was visiting ponds for cultivation of several freshwater fish by recirculation method in Šmarje pri Jelšah. Owner mag. Danijel Gospić introduced the visitors with the whole process of production, ideas and technology and was pleased to answer their numerous and interesting questions. It was a pleasure to see a natural process and a cycle conducted through a great entrepreneurial idea.
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The conclusion of all participants in the conference is that we must learn to respect Her Majesty to Water. After that, we can work intensively on the education of children who are the best multipliers of ideas towards the whole community. Only with preserved water we defend the right to life.
PROJECT THE WATER AGENTS OF PODRAVJE REGION Through donation Make Impact for Tomorrow donation (MIT) of the Henkel Group , tha Water agency Association started the project Water Agents of Podravje region on September the 1st 2019.. The project includes 12 primary schools in Podravje and the wider region. The project involves 27 teachers and about 600 students. Direct monitoring of water consumption is carried out at 24 measuring points in elementary schools. The project lasts until May 31, 2019, with interested schools continuing to monitor water consumption. So far, the following activities have been carried out in the framework of the project: 1. An introductory seminar for the teachers of the participating schools held on November 7th 2018 at the Elementary school Martin Konšak in Maribor. There were 25 teachers from the participating schools and two pupils from the Primary School Sostro from Ljubljana, who presented their activities in the framework of the project Water Agent . Also Ms.Lidija Šešerko and Ms. Valerija Krivec, from the elementary school Žetala, presented their experiences with the work on this project to teachers. Ms. Majda Adlesic presented experiences from the Balkan countries. At the end of the seminar teachers are received educational packages by the representative of the Henkel Group, Polona Jalovec Borovnik . Ms. Polona Jalovec Borovnik as a volunteer of Henkel group proposed the project Water agent for MIT donation .
2. During the December 3th to 7th 2018, workshops Water station were held at four participating elementary schools. The workshops took place at approx. 550 children. The second part of Water station workshops was conducted from January 21st to January 25th, 2019, and participated approximately 600 children. 3. The representatives of the Water agency Association provided technical assistance to the distance teachers for the installation of water meters and the use of the online application Water Agent 4. Two reports for the media, one before the seminar and the other after the seminar, were prepared and circulated. Some local radio stations reported about the event. A report on the implementation of the project was published on the website of the Water Agency Association :http://www.vodnaagencija.org/aktivnospremljanjeporabe-vod…/ (9. 11. 2018).
On the workshop with the Water station at the Elementary school Olga Meglič , Ptuj on November 7th 2018, team of Television Maribor with the journalist Jasmino Gregorec visited one class activites. The prepared tv material was broadcast in the framework of the TELE M TV show on RTV Slovenia on December 8th 2018 at 8.46, http://www.rtvslo.si/tvmaribor/oddaje/16 (8.30-10.30). Remaining planned activities. By the end of the project, the following activities are planned: 1. Exhibition of children’s works created during the project Water Agents of Podravje region , on the topic of preserving water and water resources. The event is planned for April 13th , 2019 in Rogaška Slatina at the Hotel Slovenija. After exhibition mag. Aljaž Čoh will be introducing participants with the history and significance of mineral resources in Rogaška Slatina 2 The final public presentation of the project and the results achieved by the participating schools will be organized on May 15, 2018, in Maribor at the Elementary school Borci za severno mejo 3. Each teacher will be invited to prepare methodological material for the water- related activities in the project Water Agent project, thus we will make a concrete contribution to the development of the project Water Agent 4. Continuation of promotion and publication in the media. Based on direct monitoring of water consumption and data entry into the application at www.wateragent.eu, the achieved change was : - consumption per person 04.10.2018 (2.2792792 L) - person per person 04.03.2019 (1.2903864 L) We expect the final results after the completion of the project activities. WA
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Interview with Mrs. Polona Jalovec Borovnik Head of Quality Henkel Maribor Henkel’s commitment to becoming a leading company in the field of sustainable development is deeply embedded in our values. For decades, corporate culture has been based on maintaining the balance between economic performance, environmental protection and social responsibility. This philosophy applies to all business units and functions, and more than 53,000 employees worldwide, who have adopted the principles of sustainable development in their everyday work and think and act in accordance with them. Project Water Agent of Podravja is one of the projects under the MIT (Make Impact for Tomorrow) program of the Henkel Group.The opportunity to realize the project was given by Mrs. Polona Jalovec Borovnik, volunteer of the Henkel Group in Maribor. About the MIT Program, Sustainable Development and many other topics related to the Henkel Group we are talking with Mrs. Polona Jalovec Borovnik, ( Head of Quality) Parliament) to vote a series of amendments to restore as much as possible the right to water and universal access to water services
1. What are Henkel’s sustainability aspirations? What strategy is Henkel’s pursuing? What targets you set yourself? Henkel drives further progress in sustainability:
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Global focus on resource efficiency Active contribution to climate protection Comprehensive commitment to a circular economy for plastic and sustainable packaging Leading positions in international indices and ratings
2. Please tell us, what is the strategy for sustainable development, precisely about it? Sustainability has been a top priority for Henkel for a long time. To contribute to sustainable development, Henkel wants to create more value for its customers and consumers, for the communities it operates in and for the company itself by 2030 – while reducing its environmental footprint at the same time.
