PROJECT DESCRIPTION
BACKGROUND
Water shortage in Spain, which affects millions of people, is only partly related to rainfall. It is in fact, more the result of a culture of wasting water. In recent years, despite a 10% decrease in rainfall, water consumption has increased by 20%. All of the factors that form this culture reinforce this model of excess water consumption through their reciprocal dependency. This culture of wasting water is seen in industry, agriculture, public mains infrastructure and household usage patterns.
OBJECTIVES
The aim of the project was to reduce household water consumption in Zaragoza by 1,000,000 m3 in one year. This was to be achieved by changing consumption patterns and through the effective use of water saving technology. The project involved government, social bodies, business and consumers. The project aimed to achieve long-lasting changes in consumption patterns through the use of new technology. The challenge presented to the whole community was: to save 1,000 million litres of water in one year in Zaragoza city. This would be achieved through a concerted effort by all parties involved: technicians (plumbers, manufacturers, sales staff), public and social bodies, the media and consumers. The project also aimed to mould a "Water Saving City", and therefore also proposed discussions on reducing consumption in other urban uses (parks and gardens, industries, piping, etc.). The project took the form of an awareness campaign setting concrete targets for the consumer: - purchasing new sanitary ware (toilets, taps, showers, etc.) enabling households to save water; - replacing old public sanitary ware with new, more water-saving sanitary ware; - purchasing domestic appliances (washing machines, dishwashers, etc.) with built-in water savers; - installing individual meters for hot water; - introducing various measures and devices which would make it possible to save water (repairing leaks, reusing domestic water, etc.); - encouraging people to change their water consumption habits.
RESULTS
The initial preparation phase started in February 1997 and consisted of mobilising the sanitary ware distributors as well as the organisations likely to contribute to the success of the campaign (media, associations, etc..). The implementation phase proper was launched in October 1997. It took the form of a massive information campaign, using most of the promotional tools available: newspapers, television, radio, posters, advertising posters on buses, brochures, stickers, display cases in businesses, postcards, etc.). A telephone helpline was also set up and a website on saving water was created (www.ecodes.org/agua/). The campaign ended on 25 January 1999 with an international symposium on the effective use of water in an urban environment. This project, in which 150 organisations and 183 schools (70 000 pupils, 474 teachers) actively participated, made it possible to save 1.176 thousand million litres of water in 1998. More than 140 companies in Saragossa are now marketing water-saving products and two-thirds of the shops selling sanitary ware, taps, domestic appliance and meters actively took part in the project, usually by giving discounts on water-saving products. The sales of domestic appliances with built-in water savers increased by 15%. Four times as many individual meters and 6 times as many water-saving taps were sold. Before the campaign, only one household in three practised any kind of water-saving measure (a device or consumption habit). At the end of the project, this had increased to two out of three. Having achieved so much, it was important to keep the project going. Knowing that the awareness campaign was only a first step, the “Zaragoza Ciudad Ahorradora de Agua” partners decided to start a new, more targeted phase based on concrete investments by large water consumers (public and private buildings, industries, parks and gardens). As the LIFE-Environment project had ended, a new partnership was put in place around the Foundation, consisting of the same partners as for LIFE but also with the ACESA, a public water management agency of the Ebre basin, and the international foundation AVINA, active in sustainable development projects. This extended project runs until 2003. The Good Practices campaign is working hard to mobilise industrial enterprises. Ten of the largest businesses in Saragossa are already taking part in the project. At the end of the process, the Ecology and Development Foundation hopes to award the Good Practices label to 50 large “symbolic” consumers. In addition to the 10 industrial enterprises already mentioned, 30 public establishments have been identified (including the Royo Villanova hospital and a school with 1 800 pupils), as well as 10 green areas or gardens. . The LIFE project paved the way for further projects in Zaragoza and at the national and international level. According to a follow-up report carried out in February 2005 by the LIFE external monitoring team, these have had, and continue to have a positive impact: with direct repercussions for the environment, influencing attitudes, policy-making, public and industrial awareness, and showing economical benefits. The latest initiative, “Zaragoza Ciudad Ahorradora de Agua: Escuela para el uso eficiente del agua en la ciudad” (“School for the efficient use of water in the city”) is seeking to widen the impact of efficient water use and management in the city, in order to make Zaragoza a “reference city” for the whole of Spain in the area of water-management. The recent designation of the city as the venue for the 2008 International Exhibition (focusing on: “Water and Sustainable Development”) is an additional strong incentive for this new scheme. Following the success of the LIFE website, a new website has been created, dedicated to the efficient use of water. See: www.agua-dulce.org/.