diff --git a/.env-devel b/.env-devel
index 5bc2e21c741..f2e27bf1c32 100644
--- a/.env-devel
+++ b/.env-devel
@@ -47,6 +47,7 @@ DIRECTOR_V2_DEV_FEATURES_ENABLED=0
 DYNAMIC_SIDECAR_IMAGE=${DOCKER_REGISTRY:-itisfoundation}/dynamic-sidecar:${DOCKER_IMAGE_TAG:-latest}
 DYNAMIC_SIDECAR_LOG_LEVEL=DEBUG
 DYNAMIC_SIDECAR_PROMETHEUS_SERVICE_LABELS={}
+DYNAMIC_SIDECAR_PROMETHEUS_MONITORING_NETWORKS=[]
 
 FUNCTION_SERVICES_AUTHORS='{"UN": {"name": "Unknown", "email": "unknown@osparc.io", "affiliation": "unknown"}}'
 
diff --git a/docs/env-vars.md b/docs/env-vars.md
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..7a389701565
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/env-vars.md
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+# Environment variables management
+
+As a developer you will need to extend the current env vars for a service.
+
+The following rules must be followed:
+
+1. for each service that requires it, add it to the `services/docker-compose.yml` file (such as `MY_VAR=${MY_VAR}`)
+2. add a meaningful default value for development inside `.env-devel` so that developers can work, and that `osparc-simcore` is **self contained**.
+  - **NOTE** if the variable has a default inside the code, put the same value here
+3. inside the repo where devops keep all the secrets follow the instructions to add the new env var
diff --git a/services/docker-compose.yml b/services/docker-compose.yml
index 34fc67d1b02..0d37c5d002d 100644
--- a/services/docker-compose.yml
+++ b/services/docker-compose.yml
@@ -198,6 +198,7 @@ services:
       - SIMCORE_SERVICES_NETWORK_NAME=interactive_services_subnet
       - TRACING_THRIFT_COMPACT_ENDPOINT=${TRACING_THRIFT_COMPACT_ENDPOINT}
       - DYNAMIC_SIDECAR_PROMETHEUS_SERVICE_LABELS=${DYNAMIC_SIDECAR_PROMETHEUS_SERVICE_LABELS}
+      - DYNAMIC_SIDECAR_PROMETHEUS_MONITORING_NETWORKS=${DYNAMIC_SIDECAR_PROMETHEUS_MONITORING_NETWORKS}
     env_file:
       - ../.env
     volumes: