{"id":61135,"date":"2026-02-17T15:43:07","date_gmt":"2026-02-17T14:43:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/interreg-sudoe.eu\/?post_type=noticia-proyecto&#038;p=61135"},"modified":"2026-02-17T23:22:24","modified_gmt":"2026-02-17T22:22:24","slug":"3rd-target-newsletter-february-2026","status":"publish","type":"noticia-proyecto","link":"https:\/\/interreg-sudoe.eu\/en\/noticia-proyecto\/3rd-target-newsletter-february-2026\/","title":{"rendered":"3rd TARGET Newsletter! &#8211; February 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2><strong>Technical Advances<\/strong><\/h2>\n<h3><strong>Mapping the Path Forward<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>Over the past six months (August 2025 \u2013 January 2026), the team at <strong>ECOFILAE<\/strong> has been busy mapping out strategic territories. This crucial work helps identify exactly where the TARGET strategy could be successfully replicated in the future.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_61114\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-61114\" style=\"width: 598px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-61114 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/interreg-sudoe.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/mapaecopfilae.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"598\" height=\"418\" srcset=\"https:\/\/interreg-sudoe.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/mapaecopfilae.jpg 598w, https:\/\/interreg-sudoe.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/mapaecopfilae-300x210.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 598px) 100vw, 598px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-61114\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><em>Strategic territories within SUDOE for replicating the TARGET strategy. <\/em>Source: Kreis, M., Declercq, R. (2025). <em>Identification et \u00e9tude des territoires de transfert de la Strat\u00e9gie TARGET sur le SUDOE. <\/em><em>Report E3.1 of TARGET Sudoe<\/em> Project S1\/2.5\/F0041. Montpellier: ECOFILAE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><strong>What happens next?<\/strong> Now that the mapping is complete, <strong>ECOFILAE<\/strong> is waiting for the results from the January workshops led by <strong>EPIDOR<\/strong> and <strong>CEREMA<\/strong>. During these sessions, stakeholders prioritized key issues and developed specific scenarios for the Dordogne region and Grand P\u00e9rigueux.<\/p>\n<p>Once these scenarios are finalized, <strong>ECOFILAE<\/strong> will step back in to crunch the numbers. They will carry out both multi-criteria and cost-benefit analyses to ensure the proposed solutions are not only effective but economically sound.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>Focus on the Dordogne: The collaborative approach of TARGET&#8217;s French partners<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>As part of the Target strategy test in the Dordogne river basin, conducted by <strong>EPIDOR<\/strong>, the team at <strong>CEREMA<\/strong> has placed a huge emphasis on how consultation works in practice.<\/p>\n<p>To kickstart the process, they brought in a consulting firm (<strong>Ecologie Urbaine et Citoyenne<\/strong>) to interview key figures involved in water management across the basin. This research allowed them to produce a detailed &#8220;map&#8221; of local actors, identifying exactly where different groups stand regarding the use of non-conventional water sources.<\/p>\n<p>Following this initial research, the team organized two workshops in P\u00e9rigueux, thanks to the support of <strong>GRAND PERIGUEUX<\/strong>:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>\n<figure id=\"attachment_61115\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-61115\" style=\"width: 300px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-61115 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/interreg-sudoe.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Imagen3-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" srcset=\"https:\/\/interreg-sudoe.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Imagen3-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/interreg-sudoe.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Imagen3-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/interreg-sudoe.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Imagen3.jpg 996w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-61115\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><em>Meeting in P\u00e9rigueux, January 2026.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><strong>29 January 2026:<\/strong> The second workshop focused on the future. The goal was to encourage stakeholders to actively contribute to the strategy and prepare for the practical actions ahead.<\/li>\n<li><strong>15 January 2026:<\/strong> 15 January 2026: The first session aimed to bridge the gap between technical data (produced by <strong>EPIDOR<\/strong>, <strong>ECOFILAE<\/strong>, and <strong>CEREMA<\/strong>) and local reality. Using a playful approach, <strong>CEREMA<\/strong>, <strong>EPIDOR<\/strong> and <strong>EUC<\/strong> helped participants identify and rank the territory\u2019s major challenges, highlighting both the opportunities and obstacles for managing water shortages.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>It is worth noting that CEREMA\u2019s participation unit observed both events to evaluate the consultation process itself.<\/p>\n<p><strong>What if someone could not assist?<\/strong> For those who could not attend the in-person sessions, a final online workshop was scheduled for the 5<sup>th<\/sup> of February. This ensured that every voice had a chance to be heard in shaping the strategy!