Nicosia, 29 April 2024 - The Municipality of Aglantzia received an important honorary distinction for the Coca-Cola "Zero Drop - Water Mission" program in Cyprus, implemented by the international organization Global Water Partnership - Mediterranean (GWP - Med) with the exclusive support of The Coca-Cola Foundation, at the awards ceremony of the Cyprus Green Cities and Green Communities Awards for 2023. The company's innovative program, which ran for 10 years, provided solutions to the impacts caused by the extensive droughts and the permanent water shortage in our region, a result of climate change. In 2023, the 21st project of the program was completed, which concerned the irrigation of public green spaces with recycled water in the Municipality of Aglantzia.
The event took place on Friday, April 26 at the Presidential Palace and the awards were presented by the President of the Republic of Cyprus, Mr. Nikos Christodoulides. The organizers of the event and the awards were the Commissioner for the Environment, the Cyprus Centre for Environmental Research and Education (CCEREE) of the Holy Metropolis of Limassol, the Union of Cyprus Municipalities and the Union of Cyprus Communities.
The award and the Green Flag for the Municipality of Aglantzia were received by Andreas Constantinou, Mayor of Aglantzia. In his statements, Mr. Constantinou, after thanking Coca-Cola in Cyprus and the international organization GWP-Med, said: “The rainwater and surface water collection system installed through the Zero Drop – Water Mission program allows the irrigation of 8 adjacent parks and green spaces of our municipality. Such initiatives are extremely important as the project supports urban greenery by offering a breath of life to the city, through the optimization of irrigation practices, while also cultivating a new culture among citizens for the responsible use of water. »
“Zero Drop – Water Delivery” has recorded significant results in its 10 years of implementation, positively impacting the lives of tens of thousands of residents of Cyprus. The program promoted more efficient water management, through the adoption of alternative forms of water, such as rainwater or gray water, in order to cover secondary uses such as the irrigation of green spaces. In this way, through the latest intervention of the “Zero Drop – Water Delivery” program in the Municipality of Aglantzia, 3,000,000 liters of water are saved annually.
At the same time, the project managed to raise public awareness, especially among children, about responsible water management. Within the framework of the program, 21 projects of local importance were implemented, 16 “gray water” collection systems were installed and restored in schools and stadiums, 30 technicians were trained, 280 teachers were educated, while 93,000 residents of Cyprus benefited.
In parallel with the announcement of this important distinction, a digital campaign will be launched in the near future that will focus on the impact of the project on the local community and on how the recycled water irrigation systems help maintain the greenery in the park and improve the quality of life of residents, while at the same time significantly saving drinking water. An action that aims to promote public information and awareness on the issue of water and enhance awareness of the importance of its proper management.