Representatives from Spain, France, and Portugal participating in the GestEAUr project will meet on June 11 and 12 in Pau (France), where they will have the opportunity to visit two water treatment plants in the region and hold various meetings with local partners to understand the state of water resources in the area.
Pau (France) will host the upcoming meeting of the GestEAUr project (Sustainable and Digitalized Water Management in Rural Areas of the SUDOE space) on June 11 and 12. The project aims to increase the resilience of rural water resources in the SUDOE space (Southwest Europe) against climate change by using alternative water sources and improving the quality of drinking water through innovative and sustainable solutions. The project is funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) with a total investment close to two million euros.
GestEAUr is a consortium made up of nine partners from Spain, France, and Portugal with a shared goal of providing solutions to the global challenge of sustainable water resource management.
The purpose of the Pau meeting is to share the progress made so far in the project (which started in 2024), presenting the conclusions of five diagnostic studies carried out in different target areas. The aim of these studies was to identify concrete solutions to improve the quality and management of water resources in the five study zones (ES: Moraña and Guadiana-Extremadura; PT: Minho and Alentejo; FR: Béarn). These findings serve as the starting point for continuing to adapt technical solutions and, in particular, to develop a digital tool (SID_AQUARURAL) based on artificial intelligence. This tool will allow monitoring of water quality and quantity throughout each stage of the integrated water cycle. The goal is for this tool to act as a digital twin to support decision-making by responsible authorities.
Meeting agenda
One of today’s major global challenges is the sustainable management of water resources. It is estimated that by 2030, the gap between global water demand and available supply will reach 40%. In Europe, this situation is especially critical: according to the European Environment Agency, 20% of the continent experiences water stress, and the problem is worsening every year. Portugal, Spain, and France are among the most affected countries due to a combination of water scarcity, agricultural pollution, and a lack of efficient infrastructure.
GestEAUr is already working to find solutions. The Pau meeting will begin with a working session to review progress, outline future actions, and explore new avenues of collaboration. Afterward, the partners will visit the Guindalos Drinking Water Treatment Plant. Following the visit, they will meet with various stakeholders in the water sector in the Béarn region (France) to understand local needs and the current state of water resources in the area.
On the second day, June 12, they will visit the Lescar Wastewater Treatment Plant, where a pilot test will be carried out by the French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS), one of the consortium’s partners.
The GestEAUr project
The GestEAUr project (Sustainable and Digitalized Water Management in Rural Areas of the SUDOE space) aims to enhance the resilience of rural water resources in Southwest Europe to climate change, through the use of alternative water sources and improvements in drinking water quality via innovative and sustainable solutions.
The project includes nine partners from Spain, France, and Portugal, working across three main areas: effective and cost-efficient water management solutions (reuse, quality, and treatment); technologies for purification, treatment, and reuse; and digitalization and governance to improve water management.
Led by the Water Engineering and Management Research Group (IGA) and the Center for Water Research and Technological Development (CIDTA) at the University of Salamanca, the consortium also includes the Department of Chemical Engineering at the Higher Technical School of Industrial Engineers in Albacete (University of Castilla-La Mancha); the French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS), Délégation Occitanie Est, PROcédés Matériaux et Energie Solaire; FCC AQUALIA; Pôle Métropolitain du Pays de Béarn; the Provincial Council of Ávila; the Intermunicipal Community of Alto Minho, Strategic Planning and Intermunicipal Development Division; FCC Aqualia (Portugal branch); and Águas do Tejo Atlântico.
The initiative is planned to last two years (January 2024–December 2026), with a total investment of €2,035,800. It is co-funded by the Interreg Sudoe Programme through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), contributing €1,526,850.
