OpenNESS (FP7-ENV-2012)
http://www.openness-project.eu/
Operationalisation of Natural Capital and Ecosystem Services
OpenNESS aims to translate the concepts of Natural Capital (NC) and Ecosystem Services (ES) into operational frameworks that provide tested, practical and tailored solutions for integrating ES into land, water and urban management and decision-making. It examines how the concepts link to, and support, wider EU economic, social and environmental policy initiatives and scrutinizes the potential and limitations of the concepts of ES and NC. OpenNESS works in close cooperation with decision makers and other stakeholders.
NAWATECH (FP7-ENV-2012)
http://www.nawatech.net/
Natural Water Systems and Treatment Technologies to cope with Water Shortages in Urbanised Areas in India
The NAwATech Europe proposal is closely interconnected with the partner project NaWaTech India. In order to reach the maximal impact the two projects have formed one common work plan for both projects, targeting the same objectives, will present their results at the same web-site and formed a joint management team. Providing adequate water supply and sanitation, particularly in urban areas, is a challenging task for governments throughout the world. This task is made even more difficult due to predicted dramatic global changes. In order to cope with water shortages in urban areas, there is a need for a paradigm shift from conventional end-of-pipe water management to an integrated approach. This integrated approach should include several actions such as: (i) interventions over the entire urban water cycle; (ii) optimization of water use by reusing wastewater and preventing pollution of freshwater source; (iii) prioritization of small-scale natural and technical systems, which are flexible, cost-effective and require low operation and maintenance. Natural water systems, such as manmade wetlands and sub-soil filtration and storage via soil aquifer treatment and bank filtration, are such systems. NaWaTech stands for natural water systems and treatment technologies to cope with water shortages in urbanized areas in India. The concept is based on optimized use of different urban water flows by treating each of these flows via a modular natural system taking into account the different nature and degree of pollution of the different water sources. Thus, it will cost-effectively improve the water quality of urban surface water and restore depleting groundwater sources. Due to the multi-barrier approach, these systems will also be able to treat heavily polluted water (i.e. wastewater) in order to reuse them and to supplement traditional sources to cope with water shortages today and in the future.
SWMED (ENPI CBC-MED)
http://www.swmed.eu/
Sustainable domestic Water Use in Mediterranean Regions
The whole Mediterranean area is characterized by a strong need of new solutions able to
provide and sanitations services while reducing water use and wastewater discharge.
The SWMED project focuses on the optimisation the per capita water consumption at
household and urban level through the implementation of water saving devices, reuse of
treated wastewater, rainwater harvesting, a pool of technologies known as Sustainable Water
Management (SWM).
WATACLIC (LIFE +)
http://www.wataclic.eu
WATER AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
Aim of the WATACLIC project is to demonstrate that, thanks to proper information and communication campaigns, technical and administrative stakeholders can very much contribute to the reduction of water (and energy) consumptions in urban areas.
Project objectives:
- To introduce new rules in urban planning to help the diffusion among final users of technologies/strategies such as rain water harvesting, greywater recycling and other techniques able to allow a more sustainable urban water use.
- To adopt tariff schemes aimed at discouraging unwise use of water;
- To increase global efficiency (in term of water and energy consumptions) of water supply systems;
- To adopt more effective awareness raising campaigns directed to the general public;
- To improve knowledge and awareness of plumber professional organization concerning water saving techniques;
- To emphasize the link between water use and energy consumption. Reaching the project objectives will, in the long term, allow a large decrease of water abstraction for urban use in Italy. Finally, reduction of water use could contribute to a significant reduction of CO2 emissions.
The WATACLICL project, from May 2010 and December 2011, will host several information and communication campaigns targeted to key stakeholders from various sectors (public bodies, water utilities, water authorities, plumbers, etcetera).
Zer0-m (MEDA)
http://www.zer0-m.org/
SUSTAINABLE CONCEPTS TOWARDS A ZERO OUTFLOW MUNICIPALITY
A project under the EURO-MEDITERRANEAN PARTNERSHIP - Euro-Mediterranean Regional Programme For Local Water Management
Zer0-M aims at concepts and technologies to achieve optimised close-loop usage of all water flows in small municipalities or settlements (e.g. tourism facilities) not connected to a central wastewater treatment - the Zero Outflow Municipality (Zer0-M).
SWAMP (FP5)
http://www.constructedwetlands.eu/swamp/
SUSTAINABLE WATER MANAGEMENT AND WASTEWATER PURIFICATION IN TOURISM FACILITIES
A research project supported by the European Commission under the Fifth Framework Programme and contributing to the implementation of the Key Action "Sustainable Management and Quality of Water" within the Energy, Environment and Sustainable Development.