3. How are Henkel’s activities related to the goals of sustainable development? The Sustainable Development Goals are the blueprint to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all. They address the global challenges we face, including those related to poverty, inequality, climate, environmental degradation, prosperity, and peace and justice. The Goals interconnect and in order to leave no one behind, it ís important that we achieve each Goal and target by 2030.
4. Would you specifically set out some sustainable development activities? In the project Water Agent our goal is to affect everyone, primarily children, the change of everyday habits and awareness, to educate children and their parents and inform the general public on water consumption. To use our water more rationally.
5. Whether consumption and water pollution are taken into account in the production process and product characteristics themselves Henkel has sustainability guidelines for products, which are part of development phase. To contribute to sustainable development, Henkel wants to reduce its environmental footprint ( less water per ton of products: - 24 percent / last year result (base year 2010).
6. Do you personally drink tap water and take care of consumption and pollution of water? Yes.
Mrs. Polona Jalovec Borovnik Head of Quality Henkel Maribor
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Impressions from a water station workshop On Friday, January 25, 2019, our class visited Mr. JoĹže Cvetko from the Water Agency of the Podravje region, to tell us how we could treat water. He also explained about the water supply system, we found out what kind of pipes are used, why the pipes are underground ... Do you imagine what our planet would be look like if the pipes were driven by land? Did you know that about 30 liters of water are used for one shower?
We learned about plumbing and water before, but not so detailed. On that day, we learned a lot of new and interesting things . The boys get the task to assembling the pipes . The teacher Martina helped them with the assembling, and we, the girls watched and wondered what would happen? When they finally succeeded in composing something, they quickly collapsed. Time passed quickly, and before the gentleman had said goodbye, we made a filter for cleaning water. The filter was made from cottonl, sand, fine stones and coal, which were laid in layers in a plastic bottle through which we then poured dirty water. At first I thought it was impossible that water flowing through these substances could be purified and filtered, but I made a mistake. The pure water flowed through the bottle cap. Although the outside was very cold, I did not think of cold as it was very interesting and instructive. You also want to know that we and our teacher are WATER AGENTS OF PODRAVJE. Our mission is to observe the students to look after the consumption of water. Of course, we have to be Water agents for example. We do not have drinking water in unlimited quantities, so we must take care of its use. I hope you will join us in caring for our beautiful, green Planet. Water agent of Podravje, Ina BohorÄ?, 4.a Primary school Duplek
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A River is water, water is Rijeka’s water
Device for wastewater treatment Delta. Water is an invaluable natural resource that the city of Rijeka has been abundant for a long time, but today it is proud to point out. A number of stories and legends have been devoted to Rijeka’s water, and today it is one of the strongest symbols and promoters of the “running city”. Since its beginnings to date, numerous sources and watercourses in the narrow and wider urban area have been important for the genesis, settlement and life of the city of Rijeka, of which a river Rječina has a special role, a relatively small karst beauty whose fountain-bearing city has been supplying water since 1915. years. The beginnings of public water supply in the city of Rijeka relate to 1885 when a water supply system for the central part of Sušak was built on the left bank of Rječina, that is, in 1894, when a part of the city west of Rječina got its first water supply system. In the very center of the town is the inexhaustible source Zvir, the guarantee of safe water supply of the city and the wider area. KD VODOVOD I KANALIZACIJA d.o.o. supplying drinking water to about 186,000 inhabitants in the cities of Rijeka, Bakar, Kastav and Kraljevica, and the municipalities of Čavle, Jelenje, Kostrena, Viškovo and Klana, and at the same time for the needs of the water services provider Liburnijska voda d.o.o. - Icici, Ponikve voda d.o.o. - Krk and KTD Vodovod Žrnovica - Novi Vinodolski. Thus, especially in the summer months, water from the wider river area supplies up to 300,000 inhabitants and tourists. In the technologically unique system of public water supply there are six sources from the wider Rijeka area: the source of Rječina, Zvir, Dobra, Dobrica, Perilo and Martinšćica. The diversity of water resource sources is variable and dependent on hydrological conditions. About nine months of the year, water is caught from the spring of Rječina. During the dry summer months and extremely cold winters when the spring dries (an average of 45 days a year), the remaining sources are included in the water supply. The majority of produced drinking water (about 90%) is obtained from the source of Rječina and Zvir. The specificity of the river water lies in the fact that this underground karst water ensures its clarity and health correctness only by disinfection with chlorine dioxide. This process does not change well, refreshing the taste and quality of river water. The rich catchment area of the springs extends beyond the hinterland of Rijeka and reaches the massifs of Snježnik and Risnjak.