<\/p>\n<h3><strong>Testing the Target Strategy in other territories<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><strong>Is the TARGET strategy flexible enough to work in other regions?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>To find the answer, the <strong>EPIDOR<\/strong> and <strong>CEREMA<\/strong> team has developed a specific interview guide designed to survey other territories, identified by the mapping work carried out by <strong>ECOFILAE<\/strong>, across the <strong>SUDOE<\/strong> zone. The goal is to see if the solutions proposed by Target can be replicated elsewhere and to understand how different communities feel about water reuse.<\/p>\n<p>The TARGET approach is being compared in the 3 countries with initiatives that are already up and running.<\/p>\n<p>In France, 2 regions have been selected, with <strong>CEREMA<\/strong> and <strong>EPIDOR<\/strong> leading the interviews. Meanwhile in Spain, <strong>UCM<\/strong> and <strong>AMAyA<\/strong> are going to carry out the interviews in 15 regions, and in Portugal, <strong>FCT Nova<\/strong> is going to work on 5 regions, such as areas focused on shellfish farming, to see how the strategy holds up in new contexts.<\/p>\n<p>By interviewing a wide variety of stakeholders, from River Basin authorities to local water syndicates and associations, the TARGET team hopes to gather valuable feedback on whether these territories could adopt elements of the strategy in the future.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Connecting Spain, Portugal, and France<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>It has been a busy few months for <strong>AMAyA<\/strong>. Between September 2025 and January 2026, the team led a major analysis of water governance across France, Spain, and Portugal. This work involved coordinating closely with partners in all three countries to produce a comprehensive report on how water is managed during times of scarcity.<\/p>\n<p><strong>AMAyA<\/strong> has also been actively working with the <strong>UCM<\/strong> (Complutense University of Madrid) to select specific Spanish territories where the TARGET strategy can be applied. Together, they have been identifying local actors and monitoring studies on the social acceptability of using non-conventional water sources.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Save the Date: Madrid 2026<\/strong><strong>!<\/strong> Looking ahead, <strong>AMAyA<\/strong> and <strong>UCM<\/strong> are preparing a major dissemination event. They are currently coordinating with the organizers of the <strong>Reuse Euro Med International Congress<\/strong>, taking place in San Fernando de Henares (Madrid) from <strong>17\u201319 June 2026<\/strong>. AMAyA will be hosting a special seminar within the congress to share the project\u2019s findings. If you wish to join, you can register here!: <a href=\"https:\/\/server.matchmaking-studio.com\/en\/REUSE_EuroMed_Madrid_2026\/home.html\">https:\/\/server.matchmaking-studio.com\/en\/REUSE_EuroMed_Madrid_2026\/home.html<\/a><\/p>\n<h3 data-path-to-node=\"3\"><strong>Expanding Green Infrastructure<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"1\"><b data-path-to-node=\"1\" data-index-in-node=\"1\">Granollers <\/b>is moving ahead with significant improvements to both its strategy and its landscape.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_61116\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-61116\" style=\"width: 300px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-61116 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/interreg-sudoe.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Imagen4-1-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" srcset=\"https:\/\/interreg-sudoe.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Imagen4-1-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/interreg-sudoe.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Imagen4-1.jpg 658w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-61116\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><em>Meeting in Granollers regarding pilot test<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"2\">Regarding the planification, recently, the team awarded two key contracts to external experts. The first will support the local pilot test of the TARGET Strategy, while the second focuses on optimizing the existing <strong>REUT network<\/strong>, aiming to find new solutions to improve the infrastructure. Work plans are already being finalized with these partners.<\/p>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"3\">On the ground, exciting physical changes are taking place. In December 2025, construction began on the expansion of the <strong>Can Cabanyes wetland<\/strong>. Located just north of the current site on land formerly occupied by industry, this project is transforming the area.<\/p>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"3\">Once operational in <strong>2027<\/strong>, this second wetland will not only boost local biodiversity but also has the potential to increase the capacity for producing reclaimed water.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_61117\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-61117\" style=\"width: 800px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-61117 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/interreg-sudoe.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Imagen5-1024x410.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"320\" srcset=\"https:\/\/interreg-sudoe.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Imagen5-1024x410.png 1024w, https:\/\/interreg-sudoe.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Imagen5-300x120.png 300w, https:\/\/interreg-sudoe.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Imagen5-768x307.png 768w, https:\/\/interreg-sudoe.