Climate and Resources: A New Balance to Find

In recent decades, Europe has experienced record-breaking heat, with the years 2020, 2022, 2019, 2015, and 2014 among the hottest on record. In the SUDOE region (Southwest Europe), 2022 was the hottest year since 1950. This changing climate affects groundwater quality and the adaptive capacity of territories, while also disrupting economic balances. Demographic and migratory dynamics add further pressure on water resources and the local economy.

The Challenges of Thermal Springs

Thermal springs are central to the development of many towns in the SUDOE region. They are a valuable natural heritage, essential both for the local economy (tourism, wellness, agriculture) and the environment. However, climate change threatens their fragile balance: the expected decrease in precipitation could alter their natural properties and impact their ecosystems.

Objectives of the ThermEcoWat Project

The goal of ThermEcoWat is to develop collaborative governance tools to ensure coordinated and sustainable management of thermal springs, preserve this resource, and support the economic and environmental development of the involved territories. The project is based on cooperation among scientists, technicians, public decision-makers, and economic stakeholders to:

• Better understand the impact of climate change on thermal springs through the collection and analysis of reliable data;

• Develop tools and methods to adapt the management of these resources and preserve their quality;

• Harness the thermal energy of the springs by promoting the use of low-temperature geothermal technologies and heat storage to support a low-carbon local economy;

• Strengthen the resilience of territories, especially in small rural communities, by diversifying economic activities around sustainable tourism and renewable energies.

Approach and Methodology

The project is based on:

• A European network of partners

• A Shared Knowledge Base

• Three pilot sites:

  • Chaudes-Aigues (France)

  • São Pedro do Sul (Portugal)

  • Caldes de Montbui (Spain)

ThermEcoWat Project Partners

Scientific and Technical Organizations

• BRGM – French Geological Survey (France)

• ICGC – Cartographic and Geological Institute of Catalonia (Spain)

• LNEG – National Laboratory for Energy and Geology (Portugal)

• CSIC-IGME – Geological and Mining Institute of Spain (Coordinator)

Thermal Operators and Local Institutions

• Termalistur (Portugal)

• Termas de São Pedro do Sul E.M., S.A. (Portugal)

• Municipality of Caldes de Montbui (Spain)

• Province of Ourense (Spain)

• Thermauvergne Association (France)

Follow us on our various social networks:

Facebook page : https://www.facebook.com/ThermEcoWat

LinkedIn page : https://www.linkedin.com/company/thermecowat

Website: https://interreg-sudoe.eu/fr/proyecto-interreg/thermecowat