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The public water supply service is provided through a pipeline system of almost 1000 km with home connections, 52 water supply and 31 pumping stations. The system of public waste water collection is a total length of 504 km, with the current 48 major pumping stations. Waste water is collected through four separate public drainage systems and purified on a total of four devices: - central waste water treatment plant Delta (mechanical pretreatment) - biodiscamps Sveti Kuzam and Kukuljanovo (second stage of purification - biological) - IMHOFF precipitations in Klana - the first stage of purification. The built-in systems enable the connection of about 63% of the inhabitants of the wider Rijeka area to the public waste water drainage system. The services used for the most part are used by the inhabitants of Rijeka, about 83% of them. Although the area on which the water supply is relatively large (517 km²), the coverage of the public water supply system is extremely high. According to the data of KD VODOVOD I KANALIZACIJA Rijeka’s water supply system covers around 99.8% of the population, which is significantly higher than the national average of around 80%. Due to the very unfavorable configuration of the terrain, according to the number of water supply facilities, Rijeka’s water supply is among the most complex in the Republic of Croatia, and in terms of the quantity of water supplied (about 13 million cubic meters per year), it is third place behind the cities of Zagreb and Split. The average water consumption per capita is around 130 liters per day. Stocks of quality water supplies that we protect by responsible and conscientious management, implementation of planned activities and measures and continuous investments in the construction, reconstruction, replacement and maintenance of the public water supply and drainage system. In accordance with the aforementioned, as well as the commitments undertaken with regard to the objectives and policies in the water utility sector that the Republic of Croatia accepted by joining the European Union, KD VODOVOD I KANALIZACIJA d.o.o. is launching the implementation of one of the largest Croatian projects cofinanced by European funds.
EU project of agglomeration Rijeka The project “Improvement of water and communal infrastructure in the area of the agglomeration of Rijeka” is a strategic investment project of the Republic of Croatia, the largest in the implementation of water utility directives in the Republic of Croatia, immediately behind the Pelješac Bridge. It envisages the construction of a second stage of wastewater treatment in Rijeka at the Delta site, the construction and reconstruction of about 217 kilometers of sewers and 125 pumping stations with the simultaneous execution of works on about 100 kilometers of public water supply in two towns - Rijeka and Kastav and three municipalities - Viškovo, Čavle and Jelenje, which form the area of the agglomeration Rijeka. In the short term, connection to public sewerage will be achieved for approximately 92% of the inhabitants of the Rijeka agglomeration, or about 98% of the population in the long run. This project will meet the European standards in the management of municipal sewage, increase the level of protection of drinking water sources, reduce pollution of the sea and ensure good water status and protect water, and water dependent, ecosystems.
KD VODOVOD I KANALIZACIJA d.o.o. performing the following activities:
• public water supply: the capture of underground and surface waters intended for human consumption and their conditioning and delivery to the end user or to another water service provider, the management of public water supply facilities or otherwise (tanks, aquifers, etc.) • testing the health suitability of drinking water for own needs, • public drainage: wastewater collection, their bringing to the purification plant, • purification and direct or indirect discharge into surface waters, treatment of sludges arising in the process of their purification, management of public sewerage buildings, • Public drainage includes the discharge and removal of wastewater from septic and collecting pit, • Sampling and testing of the quality of own wastewater, • energy production for your own needs.
A river Rječina spring
The inscription of one of the city tap.
