The story that 'holds water': Initiative for the availability, preservation and promotion of drinking water in Šibenik-Knin County

'Water means life' is a well-known expression that reminds us of the importance of preserving drinking water. Does this mean that drinking and quality water should be available to everyone free of charge? 

They are thinking in this direction in Šibenik-Knin County, which since the beginning of the year has been taking concrete steps towards bringing together sustainable tourism and the local community with the aim of jointly encouraging the protection of natural resources. 

With an initiative that promotes the use of reusable water bottles, catering offers primarily drinking water from the tap to its guests, and publicly available drinking water, Šibenik-Knin County Tourist Board leads the movement to change habits necessary for the purpose of preserving natural resources, reducing waste and promoting the value of the region that is the home of the Little Giants. 

What is Little Giant Water?

While alarming projections about a sharp decrease in the amount of potable water are emerging globally, the Šibenik region is abundant with it.

Mali Divo water is an initiative for the availability, preservation and promotion of drinking water in Šibenik-Knin County, which has been the subject of numerous studies. Today, it is the water - in combination with the sea - that makes this region an extremely attractive destination for visitors who appreciate preserved nature and authentic ambience. 

What gives special motivation to everyone involved is the fact that the network of filling stations functions as a large one a family of friends leads, which makes the partners of the initiative proud that they jointly promote healthy habits and a positive attitude towards their region, is on the pages of the Water of Little Giants initiative.

Network of water filling stations / refill stations

Through the networking of hosts at the local level in the Network of drinking water filling stations / refill stations, the project brings a long-term change in the way of behavior, and contributes to awareness of the benefits in which we live.

Thanks to the network of drinking water filling stations in this county no one stays thirsty not even during the hottest days.

In order to find drinking water, visitors (and citizens) simply need to find on the map the nearest filling station (refill station) recognizable as Voda Malih Divova, or one of the public fountains. After that, all that remains is to enjoy this precious resource.

Card is available at the link: https://vodamalihdivova.com/punionicerefill-stanice/

The mapping project also wants to remind us of its importance reduction of plastic waste, especially disposable, and invite all passers-by and tourists to fill their bottles with fresh water from the mountain.

World trend

In cities around the world, there are increasingly vocal initiatives to install publicly accessible faucets. Urban areas are increasingly promoting sustainable habits by encouraging citizens to use public taps as an alternative source of drinking water.

We already have an excellent one in Croatia the example of Rijeka which offers an interactive map with the locations of taps with drinking water. Namely, the Rijeka utility company Vodovod i Kanalizacija (ViK) has a map on its website with the locations of all Rijeka's public taps (spina) in order to facilitate access to free drinking water for all who live in the 'Flowing City'.

Interactive map unites in one place detailed locations of Rijeka's spins, a total of 46 of them, just as other European public suppliers have done in cities like Vienna, Paris and Berlin. 

Anyone wishing to refresh themselves with the karst spring water of Rijeka can simply search the interactive map and find out where the nearest spa is located. The map also gives possibility of navigation to the desired location.

Rijeka špines have been placed in high-flow locations in the city center, in parks and on children's playgrounds in order to provide refreshment for all groups of citizens, as well as animals. 

"Here I choose the water of Paris!"

Paris utility company for the production and distribution of water Eau de Paris launched an initiative last year with the aim of encouraging the reduction of the use of harmful single-use plastics and the consumption of free drinking water in public spaces.

With this goal, Eau de Paris launched the campaign "Here I choose Parisian water" ("Ici, je choisis l'eau de Paris"). The campaign invites Parisian shops, companies and catering facilities to open their doors to citizens and visitors and make them available free charging reusable bottles of tap water. 

Shops and restaurants participating in the campaign are marked with a blue sticker. This expands the fairly extensive Parisian network of points with free drinking water.

They are distributed throughout the city different models of fountains with free drinking water, as well as the Wallace fountains, which represent part of Paris' cultural heritage and are a decoration of public space, and for their creation the original mold from the 19th century is still used.

No single use plastic

In June 2019, the city of Paris announced that it would become the first city by 2024 no single use plastic which is one of the biggest causes of soil, river, sea and ocean pollution.

In France, 8,7 billion liters of water sold in plastic bottles are used every year, and plastic bottles are one of the most common types of waste found on beaches and in the sea. 

