News
The European project MARCLAIMED officially started its activities with the kick-off meeting, taking place in Barcelona on 20-21 February. The newly-funded project steps in to address the challenges of integrating Managed Aquifer Recharge with alternative water resources into hydrological and drought plans, as a structural measure to mitigate water scarcity in Europe.
This marks the beginning of the project’s activities, bringing together a consortium of 12 partners and one associated entity dedicated to finding innovative solutions to urgent water scarcity problems. During the meeting, the partners presented work packages, and exchanged ideas on how to effectively collaborate and coordinate the innovative solutions within the project over the next three years.
The MARCLAIMED project, led by Cetaqua, responds to the urgent need to support public authorities in integrating alternative water resources, such as recycled water, at a catchment scale and to ensure the viability and economic sustainability of the infrastructure associated with their use. It also aims to improve public perception, acceptance and confidence in the use of such water resources.
Europe is facing the most severe drought of the century. In this context, MARCLAIMED aims to mitigate water challenges by demonstrating digital and innovative tools in three demonstration sites in Spain, Portugal and the Netherlands. These tools will improve the operational efficiency, economic sustainability and social perception of managed aquifer recharge with alternative water resources.
The main outcome of the project, the Integrated Decision Support Tool (IDST) of MARCLAIMED, will provide solutions to address existing and emerging threats and support decision making and adaptation policies to climate change.
In addition, MARCLAIMED will focus on social acceptance, involving European Union policy makers through a Community of Practices, and define guidelines and recommendations within the European regulatory framework for managed aquifer recharge with alternative water resources implementation.
Sara Espinosa, Head of the Advanced Aquifer Management Programme in the Planning and Resource Management Area at Cetaqua, shared her enthusiasm for the launch of a project “that could be the driving force behind a paradigm shift in water management strategies. MARCLAIMED has key partners to address critical factors that hinder social acceptance and confidence in the application of managed aquifer recharge techniques with alternative water resources. We are proud to share this adventure with them and to contribute to the definition of new strategies to address the impacts of climate change”.