Spring Zvir
Brands of Rijeka’s water - Souvenir glass of water
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Responsible attitude towards the community The need for quality information and education of the public, KD VODOVOD I KANALIZACIJA d.o.o. it has long recognized, and in the last few decades it has become even more important due to the ever-more devastating weather events and climate change that we face as humanity. In order to preserve the water resources we inherit, in our work, we focused a special interest on the implementation of diverse educational and educational programs, with a special emphasis on the youngest. For many years we have been conducting expert visits to various interest groups for Zvir and RjeÄ?ina, as well as the waste water treatment plant Delta, we organize thematic exhibitions and interactive educational programs, with the aim of raising public awareness of the importance of water, the need to change established habits and relationships according to her, as well as the ever more pronounced necessity of life in harmony with nature.
Water agent Rijeka The Rijeka water project is a continuation of the efforts and aspirations of this communal society so far to create a system for improving the communities and society in which we operate, especially the generations that follow. The project is also a fuse of further development and consideration of the educational role assigned to us in working with the youngest. Successful cooperation with the Water agency Association KD Vodovod i Kanalizacija d.o.o. started in 2018 as part of the European Sustainable Development Week. The first workshops were held under the auspices of the pilot project Water agent Rijeka in two Rijeka’s elementary schools.
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It is a unique educational program aimed at increasing the awareness of children about the need for environmental protection and water resources and to encourage conscientious, responsible and rational water consumption. Workshops in classes and on a specialized vehicle so-called. the water station of the student educates in a simple and innovative way about the meaning and importance of water, its circulation in nature, its connection with all living beings, and the ways in which we need to protect and protect it. Particular emphasis is placed on the specificity and quality of river water and the system of functioning of public water sup-
ply and drainage. The project involves the installation of mini water meters in schools and the keeping of consumption records using a mobile application. By this kind of communication, individuals try to encourage changes in established habits, developing a more responsible attitude towards quantitatively limited resources, and taking on an active role in society. By encouraging students to make more sustainable decisions - such as using tap water - the project contributes to reducing the use of plastic waste as well as household savings. About 500 students from six Rijeka’s elementary schools participated in the workshops so far.
WATER AGENTS SUBOTICA Water agency Association started last year cooperation with JKP Vodovod i kanalizacija Subotica within the project Vodni agent. As part of the project in 15 classrooms of 8 Elementary schools in Subotica, mini measuring devices are installed for direct monitoring of water consumption. Project activities include students from the 2nd to the 4th grade, approximately 400 children. Classes are very active and regularly enter consumption data. Through several workshops we managed to achieve a satisfactory level of change in water consumption. Through several different workshops, children acquired new, very interesting knowledge of water, and began to change their behavior. This change has become noticeable not only by changing the amount of water compared to the initial, but also by their very mature and serious responses and reactions. In the framework of the European Sustainable Development Week, on the central city square, an outdoor workshop, Water station, was presented. And within the event, representatives of the Water agency held a presentation in the City Assembly. Within the project, the representatives of JKP Vodovod i kanalizacija Subotica participated in the IV International conference
of the Water agency Association on October 2018 in Rogaška Slatina. On that occasion, Mrs. Agi Tukač and Mr. Petar Pižurica, presented the already existing educational project Aquarius and synergy with the project Water agent. Of course we have heard a lot of interesting information about the water and sewage system in Subotica and wastewater treatment plant, which is one of the oldest in Serbia with the most modern concept of work. Part of the project Water agency is an outdoor workshop Water station where children learn many important things about the water supply and sewage system and home installations. In the week celebrating the World Water Day, during 4 days, Water station workshops were organized in 8 Water agent Elementary schools in Subotica. Reactions of children and teachers were excellent, and the number of children who took part was about 1000. In the continuation of the cooperation, we plan to organize a conference of teachers to present their activities in project Water agent and an exhibition of children’s works with the ideas about the Water agent.
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Sharing of water related education to Visegrad and other countries through projects: Water Agent V 003 and Wat.Edu With changes of the climate conditions in the Central Europe there is a need to change behaviour of citizens considering water management and water policy (including changes in water consumption). Unfortunately, society has only low awareness about this topic in general. Therefore implementation of necessary measures faces low support of inhabitants.
How to raise awareness of pupils about the water management? Water Agent V 003 provides solution!
