To fully implement the result of European project, exchanges between project provides an insightful vision of the possibilities, ideas and experiences. During your reading, discover another Horizon Europe program working, among other things, on urban runoff: the very essence of the WATERUN’s project!
The AWARD project, funded by the Horizon Europe program, aims to provide knowledge on how to effectively integrate alternative water resources (AWRs), such as urban runoff and reclaimed water, among others. These sources must be affordable and safe to incorporate into the strategic planning and implementation of water supply, considering the impact of global climate change.
AWARD will provide evidence-based solutions to incorporate AWRs into strategic water supply plans, relying on socio-political engagement. The four demonstration cases of AWARD are already implementing AWRs: stormwater, rainwater, and aquifer recharge in Bucharest (Romania) and Milan (Italy); water regeneration in Cyprus; and stormwater runoff in an industrial park in Santiago de Compostela (Spain).
Therefore, AWARD and WATERUN share the common goal of improving runoff water management: WATERUN focuses on treatment and management, while AWARD focuses on obtaining an alternative water resource.
In this context, Loup Deladerrière, from the University of Paris-Saclay, visited the Santiago de Compostela case study to gain a better understanding of the integrated water cycle in Galicia. During his stay in the Galician capital, he met with Cetaqua, Viaqua, and Aimen, interviewing stakeholders from civil society, university, public administration, and business representatives to better understand the relationships within the Quadruple Innovation Helix framework and their interaction with Nature-Based Solutions (NBS).
These fruitful meetings provided key and complementary insights from diverse actors, including environmental organizations and the regional water management authority, as well as expert and academic perspectives. This allowed the project to develop a comprehensive and enriched socio-political and heritage analysis framework.
Authors: Leticia Rodriguez Hernandez, Viaqua, leticia.rodriguez@agbar.es Sergio Santorio Aldariz, Cetaqua, sergio.santorio@cetaqua.com - 06/02/2025