Action and Results. Alcobendas, city of water for the 21st Century

Transcription

1 Action and Results Alcobendas, city of water for the 21st Century

2 WWF/Adena, 2001 Gran V a de San Francisco, Madrid (Spain) Phone: Fax: Editing and coordination: Mar Asunci n Higueras, Alberto Fern ndez Lop Photos: Manuel Fern ndez M rquez Design: Mar Asunci n Higueras, Alberto Fern ndez Lop Printed in June 2001 WWF/Adena allows reproduction of the contents of this document provided its source is expressly acknowledged.

3 Why a water demand management project? The shortage of water in Spain, which affects millions of people, is not due solely to the uneven geographical and seasonal distribution of rainfall, but crucially to our excessive consumption of water. In recent years there has been 10% less rain, but consumption has increased by 20%, making Spain the third country in the world in terms of consumption per head, and despite the fact that in the last 75 years there has been a reduction of 30% in the water flowing in the rivers, of which only 5% is attributable to natural causes. Generally, attempts are made to combat the water shortage by increasing the supply from new resources, trying to ensure that the availability of resources is always ahead of the demand. As nearby surface or subterranean resources have been exploited, it has become necessary to use resources that are further afield, more limited and with increasingly higher marginal costs, overlooking the fact that building the necessary infrastructures is more expensive every day, since the most suitable places have already been used. As a result, the costs incurred cannot be borne, and by costs we mean costs in the broadest sense: economic and environmental costs. Both are increasingly difficult to bear, and particularly the latter because of their heavy impact on the few natural areas which we still have left. 3

4 Those responsible for the supply have traditionally developed a policy of availability of water. However, the growth of city populations and the increased demand with the rise in the standard of living, have meant that all too often basic services such as the supply of water have entered into crisis. But this policy of availability, which it has been possible to maintain as long as there has been a relative abundance of resources, is no longer sustainable either in dry countries, with serious and recurrent droughts, or in the wet countries, more affected by the quality of the water. In Spain a number of campaigns have been undertaken to increase public awareness at times of drought, but there have been no changes in the technology installed, so when it rains again the habits of saving are forgotten and consumption increases again. For example, a campaign to raise awareness in Madrid by Canal de Isabel II, the city s Water Authority, succeeded in reducing consumption by 22%; but because it was not accompanied by the introduction of water-saving technologies, consumption returned to pre-campaign levels. Recent projects to reduce consumption in Zaragoza and Teror (Canary Islands) have demonstrated the capacity for structural savings based on public awareness combined with municipal initiatives. These technologies which already exist to save water in domestic uses are in general inexpensive, but are not well-known or sufficiently promoted or encouraged by the administration. The way to achieve good savings results is to carry out imaginative programmes that persuade people to install efficient systems, in which the costs are met by the users because they are convinced that they will pay for themselves in a relatively short period of time. We think that public support for these initiatives is guaranteed. According to a survey by the CIS (Study nº 2,209 carried out by the CIS on Ecology and the Environment in March 1996), Spanish society is aware that water is a resource that should not be squandered and that we can all contribute to using it more efficiently. Added to this, the successful campaigns to save water in cities such as Mexico Greater Boston (Massachusetts), Waterloo (Canada) and San José (California), show that any project for achieving effective saving of water is now technically feasible. 4