Thanks to the Visegrad fund IREAS with Hungarian and Slovakian partners will do it in project Water Agent V 003 through a handbook for basic school teachers that will be created by experts from the Czech Republic, Hungary and Slovakia. The original idea to spread the concept of Water Agent to Visegrad countries came from Majda Adlešić in 2016. In 2018 consortium led by IREAS was successful and start the follow-up project. It took only time to find the best partners from regional and got funding. Although the basic education curriculum includes topics dealing with environmental education, water management is not covered sufficiently in classical subjects, especially in the context of current challenges. A significant part of the measures leading to smart water consumption in urban areas can be implemented at household level, and this is where public awareness can make significant changes. This is the reason why project Water Agent V 003 sets its goal to introduce the issue of water governance to the youngest generations (aged 10-12) and their families and teachers.
Handbook Water Agent V 003 will support teachers in including environmental topics such as water governance into the common educational system. It will be based on experience pedagogy using motivational methods including games, quizzes, experiments, worksheets and other materials for interactive education. Final version should be available for teachers in the school year 2019/2020 in English and 3 national languages: Czech, Slovak and Hungarian. It will help them to teach tree basic topics: i) water in the landscape, ii) water consumption in households and schools iii) water in the city. A cooperative game with working title “Cooperation matters” closes the handbook as an activity, which summarizes most important aspects about water consumption in context of drought. In December 2018 and January 2019, all three countries – the Czech Republic, Hungary and Slovakia were testing the first version of the developed modules. The experts visited primary schools, where in cooperation with the teachers all interactive exercises were tested. Pupils were really amazing and they showed great imagination and potential. Children have come up with a lot of ideas and solutions how to treat water and save it. This is the goal of Water agent V003 project - we are not only teaching the facts, we are involving pupils to take action, to cooperate, to be the part of solutions and water protecting community.
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Water welfare ends. The right time for international cooperation Interest in water related education is not limited to Visegrad countries. 8 partners and schools from Hungary, Czech Republic, Greece and Slovenia are involved in Erasmus+ project Wat.Edu Water Education for Innovative Environmental Learning. Also in this case, we can speak about follow-up project. Water agency Association is a Slovenian partner. The project focuses on innovative, flexible and easily adaptable experiential, nature-close environmental educational pedagogy for primary school. Teachers are involved in study programmes addressing pupils (aged 12-14). Developed intellectual outputs at environmental educational elements will be integrated in schools daily teaching practise through a multidisciplinary approach. Pupils will be able to understand relevant water-close interlinks between different subjects: natural and social sciences, arts, water technology (as horizontal learning element involved in each subject). The emphasis is placed on following subjects: biology, chemistry, geography and art. The project started in November 2018 with first meeting in Szombathely (Hungary). Within the second meeting in Ostrava (March 2019) proposed educational activities will be presented. Jan Machac, IREAS, Czech Republic
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WATER IN DESERT DESERT Desert is defined as an arid area. Wherein the quantity of precipitation is small and irregurarly distributed over the year or over a multi-year period, and the precipitation balance is negative. Vegetative groundwater is low and thin. The average temperature is higher (or lower) than the average temperature of adjacent regions and differences berween daytime and nighttime temperatures are great as wellas hot summers and cold winters.
WATER IN DESERT? Arid land The negev and Arava Deserts of Israel compris ca 2/3 (cca. 13.000 km2) of the country (23.000km2) but receive an annual rainfall of only between 60 -100 milimetres.
