ST.E.R.N.A Project: A collective action plan for water begins in Sifnos!

In Sifnos the Municipality along with the residents and UrbanDig Project, are launching the ST.E.R.N.A project, aiming to create a collective action plan for water!

Every year, Sifnos faces challenges in water management. This year, through the ST.E.R.N.A project, the Municipality, residents, and scientific organisations are laying the foundations for a local water action plan, based on local needs, active participation of the Sifnos community, and drawing from both traditional practices and innovative environmental technologies.

The ST.E.R.N.A project, a collaboration between the Municipality of Sifnos, the UrbanDig Project, and members of the local community, aims to be a modern example of how local society can organise around water conservation and its optimal management. The project's name is not coincidental, as cisterns (sternas) are an integral part of Sifnos' water heritage and a timeless tool for water conservation on the island.

In recent years, their use has significantly declined, and the ST.E.R.N.A project seeks to revive these practices in a modern way in a place that needs them, but is increasingly distancing itself from them. For the implementation of the project, 10 cisterns in buildings with different uses have been selected: public buildings, businesses, and residences. In each of these 10 cisterns, instruments will be installed for continuous remote measurement of the cistern's water level, the tank, and the supply from the water network. The data collected will automatically be fed into the cloud-based platform developed for this purpose. The system, customised for each building, will process the data and ultimately provide information on consumption, storage adequacy, and dynamic water-saving performance indicators.

This data will also be the basis for the local action plan, aiming to connect citizens with the possibilities of sustainable water management that effectively addresses modern environmental challenges. Through events disseminating the findings of the measurements, participatory workshops, and cultural activities, the local community becomes a co-shaper of the island’s sustainability.

As part of the project, the ST.E.R.N.A app has also been developed—a gamified knowledge application about the island of Sifnos and the resource of water, aimed at both residents and visitors. Users are invited to "fill" a cistern while simultaneously learning important information about Sifnos' water culture.

Giorgos Sachinis, a member of the UrbanDig project, states: “This is not the first time we are in Sifnos to contribute as UrbanDig on the issue of Water and specifically the cultural/practical revival of the Cistern. For us, the Cistern, in terms of significance, as a cultural legacy, stands alongside the dry-stone wall and represents a traditional water sustainability technique. With the ST.E.R.N.A project, our main goal is for the next day to create a strong local community that participates, co-shapes, and makes decisions on water issues, always with the sustainability of their land in mind.” The Mayor of Sifnos, Ms. Maria Nandali, notes: "The technical projects that will be carried out will help the island shield itself with modern methods against the environmental challenges of the time. The State, residents, and business owners of the island, through the ST.E.R.N.A project and through collective and participatory processes, will shape not only a Local Water Action Plan but also a roadmap with specific pillars and proposed projects that can serve as a model for any region facing similar problems."

ST.E.R.N.A.: Strengthen-Engage-Raise Awareness-Network-Activate”, Funding Program: Natural Environment & Innovative Actions 2022, Axis: Innovative Actions with Citizens, Project Budget: €49,180, Funding Source: Green FundBeneficiary: Ochi Pezoume Non-Profit Organization