5 What does the project Alcobendas, city of water for the 21st century consist of? The objective of the project Alcobendas, city of water for the 21st century is to raise the awareness of the population, local authorities and small and medium-sized businesses, creating a culture treats water with respect, by providing the technical, legislative, educational means and market mechanisms necessary for that purpose. It started as an initiative of WWF/Adena (World Wildlife Fund) that, in collaboration with the LIFE Programme of the European Commission, promoted by the Alcobendas Town Council, the Community of Madrid and the Tagus River Basin Authority and sponsored by the Caja de Ahorros del Mediterráneo, The action undertaken goes beyond Alcobendas and has enabled it to become a pilot project that sets a standard for other towns interested in encouraging the rational use of water. With the project Alcobendas, city of water for the 21st century WWF/Adena has shown that it is possible to affect demand, reducing consumption but maintaining users comfort, thus avoiding the need to increase the supply and helping to conserve the resource and the natural environment. The actions have been designed to raise awareness to prevent the wastage of water, corrective measures to optimise the use of this natural resource in private houses, commercial premises and public buildings, and the encouragement of gardening with species that require little water in the area chosen for the pilot project. The aim has been to promote the introduction of permanent mechanisms of saving and efficiency in the use of water. These mechanisms are being applied to all the sectors involved in the culture of water in the area, for which reason various specific activities have been designed in order to achieve the objectives set for each of them. Alcobendas is one of the satellite towns on the outskirts of Madrid, and so it has undergone continuous development and urban and industrial growth. Its current population is approximately 90,000 inhabitants. The rational use of water in all respects is one of the most important collective challenges facing the town in order to ensure sustainable short- and medium term development. The activities are coordinated by the Casa del Agua, or House of Water, which has become a centre for the exchange of experiences, information and debate on the rational use of water. 5

6 ACTIONS AND RESULTS In order to achieve the general objective of raising the awareness of the pubic, local authorities and small and medium-sized enterprises by providing the technical, legislative, educational means and market mechanisms necessary to create a culture that treats water with respect, a series of actions were designed that are described below, together with their results. The specific objectives sought are grouped under the following headings: A. Exchanging technical and scientific information to encourage the introduction of effective watersaving technologies and programmes and water demand management. B. Promoting new regulations. C. Stimulating the water-saving technology market. D. Promoting changes in the productive sectors. E. Increasing public awareness of the need to participate actively in saving water. F. Offering an example of the introduction of effective water saving measures in new homes. G. Publicising the results and the methodology so that they can be adapted to other towns. 2 6

7 A) EXCHANGING TECHNICAL AND SCIENTIFIC INFORMATION TO ENCOURAGE THE INTRODUCTION OF EFFECTIVE WATER-SAVING TECHNOLOGIES AND PROGRAMMES AND WATER DEMAND MANAGEMENT. Actions: International Conference on the Rational Use of Water (16 and 17 December 1999) First Intersectorial Encounter of Construction, Industry, Commerce and Services (13 June 2000) International Conference on Mediterranean Dry Gardening in the countries of the Mediterranean Basin (25 and 26 October 2000) Results: International Conference on the Rational Use of Water. The event was attended by 110 people from central and regional government, local government managers and companies, who also participated in 4 thematic workshops. A summary of the papers presented and the conclusions of the conference and workshops has been published and 3000 copies distributed to local councils, agents, politicians and managers involved in water management. The full papers and conclusions can also be found on the project s web page ( First Intersectorial Encounter of Construction, Industry, Commerce and Services. This event was attended by 65 people, representatives of companies and the Regional and local government, who debated the economic, ecological and social value of water-saving measures in their respective sectors. The papers have been published and distributed to councils, managers and company experts. The papers and conclusions can also be found on the project s web page. International Conference on Mediterranean Dry Gardening in the countries of the Mediterranean Basin. Attended by 150 people. 30 papers were presented from a variety of approaches to give an overall panorama of Mediterranean gardening. Thus saving water was considered from a variety of points of view, from gardening techniques designed to save water, to the psychological aspects that influence the way gardens are perceived copies of the papers and conclusions have been published, which have been distributed to public and private entities involved in gardening. The papers and conclusions can also be found on the project s web page. 7

