Expected/Achieved results

This tool is a very useful mean for managing environmental risks linked to tourism activities in the participating areas, achieving:
1. enhanced capacity of public authorities to monitor and assess the territorial tourism water sustainability
2. improved efforts to self-assess water sustainability by monitoring water sustainability efforts and adopting water efficiency measures, solutions and relevant staff training
3. improved knowledge and policy transfer capacity of public authorities to integrate sustainable tourism water management into territorial plans.

Long term goals

CASTWATER’s overall goal was to enhance sustainable water management for the tourism sector in the Mediterranean coastal areas. The CASTWATER online tool promotes awareness and investments on environmental friendly measures, methods, services and materials related to sustainable water management for the tourism sector, with emphasis on SMEs and public authorities. It is very important that the tool could also provide feedback on water management policies in the area.

Main indicators

• Strategic planning and management services, Awareness raising, Actual water consumption, Policy framework, Territorial context.
• Indicator measuring by the tool: For SMEs - Annual budget for investments in sustainable water management, Adoption of water saving devices and fixtures, Installation of water recycling systems, Deployment of water efficient irrigation technologies, Implementing environmental management systems (EMS), Fostering strategic planning for sustainable water management, Performing water management services, Monitoring water consumption, Training staff, Engaging customers on water sustainability, Actual water consumption, Wastewater treatment. For Public Authorities - Effectiveness of water management policies, Frequency of water quality controls, Potential for sustainable water management at territorial level, Percentage of tourism SMEs connected to wastewater treatment facilities, Percentage of tourism SMEs providing sustainable tourism services (e.g. ecotourism), Tourism industry’s consumption compared to residential consumption, Percentage of water supplied from sources other than public utility, Quality of water resources utilized in the tourism industry, Frequency of complaints/reports on water quality and water related diseases.

Responsible organization in charge of actions

Public Authority/ies (Local): Municipality of Rethymno

Main stakeholders involved in the planning and implementation of the action

NGO(s): Rethymnon Hoteliers Association
NGO(s): Crete Development Organization SA RETHYMNO
Public Authority/ies (Regional): Decentralized Administration of Crete - Directorate of Environment and Spatial Planning
Public Authority/ies (Regional): Region of Crete - Directorate of Environment & Spatial Planning
Public Authority/ies (Local): DEYAR- Supply and Sewerage Municipal Company
Public Authority/ies (Local): Region of Crete Rethymnon - Department of Environment and Hydroeconomics of Rethymnon
Higher education and research institution(s): LABORATORY OF RENEWABLE AND SUSTAINABLE ENERGY SYSTEMS – TUC
Higher education and research institution(s): Technical University of Crete - Laboratory of Hydrogeochemical Engineering and Soil Rehabilitation
Higher education and research institution(s): Technical University of Crete - School of Environmental Engineering

Main investor

If available/relevant please specify also the share of public and private funding: INTERREG MED

Necessary preconditions for best practice implementation

No need of specific preconditions.

Main challeges encountered during planning, implementation and monitoring

During the planning phase, the main challenge encountered was the identification of the suitable indicators to meet the requirements of the project. To overcome this challenge, qualitative research was extremely important to verify the indicators. The two most essential features of the indicators were to be intrinsically and to be important and relevant of the water management.
During the pilot testing, final testing and evaluation phase of the tool, we had to engage as many as possible stakeholders for their feedback to improve the tool. Although at the beginning the participation interest was low, the communication plan followed and one-to-one meetings convinced them about the value and benefits of the project.

Preconditions for replication

This tool is designed to be useful for all the small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and public authorities.