The TARGET – TerritoriAl stRateGy for watEr scarciTy project, co-financed by the Interreg Sudoe Program through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), held its second project meeting on March 25 and 26 in Granollers (Barcelona, Spain). The event, hosted by the Ajuntament de Granollers, took place at the historic Roca Umbert, a former textile factory now converted into a vibrant cultural space.
The meeting proved to be an exceptionally fruitful exchange of ideas and progress. In addition to the project partners, representatives from the organisations involved in the TARGET project, Consorci Besòs Tordera and Agencia Portugesa do Ambiente, as well as external project agents from I-ReWater – another Interreg Sudoe project -, Área Metropolitana de Barcelona, the Catalonia Institute of Agrifood Research and Technology, the city of Sant Cugat del Vallés and water management consultants from Marcel Gomez Consultoria Ambiental and GEP – Ibérica, gathered for a series of presentations and collaborative roundtable discussions about “Dealing with drought: perspectives and discussion”. The roundtables allowed attendees to choose specific topics of interest, fostering dynamic, targeted exchanges of information. Notably, participants shared insights into the progress of demonstrative actions across Spain, Portugal, and France, enriching the collective knowledge and accelerating the dissemination of key findings. A highlight of the meeting was a visit to the beautiful Can Cabanyes Park, located next to the Granollers’ waste water treatment plant. This natural space serves not only as a recreational area but also as a Nature-Based Solution for water treatment. Through innovative methods, reclaimed water from the plant is repurposed for cleaning and drip irrigation, demonstrating the potential of eco-friendly solutions in tackling water scarcity.
The group also visited a greywater treatment system installed in a building in Sant Cugat del Vallés. The system filters water from showers, utilizing 0.005mm strainers, and can store up to 3,000 litres of water, which is then redistributed to the private toilets of each apartment. This practical application of water recycling exemplifies the innovative approaches that can contribute to addressing the water scarcity challenge.
As a key part of TARGET’s meeting, project members collaboratively addressed three fundamental aspects of the strategy that the team has been working on: water governance, water cartography, and social perception and acceptability. These sessions served as a platform for exchanging research and strategic insights, fostering the synergy within a multidisciplinary and international team. Participants engaged in discussions on recent advancements in their respective fields and explored collaborative initiatives aimed at mitigating the global water scarcity crisis.
The TARGET project continues to make significant strides in promoting sustainable solutions and fostering cross-border cooperation in the fight against water scarcity!