8 B) PROMOTING NEW REGULATIONS. Actions: Drafting a Municipal By-law on urban Water. The objective was to of investigate the possibilities of applying a model for a new municipal By-law, which would permit the rational use of urban and industrial water in towns. The legislation of the Autonomous Community of Madrid was compiled and analysed and the current municipal By-laws relating to the use of water in Alcobendas were studied. The legislation on the rational use of water already existing in Catalonia (Generalitat Decree 202/1998 of 30 June), the ISO international standard and other technical and legislative background material were also studied. With the information collected and new proposals, a general proposal for a municipal By-law was drawn up and submitted for evaluation by a panel of experts. Results: An agreement with the Environment Department of the Alcobendas Town Council to study the feasibility of incorporating the draft By-law into the new environmental regulations that the Department is drafting. The proposal will also be presented at the Madrid Assembly, and so will be sent to the political parties. This proposal is being sent to the major towns and provincial delegations, regional governments and parliaments of Spain and the political parties. 8

9 C) STIMULATING THE WATER-SAVING TECHNOLOGY MARKET. Actions: Publicising water-saving products and technologies amongst shops, wholesalers, professionals and hypermarkets and coordination of manufacturers, distributors and retailers in order to guarantee availability of water-saving devices in the shops. A Guide to economising systems (3,500 copies) was produced for circulation in the retail sector, and was sent to managers of industrial companies and hotels in Alcobendas and Professional Associations. Water-saving technologies Workshop: forum for information and debate aimed at consultancy firms, maintenance companies, technicians and local councils, on technologies for the rational use of water. Publicity Campaign to promote the purchase of water-saving products: 40,000 leaflets were produced to provide information on systems for saving water, which were distributed together with municipal publications to 35,000 families in Alcobendas. 200 displays were made to encourage the purchase of water-saving devices in the shops and to distribute the leaflet on economising systems. A permanent exhibition of water-saving systems was put on at the Casa del Agua so that local people could see for themselves the difference in consumption of low-consumption taps and showers compared with standard versions, by measuring their rates of flow with metres installed for the purpose. To support the campaign, 50,000 discount vouchers were produced which could be exchanged at the Casa del Agua after buying water-saving devices on presentation of the article purchased and the receipt. The vouchers include a reminder of the efficiency achieved by using lowconsumption devices. Informative stickers were also produced on the proper use of dual flush toilet cisterns for placing on toilets in establishments used by the public. The second and third general publicity campaigns on the project (advertising hoardings) emphasised the need for the public to buy water-saving devices. Dispositivos economizadores de agua Manuel Fernández 9

10 Design, arrangement and presentation of a Blue Loan consisting of offering a low-interest loan to buy or modernise water installations in private houses, services and small businesses. To publicise it amongst residents, shops, services and institutions in Alcobendas, 35,000 leaflets were delivered. The Blue Loan was arranged with the collaboration of the Caja de Ahorros del Mediterráneo, which provided the loans, and the Company Grupo Monedero which carried out the installation. Results: Stimulation of the market so that local people would have access to water-saving technologies 14 Ironmongers and Plumbers shops (80% of the retail outlets) in Alcobendas collaborated with the project, selling the products in their shops. 4 of the 7 companies that manufacture and distribute water-saving devices are now present in Alcobendas. 1 Hypermarket ( Carrefour Alcobendas ) signed the agreement and sells water-saving devices in its establishment. The largest garden centre in Alcobendas and San Sebastián de los Reyes ( Los Peñotes ) is working with the project by providing exhibitions of dry gardening for various events in the project, and created a special dry-climate garden display in the centre. In order to make water-saving systems more readily available to the public, we have signed an agreement with 4 companies that install water-saving devices and sell by telephone, 6 that market water-saving technologies for irrigation and gardening, 2 manufacturers of domestic appliances, 3 that install and read metres, 2 that deal with waste water purification and reuse, 2 offering saline electrolysis for swimming pools, 1 installer of covers for swimming pools and 1 company that puts up polycarbonate roofs for swimming pools. The Water-Saving Technologies Workshop was attended by a total of 96 people from 4 Town Councils, 17 companies, 4 environmental consultancy firms, 2 cultural associations and 2 schools. The workshop acted as a platform for the creation of two new companies related with Water Technologies (Ecoragua and Tecnologías del Agua) Purchase of water-saving systems by the public: The figures for the sales of water-saving devices furnished by the points of sale by 20 March 2001, after a second campaign (promotional vouchers) were 4,840 units sold, results which are supported by the certificates of the various establishments. On the basis of these figures, it is estimated that approximately 4000 homes and some 16,000 people (22% of a population of 93,380 inhabitants) now have water-saving systems. 10

