Abstract
(Englisch)
|
WATERGRID’s objective is to develop and demonstrate the Smart Water Grid (SWG) concept for more climate resilient watermanagement, particularly targeting extreme drought, but framed within Integrated Catchment Management, addressing the wholecatchment in a holistic approach. The resource efficiency of Nature Based Solutions (NBS) previously established in eight sites willbe analysed alongside the academic literature, forming an Evidence portfolio (Project Result 1 - PR1). Of these eight sites, five will bedemonstrators, spread across the Atlantic, Continental, Mountain and Mediterranean biogeographical areas, with specific water scarcitychallenges, NBS types and scales, in which 58 additional innovative and locally attuned NBS will be implemented to slow, move andactively store water for reuse as part of locally designed SWGs. Three validation sites will mainstream potential of the SWG approach anddemonstrate replicability of the Project Results (PRs) that have been co-created and co-deployed with 138 stakeholders in a participatoryapproach. Protocols and standards will be developed, providing a step-by-step guide for the design, maintenance and operation of theSWG (PR2). A digital Platform (PR3) will display models of the catchment and a Design App will provide guidance to users on designingNBS into their SWGs. This Platform will be linked to a Monitoring programme (PR4) to display real time information via a Digital Twinto support long term maintenance of SWGs. An Operationalising toolkit (PR5) will create enabling social, governance and economicenvironments for sustainable SWGs. Finally, at least three Policy briefs (PR6) will display SWG benefits to various policies, from the EUto the local scale. By 2035, WATERGRID expects to increase by 20% the water available for usage to compensate scarcity, decreasing7 types of water pollutants and saving 10.6M €/year through 37 SWGs across Europe.
|