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Imagen5-1536x614.png 1536w, https:\/\/interreg-sudoe.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Imagen5.png 1980w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-61117\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><em>Expansion of the second Can Cabanyes wetland.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h3><strong>Proactive Drought Management<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>Following the recommendations of ERSAR (Regulatory Entity for Water and Waste Services) regarding drought monitoring, the <strong>Municipality of Barreiro<\/strong> has finalized, approved, and implemented a <strong>Water Supply Contingency Plan<\/strong>. While currently operating at &#8220;Normal Situation&#8221; (C0), the plan is designed to be predictive, aimed at anticipating crises to prevent emergency scenarios. It establishes a hierarchy of alert levels based on risk assessment:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>C0 (Normal): Current situation.<\/li>\n<li>C1 (Pre-Alert): Indication of serious problems.<\/li>\n<li>C2 (Alert): Possibility of occurrence, not immediate, of some serious problems but with possible provisional resolution by the system.<\/li>\n<li>C3 (Emergency): Occurrence of a serious situation with no possibility of mitigation\/response by the system.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>These levels guide the implementation of specific contingency measures, which range from provisional system resolutions to consumption restrictions in severe cases.<\/p>\n<p>The plan serves as a critical decision-support tool for senior management, balancing technical risk analysis with political decision-making. Operational protocols focus on continuous monitoring, loss management, and infrastructure renewal. The plan prepares for extreme scenarios, such as total aquifer failure, by outlining &#8220;Essential Consumption&#8221; strategies. More specifically, supplying the population via tanker trucks (15 liters\/inhabitant\/day, supplied by 15 tanker trucks of 20m3 each, each refilling 4 times a day) and securing alternative water sources for critical assets like the Barreiro-Montijo Hospital Center.<\/p>\n<p>Crucially, this plan anticipates the new <strong>Critical Entity Resilience (CER) Directive<\/strong>. It treats water and wastewater sectors as critical infrastructure, preparing the municipality to face <em>all<\/em> hazards, natural or man-made, not just drought.<\/p>\n<p>By using data-driven monitoring tools, Barreiro is ensuring it can meet its legal obligations and, most importantly, protect its citizens from water scarcity, fulfilling a key objective of the TARGET project.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>New Insights into Environmental Safety<\/strong><\/h3>\n<figure id=\"attachment_61119\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-61119\" style=\"width: 329px\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-61119 \" src=\"https:\/\/interreg-sudoe.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Imagen6.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"329\" height=\"238\" srcset=\"https:\/\/interreg-sudoe.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Imagen6.jpg 816w, https:\/\/interreg-sudoe.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Imagen6-300x217.jpg 300w, https:\/\/interreg-sudoe.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Imagen6-768x556.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 329px) 100vw, 329px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-61119\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><em>Raquel Carvalho presenting her thesis<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"1\">We are thrilled to announce that our colleague Raquel Carvalho successfully defended her MSc thesis on 14 November 2025, titled \u201cPesticides occurrence in soil and wastewater \u2013 from literature review to monitoring evidence.\u201d Developed within the Master in Bioinorganic Chemistry at NOVA School of Science and Technology (NOVA FCT), Raquel\u2019s research bridges the gap between theoretical knowledge and real-world data by combining a critical literature review with direct monitoring evidence. Her work provides a clearer picture of how pesticides persist in our environment.<\/p>\n<pre data-path-to-node=\"3\"><span style=\"color: #ffffff;\">aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa<\/span><\/pre>\n<h2><strong>Annual meeting<\/strong><\/h2>\n<h3><strong>TARGET\u2019s third meeting in Montpellier, France<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>On <strong>7\u20138 October<\/strong>, the TARGET project team gathered at the <strong>Institut Agro Montpellier<\/strong> for our third official meeting. Expertly hosted by our partner <strong>ECOFILAE<\/strong>, the event was a fantastic opportunity to share knowledge not just within our team, but with colleagues from the <strong>Interreg Sudoe I-Rewater<\/strong> and <strong>Sollagua<\/strong> projects.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_61120\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-61120\" style=\"width: 800px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-61120 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/interreg-sudoe.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Imagen7-1024x734.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"573\" srcset=\"https:\/\/interreg-sudoe.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Imagen7-1024x734.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/interreg-sudoe.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Imagen7-300x215.jpg 300w, https:\/\/interreg-sudoe.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Imagen7-768x551.jpg 768w, https:\/\/interreg-sudoe.