11 In addition the Hotel Miraflores (33% of establishments) reported that it had installed flowcontrol devices in all the rooms, and the Zagros Sport gymnasium reported that it had installed lowconsumption showers (20% of establishments). The water-saving systems installed in Alcobendas mean a potential saving of more than 100 million litres a year (see table/summary at the end). The effect of the campaigns and increased environmental awareness largely explain the success obtained in selling water-saving devices. Blue loan: This initiative was not as successful as had been hoped. There were three reasons for this: the cost of water is very low in comparison with the average wage, the cost of installing watersaving devices in homes is very low (less than 10,000 ptas), and it is very difficult for all the members of a residents association to reach agreement in order to take any kind of collective decision. D) PROMOTING CHANGES IN MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES. ACTIONS: Actions: Organisation of a presentation of the initiatives that exist for promoting environmental management aimed at companies in Alcobendas. These included the SME-Environment initiative of the Business and the Environment Foundation, which has been adapted to encourage the participation of businesses in Alcobendas interested in introducing environmental management systems and obtaining the ISO certification. The Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Madrid and the General Directorate of Education and Environmental Protection of the Autonomous Community of Madrid also took part. Results: 25 companies attended the presentation, of which two signed up to the SME-Environment initiative for , and three others said they would be interested in participating in the future. There are now five companies taking part in the programme to introduce environmental management (Artes Gráficas S.L., Bauch & Lomb, Talleres E-M, Pinazo, y Pronatur). 11

12 E) RAISING PUBLIC AWARENESS OF THE NEED TO TAKE AN ACTIVE PART IN SAVING WATER. Actions: Aimed at Associations and the general public: A survey was sent to 261 Associations in Alcobendas to determine the extent of their members interest in knowing about the water situation in Alcobendas, and providing them with information about its rational use. Lectures at their centres, inviting participation in the project by publicising effective systems for saving water. Publishing and distributing 10,000 copies of the leaflet Activities for residents associations, clubs and other social groups. Organising the competition Great water marathon to reward communities and residents that saved most water. A water festival, organised on the occasion of World Day for Water, which included the following activities: A puppet show, fancy dress workshop, performance by a local theatre group, an information about the project, the performance of the winning songs in the carnival and handing out aromatic plants. An exhibition entitled Water for Life, an education multimedia interactive exhibition covering general aspects of the importance of water for life, and the activities and results achieved with the project Alcobendas, city of water for the 21st century. The exhibition was put on at the Culture Centre (December 2000) and the Casa del Agua (February and March 2001). Theatre workshops and a performance of the work The Earth, the watery planet, on 11 and 17 December Activities aimed at schools: Water is Life, an audio-visual presentation with talk and discussion. Excursion to Arroyo de la Vega based on a working dossier. Workshop: The Cycle of Water through the water bill. Workshop: Let s get to know water-saving systems. School competition to reward the best school project on water. 12