HISTORY Shortly after the establishment of the State of Israel (1948) a 100-meter deep water drilling project, in search of fresh water in the Negev Highland district was undertaken. These however,were disappointing. In 1969, further driling for freshwate at a depth of 1000 meters led to the discovery of he lower Cenomanian Turonian brackish geothermal aquifer – The „Desert Water“. The „Desert Water“ which surfaces by artesian pressure to height just above sea level is subsequently pumped out. The average suction depth in the Negev Highland is about meters. At present, there are 8 wells (600-1000m) in he Negev Highland suppliyng 6,2 milion cubic meters of saline (2-7 milimos) geothermal (38 -40o C) water per annum to the farms of four major settlements in district (Negev Highland area ( cca 400.000 hectare and population 4.500 )
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USE OF SALINE WATER Experiments for the use of saline water for agricultural irrigation began in the 1940s Constant research has led to widespread use of the drip irrigation system and to the current use of saline water in greenhousees. The use of saline water for commercial production of wheat, cotton and fodder began in 1972. Since then, tomatoes, cucumbers and alfalafa are also begin produced. Recently, saline water is being used for irrigation of olive trees and on an expeimental basis, and for vineyards, pomegranate, jojoba and almonds. Desalination of sea water (and brackish water) is one of tha major steps towards combating the problem of the severe water shortage in Israel. Brine resulting from desalination of seawater is returned ti the sea. However, brine from desalinization of inland water , away from the sea, has to be disposed of , i.e. into evaporation ponds. This brine can be used in aquaculture, in particular for reproduction of aquatic specie that can grow in low saline brackish water but can only breed at higher salinity such as seawater. PhD. Samuel Appelbaum, Ben –Gurion University, Israel
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WATERSCHOOL Promotion of water drinking at school - a European Initiative The importance of drinking water in schools is well known by teacher. But yet, about half of the kids do not meet their minimum hydration requirements. To meet the requirements, it takes more than only allowing, it is necessary to implement active promotion of tapwater drinking in schools. The Erasmus+ project WATERSCHOOL creates tools for different target groups - teachers, head teachers in early years settings and schools, local authorities, parents and water supplier - to sensitize for tap water consumption and to improve water drinking at school.
Why Drinking Water at School? Facts & Figures Drinking water in schools is key to preventing obesity and fillings More than 20 % of children in the EU are either overweight or obese. These rates have increased significantly over the past decades. The consumption of sugar sweetened drinks is often associated with obesity in children. Almost 40 % of the sugar consumed by young children, comes from sugar sweetened drinks. Promotion and provision of drinking water in schools has shown to prevent overweight. In Europe, 20-90 % of 6-year-old children have dental fillings. This can be avoided by encouraging the consumption of drinks without sugar, like water.
Drinking water promotes efficiency. Nearly half of school children do not meet their minimum hydration requirements. Even mild dehydration can cause cognitive impairment, tiredness and headaches; all of which impact negatively upon academic attainment. Proper hydration is an important prerequisite for concentration and performance in school.
Effective education raises awareness of the importance of water and environmental protection. Nearly half of school children do not meet their minimum hydration requirements. Even mild dehydration can cause cognitive impairment, tiredness and headaches; all of which impact negatively upon academic attainment. Proper hydration is an important prerequisite for concentration and performance in school.
Thus, the specific goals of the project are to create: a set of guidelines and didactic concepts for schools how to become a waterschool. a waterschool online portal with various educational resources, good practise examples, and a news-section with updated current research and regulations in all partner languages. a waterschool e-learning course for the different target groups, adapted for all partner countries and languages. These materials will be evaluated during a testing phase. an international waterschool-network The project started in Sepember 2018 and involves partners in Austria (lead partner), Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Germany, Italy, Slovenia and the United Kingdom. Futher information is soon available at: www.waterschools.eu Contact: gutessen consulting/Vienna, office@gutessen.at
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ELECTRIFICATION OF IRRIGATION SYSTEMS SAVES AND PROTECTS THE ENVIRONMENT higher voltage - lower costs
INGEL Agro, company from Novi Sad, Serbia, with its innovative solution, made a real boom in Serbian agriculture. Their low-voltage system of increased values up to 1000 V is successfully used in fields for electrification of irrigation systems.
