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One of the most crucial issues on the Greek islands is the management of water resources. The confined geography, the shift of local economy and society with the consequent abandonment of agricultural land, as well as the current challenges of touristic development and climate change, raise concerns regarding the sustainable future of these exceptional places and their treatment.<\/p>\n
Within its projects, the Mitato of Amorgos constantly addresses the topic of traditional land and water management systems, as models that have survived for millennia and have allowed for sustenance in areas of extreme harshness. Apart from the Dry Stone Workshops and the terrace restoration they involve, as well as the project \u201cThe History of Water\u201d which was realised in 2022 in collaboration with \u201cNissos Amorgos \u2013 Association for the Environment and Culture\u201d, the Mitato of Amorgos has also focused on the study of traditional water management systems on Amorgos.<\/p>\n
In June 2023, the Habitat Unit of the Technical University of Berlin (Technische Universit\u00e4t Berlin), in collaboration with the Mitato of Amorgos and under the supervision of researchers David Bauer and Christian Haid, visited Amorgos for the project \u201cAmorgos Flux\u201d, in order to study incoming and outgoing flows on the island in the fields of agricultural production, tourism, waste management and social infrastructure. In addition, a study of water infrastructure was carried out, including the modern network but mainly the traditional infrastructure, such as cisterns, wells etc.<\/p>\n
The research was based on previous studies. Specifically, the modern water supply network of Amorgos had been surveyed in detail in the thesis of Frederikos Krosman-Nasiopoulos[1]<\/sup><\/a>The recording and register of the numerous traditional structures had been realised in the context of the doctoral thesis of Katerina Kanakari[2]<\/sup><\/a>\u00a0, which dealt with the rural monument of Amorgos.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Map created by Angela Kouveli, Olga Tzioti, Evgenia Hatzistavrou, source: Kanakari Katerina, 2015.<\/p><\/div>\n In the framework of this thesis, 342 elements had been registered, namely:<\/p>\n The above elements refer to the rural space (outside the limits of settlements) and are presented in the map on the left. In continuation, in 2009, \u201cElliniki Etairia \u2013 Society for the Environment and Cultural Heritage\u201d realised the project\u00a0\u201cAmorgos \u2013 Water Routes\u201d<\/a>, which showcased 20 registered monuments to be restored. The most interesting example of that work is the complex of wells in the village of Asfontylitis.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n The restored complex of wells in Asfontylitis.<\/p><\/div>\n The Habitat Unit team of the Technical University of Berlin, with the assistance of the Mitato of Amorgos members, visited a significant amount of the traditional structures that had been registered in Ms Kanakari\u2019s thesis and completed an architectural survey and photographic recording. Furthermore, the team recorded additional elements, such as the more recent water tanks that had been installed in fields in the early 1990s. It is worth noting that many of the traditional structures that were studied, particularly the cisterns, are in a relatively good condition and mostly in use. On the contrary, the more recent water tanks have fallen into disuse, while many of the wells have suffered damaged and aren\u2019t used anymore. An indicative part of the survey realised by the Habitat Unit teams of the Technical University of Berlin in 2023 is available\u00a0here<\/a>.<\/p>\n In the framework of the wider research of the project \u201cAmorgos Flux\u201d, several urban design projects were realised, focusing on a different aspect each. Among them, the team of Fernando Garcia Hernandez, Huiti Jiang, Samantha Ochoa Chavez \u03ba\u03b1\u03b9 Eugenia Cicero realized the study \u201cAmorgos Ner\u00f3\u201d. The project seeks to integrate the elements of water and landscape, crafting a future environment that honors the island's intangible ancient water culture. To achieve this, a transformative initiative is underway to rebuild a deep and meaningful connection with water through the creation of a continuous water landscape through the existing hiking paths functioning as a tangible connection between the past and the present of the island, inviting people to trace the footsteps of the island's identity. Specifically, an intervention is proposed, located between two of the main settlements: Katapola and Chora. The proposal is made up of three different components that cross the island's natural landscape: a hybrid infrastructure that harvests water from the fog, hiking stops related to the old cisterns and, finally, an urban park in the city of Katapola.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_video _builder_version=”3.21.4″ src=”http:\/\/mitato-amorgos.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Amorgos Nero\u0301.mp4″ z_index_tablet=”500″ \/][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.21.4″ z_index_tablet=”500″]<\/p>\n More about the project \u201cAmorgos Flux\u201d, its philosophy and the creation of forecasting models on urban development, can be found in the article of Sustainable Cyclades\u00a0\u201cAegiali 2043: An urban planning forecast\u201d<\/a>.<\/p>\n The registers, surveying, on-site studies and proposals mentioned above present an excellent tool for further exploration of sustainable solutions to water resource management. Restoration of existing structures, such as wells, can continue in parallel with the restoration of terraces, as was the case during the 3th<\/sup>\u00a0Dry Stone Workshop \u201cThe Amorgian Craftsmanship\u201d in October 2024. Additional methods can be studied and applied, for example the construction of weirs in ephemeral streams, as is more and more the case on the Aegean Islands. Obviously, in order to achieve maximum impact of such projects, it is important to focus on their promotion to the general public and raising awareness on moderate use of water resources and the sustainable management of water supply in general.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/mitato-amorgos.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/B5_1_Points-per-drastiriotita_diaxeirisi-nerou-300x212.jpg\")
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