13 Results: Activities with Associations and the Public in General: Five associations organised their own activities (excursions, workshops, competitions, etc.) aimed at knowledge and rational use of water, in which their members participated. 20 associations publicised the project amongst their members. 17 individual competitors and a group of 20 residents participated in the competition Great water-saving marathon. Participation in the Carnival fiestas: A women s association (ARTE 4) with 40 participants composed a song about saving water in which they mentioned the project. They dressed up as sirens and won the first prize in the carnival. Twenty mothers from the Parents Association of the Miguel Hernández State Primary School took part with 60 pupils dressed up as taps and sang satirical songs in which they gave instructions for using water rationally. Water festival: More than 500 people came to the festival, organised to celebrate World Day for Water. Novelty events: 45 participants (aged between 12 and 15) divided into 8 groups competed in different events related with water to celebrate World Environment Day. The exhibition Water for Life was visited by more than 1,200 people. Theatre performance of Earth, the watery planet, with the active participation of 20 people belong to groups in Alcobendas. The two performances given were attended by 150 people. Activities aimed at schools: 14 schools and a total of 1,425 pupils took part in the activities organised. The number of pupils in each level were: 5th year Primary: 146 pupils, 6th year primary: 226 pupils, Secondary: 948 pupils, Adult Education: 45 students, Special Education: 60 pupils. 3 schools have included in their curriculum and annual study plan the subject of water and the need to use it properly and conserve it. All the states schools (except 1) have asked for water-saving systems to be installed, sending a letter and petition signed by all of them to the Local Council. 13

14 F) OFFERING AN EXAMPLE FOR INCORPORATING EFFECTIVE WATER-SAVING MEASURES INTO NEW HOMES: Actions: Competition for ideas to find the best design for incorporating water-saving elements and technologies in new developments. Event promoted by the Alcobendas Town Council and WWF/Adena to inform and involve the construction companies awarded contracts for sites on the Valdelasfuentes residential development. They were given arguments and information on the prices, materials and market availability of water-saving devices in order to promote their installation in new homes. Results: A collaboration agreement was signed with the Valdelasfuentes Development Consortium and the local authority making the award of contracts subject to installation of measures to ensure the efficient use of water. 12 engineering and architecture consultancy firms took part in the competition for ideas, presenting 12 designs.. The winning design was publicised amongst professionals in the sector, and Alcobendas Council awarded a contract for it so that it could be included in the 192 homes in the Valdelasfuentes municipal development. The other companies responsible for building houses in the Valdelasfuentes Consortium have undertaken to include water-saving technologies in the remaining 3000 homes to be built. 14

15 G) PUBLICISING THE PROJECT IN ALCOBENDAS AND BEYOND: Actions: In the Area covered by the Project (Alcobendas): Press conference and presentation of the project to the public, attended by the Community of Madrid Minister for the Environment, the Mayor of Alcobendas, the President of the Tagus River Basin Authority, the Vice-President of the Caja de Ahorros del Mediterráneo, and the President of WWF/Adena. The presentation to the public was used to provide information on the water-saving devices, with examples of different systems, explaining to those interested how they are used. There were 3 publicity campaigns about the project, with posters in 72 bus shelters and on 22 hoardings. The first was in September 1999, to coincide with the presentation of the project to the public, under the slogan WATER S GOING UP, to draw the public s attention to the project. In February and March 2000 a second phase of the publicity campaign was launched with the slogan HERE AND NOW to encourage people to buy saving devices. The third was launched in October 2000 with the slogan AND WE RE SAVING to inform the population on the results obtained to date by the project. Articles have been included in the Council s periodicals (the weekly magazine Siete días and the quarterly Alcobendas ). A weekly slot has been devoted to the project on the local radio station (Onda Alcobendas) 3000 calendars were produced and distributed with messages to remind people throughout the year of the savings produced by using water-saving devices and adopting good habits in the way water is used in the home. Organising the interactive exhibition Water for Life and showing it in Alcobendas. A variety of participative events have been held (See Point E: Raising Public awareness) which have made the project known to most of the population of Alcobendas. 15

