The importance of water: MEDISS and MENAWARA meet schools and municipal institutions
Starting from 17th of February, MEDISS and MENAWARA Italian partners meet up with the school-head and the teachers of the “Istituto comprensivo statale Santu Lussurgiu” school (Sardinia, Italy) and the vice mayor of the municipality of Santu Lussurgiu in order to prepare an event on the occasion of the World Water Day (WWD).
The WWD is an annual United Nations Observance, held on 22 March every year. It celebrates water and raises awareness of the 2 billion people currently living without access to safe water. A core focus of World Water Day is to inspire action towards Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6: water and sanitation for all.
The theme for World Water Day 2022 is “Groundwater: making the invisible visible”.
WORLD WATER DAY 2022
GROUNDWATER - MAKING THE INVISIBLE VISIBLE
Groundwater is invisible, but its impact is visible everywhere.
Out of sight, under our feet, groundwater is a hidden treasure that enriches our lives.
Almost all of the liquid freshwater in the world is groundwater.
As climate change gets worse, groundwater will become more and more critical.
We need to work together to sustainably manage this precious resource.
Groundwater may be out of sight, but it must not be out of mind
This is why MEDISS and MENAWARA, both working on the Arborea Pilot Site (Italy), decided to involve the schools and sensitise young students on the occasion of the water day. In order to do so, they aim to organise an event that involves younger students in small contests to carry out their own projects based on the theme of the day.
Why Santu Lussurgiu?
Santu Lussurgiu is located in the south-eastern side of the Montiferru, one of the Sardinian land rich of numerous wellsprings and near several water sources, springs, rivers and a splendid lake.
There are a primary school and a secondary school in the town, very attentive to stimulate active student participation. Even the municipal administration is highly involved in the community activities.
MEDISS
MEDISS addresses the issue of improving the quality of saline groundwater present in the Mediterranean area opening alternative irrigation for higher quality and more diversified cultivations (dates, citrus, etc.). According to the features and specific needs of the partner areas - Palestine (Jordan Valley), Jordan (Aqaba Governorate), Italy (Arborea) and Tunisia (Gabès) - MEDISS will test innovative solutions in the use of treated wastewater and desalination of brackish water. Specific awareness initiatives for end-users will challenge their reluctance toward non-conventional water resources and train them on Best Agricultural Practices.
MENAWARA
The joint challenges of the MENAWARA project consist in providing additional resources by recycling drainage and wastewater, tapping water losses, rationalizing water use practices and setting operational governance models in line with national and international plans. The project is designed to enhance access to water through the treatment of wastewater to be re-used as complementary irrigation and to strengthen the capacity of governmental institutions, non-state actors operating in the sector, technicians, and farmers.