Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1514336
4 NEWS 11.01.2024 WITH increasing population rates and such a small percentage of all the water on Earth fit for consumption, its im- perative and essential that we preserve and conserve this precious resource. It is of utmost importance to learn more about water conservation and how we can help keep our sources pure and safe for generations to come. The unveiling of the 'Water – Be The Change campaign In September 2019, the Energy and Water Agency within the Ministry for Energy, Enterprise and Sustain- able Development, had officially launched the national water conser- vation campaign, 'Water – Be e Change'. is engaging and informative campaign project was part-financed by the European Union under the Cohesion Fund- European Structur- al and Investment Funds 2014-2020. e ultimate goal of this campaign was to educate and highlight aware- ness on people's behaviour towards water conservation on the Maltese Islands, targeting the domestic, commercial and agricultural sec- tors. e main objective of this out- reach effort was to spotlight inno- vative water conservation technol- ogies and interventions in various sectors, including domestic, public, and agricultural. e aim was to at- tain measurable reductions in water consumption and demand. ese designated "demo sites" aimed to provide evidence that even minor interventions in small- er spaces can yield substantial wa- ter savings on a nationwide scale. e interventions covered a wide spectrum, encompassing simple ad- ditions like aerators or drip irriga- tion, as well as more comprehensive measures like well repairs and the establishment of a secondary water management system. ese exam- ples vividly illustrate the significant positive outcomes that can result from such interventions in terms of promoting water conservation. Demonstration sites Undoubtedly, demonstration sites played a pivotal role in this Nation- al Water Conservation Campaign, serving as practical platforms to ex- hibit the effective implementation of water-saving measures and water demand management strategies. By presenting tangible results and suc- cess stories, the demonstration sites were intended to foster wider adop- tion of sustainable water practices across the community. Community engagement was also the cornerstone of Water Be the Change. As the Agency's water team toured the Maltese Islands with their mobile unit to meet people from all walks of life, the campaign nurtured a sense of shared responsi- bility for water resources. It inspired local communities to unite and take collective action, understanding that together, we can make a lasting impact. Our Water Mobile Unit Team were provided with training and branded uniforms and participated in well-attended organised events and national fairs, with the aim of bringing our messages to events attended by the public. e selec- tion of events portrays our objec- tive of reaching as wide enough a cross-section of the population as possible. Not only geographically, but also demographically. During these events water conservation information was handed out in the form of printed materials and one- to-one discussions with our team sharing best practice and tips on how to conserve water at home & the office in visitors' everyday. Despite the lock downs due to COVID-19 and the impossibility of attending organised events due to none being organised, the 'Water - Be e Change' team still attended 30 events over the duration of the campaign as per tender require- ments. Water conservation outreach programme is comprehensive campaign was also supported by a nationwide dis- tribution drive called the 'Join e Drops Tour'. is operation started off in Senglea, Vittoriosa and Kalka- ra, in Janauray 2020. Every primary residence in Malta and Gozo was visited by a uniformed Team of Wa- ter Officers to deliver a water con- servation pack including a voucher and gadgets to be used around the home as an introduction on how to consume water more efficiently. Between Friday and Saturday of that week the 'Water - Be e Change' Mobile Unit would be parked in a main area of that town. anks to the assistance of the Water Team, during these particular days, people could redeem the voucher received at home for a further five water-sav- ing gadgets, for free, depending on eligibility. Should the public have missed the Home Visits or were not able to attend the Town Tour they were referred to Għajn, our Water Information Centre in Rabat. Interventions and implementation roughout the entire campaign, the Water Team conducted pi- lot projects in different residenc- es across Malta and Gozo, and a budget of €4000 was allocated, cov- ering a total of 250 residences. Public projects in five offices were allocated a budget of €75,000 each, while a budget of €5,000 was as- signed to each pilot project on 150 farms. e interventions carried out at each site, led by experienced tech- nical suppliers, have demonstrated the effectiveness of innovative wa- ter-saving technologies and practic- es. By engaging diverse stakeholders and actively involving represent- atives from the Contracting Au- thority, the project has encouraged broader adoption of water con- servation measures and increased awareness about the importance of water sustainability. Conferences and technical workshops roughout this educational na- tionwide campaign a series of con- ferences and workshops were organ- ised attracting lay people, different industry sectors, NGOs, ministerial and local council representatives, University lecturers and students. ese conferences took the format of various presentations by various local and international water con- servation specialists, as well as pan- el discussions and tackled different aspects of water conservation. Discussions were held regarding the main challenges for the achieve- ment of good status for Malta's water resources and the measures needed to be implemented, the need for more green areas in local communities and innovative solu- tions on making the water circular economy possible, and of course the implementation of different water conservation methods. e last conference spread over two days provided an opportunity for hydro geologists and profession- als to exchange ideas and discuss different issues on groundwater re- sources. Positive end to the Water - Be the Change campaign