16 Outside the Area covered by the Project so that it can be adapted and applied in other Spanish and European towns: Creating and launching the project s web page showing the action taken and results ( Sending the documentation produced by the project to more than 10,000 addresses, in particular professional sectors related with the use and management of the urban water supply, and towns with more than 20,000 inhabitants. Production of the manual Water Conservation in Towns, 5,000 copies of which have been published and will be distributed to the FEMP, Chambers of Commerce, Professional Associations and all the local councils in the Community of Madrid. Publicising the Project at Fairs: Biocultura Madrid, Biocultura Barcelona, SMAGUA Zaragoza; presentation at three Madrid Universities: Autónoma, Complutense and Alcalá de Henares; Scientific and Technical conferences in Sevilla la Nueva in Madrid, Saving water in Barcelona (ICE), Conference on the rational use of water (EMASESA, Seville). Monographic course at the CIEMAT and other events: Programme Earth, Agenda Local 21 courses in Castilla- León in the CENEAM and other places such as Onil, Alicante. Attendance at LIFE Week 2000 and Symposium on the price of water in Sintra, Portugal and in the IV Congress on Educational Cities (Lisbon). Results: The Press Conference was attended by 30 representatives from the media (press, radio and TV), and the coverage produced can be described as very satisfactory: The project s office La Casa del Agua received more than 1,000 calls and visits from representatives of the media asking about it. Four television reports on water-saving systems and action by the project (Tele 5, Antena 3, TVE 2 and Canal Digital) 17 Programmes on Onda Alcobendas 14 interviews on other Radio stations. 113 articles published in various magazines and graphic media. A total of 250 journalists were informed about the project (35 from the local press, 15 from the specialised press and 200 from the national press) 16

17 CONCLUSIONS At present, Canal de Isabel II (the Madrid Water Authority) is comparing the consumption of water in Alcobendas for the years 1999 and 2000 to find out whether savings were made while the campaign to raise public awareness was in action. For the moment, the only data on saving that we can give are potential, based on the capacity for saving of all the water-saving systems sold, and which are as follows: 4,840 water-saving devices, with an average capacity for saving which is shown in the table below, and which imply a potential saving of 102,218,863 litres a year (more than 102 Olympic swimming pools). Moreover, if, as we hope, water-saving devices are installed in the 3,192 homes of Valdelasfuentes, this will mean a saving of another 497 million litres. ESTIMATED SAVINGS FOR ALCOBENDAS units Saving per Estimated IOM daily total sold unit in daily use in m 3 litres/minute in minutes Showers Spray aerators WC flush reducer Pressure reducers Totals ANNUAL TOTAL 102,218,863 ESTIMATED SAVINGS FOR VALDELAFUENTES units Saving per Estimated IOM daily total sold unit in daily use in m 3 litres/minute in minutes Showers Spray aerators WC flush reducer Pressure reducers Totals ANNUAL TOTAL 497,533,608 17

18 The savings produced by residents responsible attitude towards a rational use of water is more difficult to estimate, and will be ascertained from the data furnished by the Water Authority s study. Measures such as Environmental Management by companies are now beginning to bear fruit, and others that will have a major impact such as local By-laws will be presented to the Council in Plenary Session to serve as a legislative instrument that will permit on-going savings in new homes and buildings that are refurbished, so their effects will be felt later. However, the most important aspect of the Alcobendas, city of water for the 21st century project is not the savings in absolute terms, but the creation of MECHANISMS THAT PRODUCE A PERMANENT CHANGE OF ATTITUDE TOWARDS SAVING in the use of water in cities. This project differs from other water-saving campaigns in that it is not just a campaign to raise awareness, but tackles the problem in a systematic and comprehensive way. The mechanisms and the tools designed by the project to encourage the continuous saving of water in Alcobendas are the following: MECHANISMS Legislative Market Financial Technical Educational TOOLS Draft By-law Campaign to promote water-saving devices Promoting the construction of houses that save water Blue loan Conferences Eco-audits Competition to design an engineering project Events with public participation Educational programme for schools 18

19

20 Patrocina Promueve