Why a voltage of 1000 V and what are the benefits? Consumers on irrigation systems are characterized by the fact that their installed power is usually small (from 20 to 50 kW) and are located at great distances (from 1 to 5 km). The application of the standard 400 V voltage is not technically justified due to a large voltage drop, so the construction of a transmission line and transformer substation to 20,000 V is conditioned, which is too expensive. Due to the over-investment, agricultural producers most often decide to purchase diesel engines. They are aware that using oil will increase their operating costs by 10 to 15 times in comparison with the use of electricity; but they are not able to handle high costs of investment in electrification. With the emergence of INGEL with its innovative 1000 V, the possibility of significantly cheaper electrification of the irrigation systems is obtained. The investment with 1000 V is less than 50% to 300% compared to conventional solutions, making farmers more easily decide for electrification than buying oil aggregates. In addition to environmental contributions through reduction of oil use, the advantages are also in the fact that the electric power distribution with 1000V is carried out by the use of cable ducts buried in the ground. This avoids the use of a large number of pillars in the arable land, which by their existence also pollute the environment and pose an obstacle to the application of modern agro-technology. In the development of its business, INGEL made one step further and for the last four years the company has signed a cooperation agreement with the company producing large artificial rain, “RKD” from Spain. Thanks to this cooperation, these two companies have installed in the Serbian market over the last four years, apart from the other, three major machines in the world. They are ditch feed linear machines, 1600 m long, 1400 m and 1200 m, which autonomously move along the canal, take water from the canal and distribute it in the field. For the time being, they are the only 3 electrified ditch feed linear machines in the world, thanks to the application of INGEL voltage of 1000 V. For illustration purposes, a 1600 m long machine waters about 350 ha and during the 2017 season it performed 2.700 working hours. Expenses for spent electrical energy amounted to € 13,000. Had it had a diesel drive, it would have consumed about 80 tons of oil during the season and it would amount to more than € 80,000. It is important to note that during the application of the diesel engine, spillage of fuel and lubricants occurs, and everything ends in the ground or watercourses. In order to use electricity more on the fields, and thus INGEL’s innovation, the state should subsidize the field’s electrification, in a similar way, as it already encourages the construction of irrigation systems. The author of the technical solution with 1000 V, Milan Ugljanin, BSc. electrical engineer says: “There will be electrification in the field of irrigation systems in agriculture. If we work as we did it so far, it will cost us too much. With money that is allocated for electrification, for example, 1000 ha, using an INGEL 1000 V solution, it will be possible to electrify at least 3000 ha and have clean and unpolluted fields.” Milan Ugljanin, dipl.el.ing., email: milan.ugljanin@ingel.co.rs
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Land use development needs to pay attention to the hydrology of an eco-system
Scientific evidence is pointing towards desertification of the earth’s terrestrial surface as a key cause of climate change and its accompanying extreme weather such as droughts, wildfires, flooding, landslides and other weather phenomena. The solution of landscape rehydration consists of effective rainwater retention measures in order to enable evapotranspiration and infiltration so that water can be returned back to the small water cycle above land as well as saturate the landscape and maintain groundwater and surface water sources. Rainwater retention measures are designed based on the type of landscape, size and use of territory as well as its geological features. Research shows that the presence of water in a territory is absolutely essential for thermoregulation to function on planet Earth. Mismanagement of rainwater is gradually leading to permanent water scarcity on continents. Water scarcity may be locally reverted by proper stormwater and waste water management. Annually, an estimated 55,000 km2 of the earth’s surface is altered by urbanization and an estimated 75,000 km2 of the earth’s forests are destroyed due to defor-
estation. This alteration of the earth’s surface negatively impacts the hydrological cycle above land (a.k.a. small water cycle) because rainwater is no longer retained in the landscape by vegetation but runs off the land’s surface making its way to the seas and oceans. Without this water in the landscape, cities overheat as do agricultural areas; this is commonly referred to as the “heat island effect” as there is not enough water to act as a thermoregulation agent. Strain is placed on groundwater sources which can lead to over-exploitation and water scarcity. The alteration of the earth’s surface without taking into consideration the hydrology of the landscape releases colossal amounts of energy in the form of sensible heat into the atmosphere. This phenomena has severe impacts on the spatial and temporal precipitation patterns as moist and cool air is prevented from entering overheated areas. The proper course of action should focus on development that mimics the eco-systems natural hydrology prior to human input.
Peter Bunjak, project manager Rain for Climate, Slovakia
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Water station outdoor workshop tour 2019
This year, for the third time, we organize a three week –long program within the EuropeanSustainable Development Week . In the period from May 22th to June 12th , out door workshops, Water Station will visit cities and students in the region. Water station is mobile classroom with interesting things about water supply and sewerage, home installations, water purification. This year we have additional content within the project supported by the Office of the Republic of Slovenia for Slovenians Abroad. Project content titled “Save the rivers of Slovenia as our natural and cultural wealth”. The program is intended for students who attend supplementary classes of the Slovenian language or are children of Slovenians settled in other countries. Within these activities, children will be able to get to know the country in which they do not live but from which they come from, learn a lot about language and tradition. Also, it is planned to create a coloring book - a dictionary through which children will be able to learn a lot of new words. A part of the program is a lecture of the rivers of Slovenia, by professor prof. Dr Tatjana Kikec, the geographer.