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Imagen7.jpg 1291w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-61120\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><em>Group photo at <\/em><em>Narbonne Plage Wastewater Treatment Plant<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><strong>On the first day, <\/strong>Lydie Riera (<strong>EPIDOR<\/strong>) kicked off the event with a warm welcome, followed by a keynote from Laurence Burgaud (<strong>Montpellier M\u00e9diterran\u00e9e M\u00e9tropole<\/strong>) on choosing the right water management strategies. The day continued with engaging workshops and presentations. We heard from TARGET partners Catherine Frank N\u00e9el (<strong>CEREMA<\/strong>), Tony Ortiz (<strong>UPC<\/strong>), and Rui Teixeira (<strong>MBAR<\/strong>), alongside insightful contributions from our guest projects: Nicolas Saurin (<strong>I-ReWater<\/strong>), R\u00e9mi Declerc (<strong>Rur\u2019Eaux<\/strong>), and Magali Gerino (<strong>Sollagua<\/strong>). These talks sparked meaningful breakout discussions on how to drive our shared mission forward.<\/p>\n<p>A major highlight was our technical visit to the <strong>Narbonne Plage Wastewater Treatment Plant<\/strong>. Guided by Nicolas Lafont, the team explored impressive on-site solutions, including the use of reclaimed water for vineyard irrigation, a perfect example of water-smart technology protecting local ecosystems. The second day was dedicated to internal progress updates and planning the road ahead.<\/p>\n<p>A huge thank you to <strong>ECOFILAE<\/strong> for being such wonderful hosts, and to all our partners for their continued dedication: <strong>CEREMA<\/strong>, <strong>EPIDOR<\/strong>, <strong>Le Grand P\u00e9rigueux<\/strong>, <strong>C\u00e2mara Municipal do Barreiro<\/strong>,<strong> FCT NOVA<\/strong>, <strong>UPC<\/strong>, <strong>Granollers<\/strong>, <strong>UCM<\/strong>, <strong>AMAyA<\/strong>, and <strong>FSVA\/Kaizen<\/strong>. Together, we are pushing towards a more sustainable future!<\/p>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"1\">You can watch the video of the Montpellier meeting by clicking down here in the picture!<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=5KsT2urFPuY\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-61121 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/interreg-sudoe.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Imagen8.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"602\" height=\"339\" srcset=\"https:\/\/interreg-sudoe.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Imagen8.jpg 602w, https:\/\/interreg-sudoe.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Imagen8-300x169.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 602px) 100vw, 602px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<h2><strong>Results dissemination<\/strong><\/h2>\n<h3><strong>Spreading the Word<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>Beyond their technical duties, <strong>AMAyA<\/strong> has been active in sharing the TARGET project&#8217;s message with the wider community.<\/p>\n<p>While maintaining regular coordination with partners through remote <strong>COPIL meetings<\/strong>, the team has also been out in the field:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>On <strong>25 November<\/strong>, they met with technicians from the <strong>Guadalquivir River Basin<\/strong> for a technical visit and knowledge exchange.<\/li>\n<li>On <strong>12 December<\/strong>, they visited <strong>Pablo de Olavide University<\/strong> in Seville to give a talk on Nature-based Solutions to Limnology students.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Looking ahead to 2026,<\/strong> the team has also submitted an abstract for the upcoming <strong>International Congress Reuse Euro-Med<\/strong>, titled \u201cA comparative analysis of water governance in Spain, France and Portugal\u201d (Isabel Mart\u00edn, M\u00aa Pilar Flores, Catherine Frank-Neel, Nazar\u00e9 Couto, Rui Teixeira, Am\u00e9lie Bresson). This event will take place in San Fernando de Henares, Spain, from <strong>17\u201319 July 2026<\/strong>, where AMAYA hopes to showcase the project&#8217;s results. You can register here!: <a href=\"https:\/\/server.matchmaking-studio.com\/en\/REUSE_EuroMed_Madrid_2026\/home.html\">https:\/\/server.matchmaking-studio.com\/en\/REUSE_EuroMed_Madrid_2026\/home.html<\/a><\/p>\n<h3><strong>Two papers on the way!<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><strong>UPC<\/strong> has finalized two new dissemination articles, sharing the project&#8217;s findings with the wider scientific community:<\/p>\n<p>The first paper, titled <em>&#8220;Innovative Standards for Using Nature-Based Solutions in Water Reuse Projects&#8221;<\/em>, has been submitted to the Springer series <em>A<strong>dvances in Biochemical Engineering\/Biotechnology<\/strong><\/em><strong>.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The second article focuses on local lessons learned. Titled <em>&#8220;Hacia sistemas h\u00edbridos de reutilizaci\u00f3n de agua: aprendizajes tras 20 a\u00f1os de operaci\u00f3n en Can Cabanyes (Granollers)&#8221;<\/em>, it explores 20 years of operations at the Can Cabanyes site and has been submitted to <strong><em>REVISTA IDiAgua<\/em><\/strong>.<\/p>\n<h3 data-path-to-node=\"1\"><strong>Dissemination at SRA \u2013 Iberian Chapter in \u00c9vora, Portugal<\/strong><\/h3>\n<figure id=\"attachment_61125\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-61125\" style=\"width: 254px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-61125 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/interreg-sudoe.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Imagen9-254x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"254\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/interreg-sudoe.