Objetivo específico proyecto 27: SO 2.5 (...) Access to water / sustainable water management

The objective of this pilot activity is to test the applicability of the TARGET Strategy method at local level, in the municipalities of Granollers and Barreiro. The test procedures and methodologies will have been prepared in advance by CESEEAP. It will be implemented in accordance with the 4 pillars of the Strategy and in compliance with its 3 principles. It will allow solutions tested by project partners and associated partners to be implemented, after critical analysis and adaptation, in other contexts, at the level of local authorities (in particular work on nature-based solutions of AMAYA and ECF). The action will culminate in the development of an action programme for the optimisation of Reut in Granollers and prospective scenarios for water management in Barreiro. The program will allow, for each sector and use in the municipality of Granollers, to indicate whether it is necessary to optimise the RANCs and the resources to be deployed (actors, techniques and financing). The prospective scenarios studied for water management in Barreiro will expose the advantages and disadvantages of ENCs for the preservation of the resource and the environment. Once the implementation of the pilot action has been assessed by the CESEEAP, a methodological guide for the implementation of the TARGET strategy at local level will be developed. It will contain the tools and methods for applying the principles (efficient use, RANC, innovation) and pillars of the Strategy (current situation, consultation, forecasting, action plan) at local level. The action programme will be adopted by the Granollers authorities, and a forward-looking scenario will be adopted by the Barreiro authorities. Sessions will then be organised to present the approved TARGET strategy and feedback on the pilot action.

3 demonstrators created during the project in France, Spain and Portugal. These sites will be the result of the NB-Woll (Water-Oriented Living Labs) strategy aimed at finding the best combination of demand and innovation with the help of 3 Woll (platform). Its design will be based on water demand (quality/quantity), context (uses, locations, stakeholder sensitivity) and regulations. These demonstrators will be adopted by the 3 local authorities responsible for public procurement.

Pilot 1a: Reverse osmosis system in Tiñosillos (Spain) for the removal of nitrates, pesticides, and contaminants, combined with 3D-printed electrochemical reactors and renewable energy sources to produce ozone and disinfect water.
Pilot 1b: Nanofiltration system in Nogales (Spain) for the reduction of trihalomethanes and disinfection by-products, combined with 3D technology for ozone production.
Pilot 1c: Pilot reverse osmosis plant in Elvas (Portugal) designed for the removal of arsenic in areas with high contamination levels.

The GT2 contains the demonstration of 3 pilot actions (in large blocks, although they would be more considering the small variations) that implement new devices and offer new services in different areas of the SUDOE. All of them have an experimental and demonstrative character. Its monitoring (A.2.4) will make it possible to test, evaluate and demonstrate the feasibility and effectiveness of its application. The results and practices of these pilot actions will be exploited and transferred to other institutions and territories through A.2.5. Collaboration between all partners will be indispensable, enabling pilot actions to be jointly developed and operated in different countries. All of them will be completed during the implementation of the project sufficiently in advance to allow the exploitation and evaluation of the demonstrative character during the project.

Climate change, overexploitation of aquifers and high demand, among other factors, have made reclaimed water a key asset in water resource management and in the circular economy model. I-ReWater will validate its use in irrigated agriculture, helping to promote greater sustainability of the entire water cycle and water resilience in Europe. It would even reduce the use of inputs (fertilisers) as reclaimed water has a high content of nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus. Thirteen trials are being carried out simultaneously on woody crops (olive trees, vines, hops and almond trees) and two on horticultural crops (industrial tomatoes and watermelons), with analysis of the results at all levels: agronomic, social and environmental.

At least 3 pilot cases (1 per country) act as living laboratories, offering concrete lessons and allowing the Decision Support System (DSS) to be tested, enriched with feedback and new knowledge. These pilot cases not only provide practical data, but also help strengthen the strategic and operational skills of thermal city managers. The feedback obtained facilitates the optimisation of thermal water infrastructures, as well as the implementation of effective climate change adaptation measures. This practical approach aims to promote economic benefit for both operators and policy makers, thus consolidating the sustainable management of thermal water in the thermal territories of SUDOE. These 3 pilot cases are concrete initiatives that seek to test and demonstrate innovative solutions developed for the sustainable management of hot springs. The aim is to put into practice the knowledge acquired, collect tangible data, and generate valuable lessons that feed the process of adaptation to climate change. These pilot actions represent crucial steps in the transformation of theoretical concepts into operational solutions, thus contributing to the achievement of the project’s objectives.