This year’s program will also offer new contents within the Water Station itself. Activities are planned in Vienna in Austria, Subotica, Vrsac, Gudurica, Ruma and Novi Sad in Serbia, Sarajevo in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Slavonski Brod, Karlovac, Rijeka in Croatia and Rogaška Slatina in Slovenia. The European Sustainable Development Week is an initiative that has been organizing programs and actions for the fifth year in a row all over Europe in the period from May 22th to June 12th , which support and encourage the achievement of 17 Goals of Sustainable Development. Almost all goals touch on water issues from various aspects. Of course, the most important for us is goal 6: accessibility of quality drinking water and quality sanitary conditions. Water agency Association is a partner of the initiative and in addition to its actions, our goal is to encourage others to participate in actions and programs. More about the initiative and this year’s programs can be tracked at www.esdw. eu Workshop Water Station as an integral part of the project Water Agent , in addition to mini measuring devices and mob/ internet applications, is the most interesting for children. It happens always outdoors with dynamic content, children learn a lot of interesting information, see shapes and materials, contents that include waterwork and sewage system and home installations. They find out how water moves through our homes and what we do with water on that occasion, learn about water footprint, water purification, alternative possibilities for more rational and meaningful use of drinking water (using purified water, rainwater ...). On this occasion, we also invite you to send your application and get possibility to Water station visit your school.
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Communication through the application and the website Part of the project Water Agent is a mob / internet application at www.wateragent.eu location. The application is the place of data entry that is read from the mini measuring device for direct control of water consumption. At the same time, it is also a means of communication between the school, users and the Water Agency. In addition, through the application, schools can communicate with each other and come to know about the activities in the project and beyond. The data we bring into the application is processed both tabular and graphic. The graphic representation shows the consumption data of the direct user, gives the ability to calculate the average consumption per unit user in the group (consumption per student in the classroom), a trend in consumption (declining or growing consumption), and the possibility of comparing consumption with some other users. For the fifth year, by adding quantities of waste water, we have created a significant database and the accompanying data clearly comes to the realization that the entire corpus of projects is very efficient as it shows the downward trend in consumption after a certain period and the establishment of optimum consumption. The project is implemented in different cultural environments, where the quality of drinking water and the level of school equipment is uneven. For this reason, it is impossible to present a unique data on the daily consumption of students’ water, but according to statistics it ranges from 0.84 to 1.27 L / day / pupil. Within the application there are also video materials about the technique of setting up the device, technical and technological characteristics. Following the development line of the project, we decided to redesign and modernize our website www.vodnaagencija.org. We have upgraded our content by focusing on our topic, which is WATER. So through the content you can learn a lot about the matter itself. In addition, the project is a part of the important European projects we have also presented. And through the contents of the website we want to present as many activities as schools as our main partners and enable better communication with them. By visiting our websites you will maintain better communication with us and with the project itself, get a better insight into the events and follow new content in which you can participate.
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Servis vodomerov; Boštjan Podrepšek, s.p., iz Štor je podjetje s 23-letno tradicijo na področju servisiranja in dobave vodomerov.
V našem servisu obnavljamo vse tipe vodomerov v dimenzijskem opsegu od 1/2” do DN 150. Imamo najsodobnejše računalniško krmiljene merilne linije, ki nam omogočajo hitro in kakovostno opravljanje dela. Letno servisiramo in overimo okoli 15.000 meril različnih dimenzij. Servis vodomerov Boštjan Podrepšek, s.p. Obtniška cesta 6 3220 Štore
T: 03 781 03 30 F: 03 781 03 30 GSM: 041/040 644 131 e-mail: svp@siol.net W: www.svp.si
S pomočjo Slovenske akreditacije smo postali tehnično in strokovno usposobljeni za izvajanje in opravljanje kontrole. Stanje veljavnosti akreditacije najdemo na straneh Slovenske akreditacije pod številko K051. Naše podjetje, Servis vodomerov Boštjan Podrepšek, s.p., izvaja postopke ugotavljanja skladnosti in overitev skladno z Odločbo o imenovanju pod identifikacijsko številko »MIRS ID 389« Merilna linija za prirobnične vodomere.
V servis so zajeta naslednja opravila: • • • •
prevzem in dostava vodomerov pri naročniku, demontaža mehanizma in grobo čišćenje, fino čišćenje (peskanje), po dogovoru tudi barvanje, vgraditev mehanizma SENSUS, ELSTER ali po vaši izbiri z vsemi potrebnimi novimi tesnili, steklom, regulirnim vijakom in filtrom,
• umerjanje in overjanje vodomerov, • rok dobave 0 do 5 dni, odvisno od naročene količine po dimenzijah, • na opravljeno storitev in vgrajene nadomestne dele dajemo enoletno garancijo.
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