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Imagen9-254x300.jpg 254w, https:\/\/interreg-sudoe.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Imagen9.jpg 575w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 254px) 100vw, 254px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-61125\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><em>UCM (Luc\u00eda Poggio and Gabriel S\u00e1nchez) with their poster.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>On <strong>18<sup>th<\/sup>\u201319<sup>th<\/sup> September<\/strong>, our colleagues from <strong>Universidad Complutense de Madrid (UCM)<\/strong>, travelled to \u00c9vora, Portugal, for the 6th Annual Meeting of the Society for Risk Analysis Europe \u2013 Iberian Chapter.<\/p>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"2\">We are proud to share that they presented their research titled <em>&#8220;Perception of Reclaimed Water among Spanish Experts and Laypeople.&#8221;<\/em> This exploratory study, which compares the views of water management professionals with those of the general public, was recognized with an <strong>Honorable Mention Award<\/strong> for its outstanding contribution!<\/p>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"4\"><b data-path-to-node=\"4\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">\u00bf<strong>What did they find?<\/strong> The study revealed crucial insights into how we talk about water:<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>The Knowledge Gap:<\/strong> The general public feels a higher level of risk and possesses less knowledge about reclaimed water than experts.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Negative Bias:<\/strong> Interestingly, both experts and the public believe that <em>others<\/em> view reclaimed water negatively.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Open Minds: <\/strong>Despite the hesitation, both groups showed a strong interest in sustainable practices, suggesting a real opportunity for better public engagement.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>This recognition highlights just how important it is to understand these perceptions so we can shape better communication and policy for the future. Well done to the team!<\/p>\n<h2><strong>What\u2019s next?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<h3><strong>Coming Up: The Consortium Heads to Portugal<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>Next month, the TARGET project team will regroup for our next major working session. On <strong>25\u201326 March<\/strong>, partners will travel to <strong>Barreiro and Lisbon<\/strong> for two days of internal collaboration hosted by the Municipality of Barreiro and FCT Nova.<\/p>\n<p><strong>The Agenda:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Workshops &amp; Seminars:<\/strong> The team will hold internal workshops to review progress, alongside a special seminar with local Portuguese stakeholders to exchange local insights.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Field Visit:<\/strong> To see theory in practice, the consortium will visit the <strong>SIMARSUL Wastewater Treatment Plant<\/strong> in the afternoon to study their water treatment and reuse processes.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"8\"><strong>We look forward to sharing the outcomes of this meeting in our next newsletter!<\/strong><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_61126\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-61126\" style=\"width: 443px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-61126 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/interreg-sudoe.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Imagen10.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"443\" height=\"295\" srcset=\"https:\/\/interreg-sudoe.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Imagen10.jpg 443w, https:\/\/interreg-sudoe.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Imagen10-300x200.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 443px) 100vw, 443px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-61126\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Source: Vitor Oliveira from Torres Vedras, PORTUGAL, CC BY-SA 2.0 &lt;https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-sa\/2.0&gt;, via Wikimedia Commons<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Technical Advances Mapping the Path Forward Over the past six months (August 2025 \u2013 January 2026), the team at ECOFILAE has been busy mapping out strategic territories. This crucial work helps identify exactly where the TARGET strategy could be successfully replicated in the future. What happens next? Now that the mapping is complete, ECOFILAE is [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5125,"featured_media":61127,"parent":0,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"content-type":"","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0},"class_list":["post-61135","noticia-proyecto","type-noticia-proyecto","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.2 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>3rd TARGET Newsletter! - February 2026 - Interreg Sudoe<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/interreg-sudoe.eu\/en\/noticia-proyecto\/3rd-target-newsletter-february-2026\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"3rd TARGET Newsletter! - February 2026 - Interreg Sudoe\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Technical Advances Mapping the Path Forward Over the past six months (August 2025 \u2013 January 2026), the team at ECOFILAE has been busy mapping out strategic territories. This crucial work helps identify exactly where the TARGET strategy could be successfully replicated in the future. What happens next? 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