It is therefore not surprising that the availability of free drinking water in public spaces and the consumption of tap water are encouraged as a very important habit, both at home and outdoors. 

"Drinking tap water is the simplest, most ecological and economical way to effectively and sustainably fight against plastic pollution", he said Dan Lert, deputy mayor in charge of ecological transition, climate plan, water and energy, also president of the Eau de Paris board.

Entrepreneurs participating in the campaign register through this website and then receive a sticker that they put on the window. It is also available to citizens online map on which all the shops and restaurants participating in the project are marked. 

"In addition to promoting the network of points with free drinking water, this campaign aims to encourage the adoption of the simple habit of drinking tap water and preventing the use of harmful plastic packaging", he pointed out Benjamin Gestin, director of Eau de Paris. 

Water with a story

Šibenik-Knin County has more than drinking water that springs from the Dalmatian karst - it has water with a story!

Namely, through research, doctors found out how they are newborn babies in Šibenik, the largest in Croatia, but also in Europe, and even the second largest globally - right after the largest newborn babies who came from the Cherokee Indian tribe.

They are among the highest in the world Scandinavians which can also boast of exceptionally high quality drinking water. The average height of a Šibenik high school student is 184,2 cm. For comparison, the tallest people in the world are The Dutch with an average height of 180 cm.

Through the aforementioned research, it was concluded that the number of hours of sunshine, the quality of food and the quality of water in this region play an important role in the occurrence of large babies.

"We are overjoyed that this initiative found fertile ground, with our people who welcomed and embraced the initiative of the Waters of Little Giants. This is a story about water, the one that cannot be packaged and that has no price, and it is priceless, but also sensitive, so it should be specially protected", she said for HrTurizam Tina Vickov, one of the authors of the project.

This year, at the International Children's Festival in Šibenik, there was talk about the Little Giants, there was talk about drinking water, high school students were measured, games were played, prizes were won...

"We don't want water trapped in plastic, we want drinkable, free and living water from the source. That's why we directed everyone to the taps in the city and to the Water Protectors of Malih Divova, restaurateurs who are part of the network of Water Fillers of Malih Divova", Vickov added.

Promoting healthy habits

On the initiative page Mali Divo water reads the following appeal:

"If you are in our county soon, look for the recognizable sign with the sign Punionica vode / Refill station near the entrance to catering establishments and know that you will be served free drinking water in this establishment, and you are welcome to ask for a refill of your reusable bottle at the bar.  

The network of filling stations functions as a large family of restaurateurs - friends of water, who thus become partners of the initiative, proud to jointly promote healthy habits and a positive attitude towards their own region and their own identity. Even at the cost of short-term profit. 

Our water is drinkable and healthy, it cannot and does not want to be packaged or distributed. You can find it only at the source. Welcome to Šibenik-Knin! Toast to a better life with Little Giant Water!"

Objectives of the project

One of the goals of the project is to convey the message to the general public about water quality of this county, for the purpose of promoting the image of the destination as an area of ​​healthy life, care for nature, application of principles sustainable tourism, a destination that moves from strategy to practice to become a leader in sustainability and a pioneer in ecology.

The goal is also parallel on the field raise awareness of different stakeholders in the tourist offer through participation in networking in refill stations/water filling stations, and through this association strengthen the sense of pride and belonging and charitable work for one's own region.

Finally, the project aims to raise awareness and motivate visitors to the county to use reusable bottles and replenish water through a network of filling stations, thus connecting with the place of residence and actively helping to preserve resources and promote sustainable practices.

Pioneers of sustainability

This initiative is also an example of how to approach the issues of our common current ecological problems in a concrete and interesting way, which require concrete steps to raise awareness and preserve resources for the upcoming generations of Little Giants.

The project of the Tourist Board realizes the potential of Šibenik-Knin County from a self-sufficient destination that systematically works to raise the quality and diversity of its tourist offer and becomes a leader in the application of the principles of sustainable tourism, it is stated at pages TZ of Šibenik-Knin County.

Through the network of restaurateurs who have united in this change and thus become official Water Protectors of their region, guests will be offered drinking water from the tap at the table and their reusable bottles will be refilled to anyone who requests it..

The Šibenik-Knin County decided to become a pioneer of sustainability with the Little Giants Water project.

Cover photo: Water of the Little Giants