On Friday, March 29, 2024, the 1st OurMED Living Lab was held at the "Limni Kafe" in Agyia, with 48 participant stakeholders, who had the opportunity to interact with each other, among them were farmers and individuals, water users active in the area of Agyia, local authorities, water management organizations, decision makers and policy makers, scientists, etc.
The participating stakeholders and parties were related to water management and represented the Municipalities of Chania and Platanias, the Municipal Water Supply and Sewerage Companies of Chania (D.E.Y.A.X) and North Axis (D.E.Y.A.B.A.), T.O.E.V Varipetrou, the Regional Units of Chania and Heraklion of the Region of Crete, the Decentralized Administration of Crete, the Regional Development Company of Crete S.A. (P.AN.ETAI.K.), the Small Hydroelectric Station (M.Y.S.) of Agyia, the Development Organization of Crete S.A. (OAKAE) and the Cultural Association of Agyia. Τhe participants got to know each other and the research team of the project and were informed about the purpose of the research project.
They also took part in participatory activities in which they captured the important issues and needs of the study area and noted the required actions to be taken to properly manage the available water resources of the area, taking into account the water needs of various users. In particular, the need was noted for the staffing of the services and the strengthening of the means of water resources monitoring in the area so that there is more data available for analysis. Characteristic were the comments of the participants on the perspective created through the OurMED program for the creation of a common database, models and useful digital tools for the rational management of the Agyia water resources system. The participating agencies declared their intention to cooperate both among themselves and with the research team of the project, so that correct results and useful conclusions can be obtained from the research project, which can be optimally utilized even after the end of the program.
Along the way, the process of one-to-one interviews of the scientific team with the stakeholders will be completed, as well as the inclusion of all the significant information in the water management model of the region.
