AG-WaMED - Advancing non conventional water management for innovative climate-resilient water governance in the Mediterranean Area

Severe water scarcity is increasingly affecting different countries in the Mediterranean area, and future climate change projections point to a fast acceleration of the phenomenon. It is expected that all water-demanding sectors, most of which are crucial for Northern and Southern Mediterranean economies, will be negatively impacted (MedECC, 2020). In this framework, allocating available water in an equitable way and dealing with consequent water-related conflicts is a challenge that needs to be urgently addressed. A promising option is to experiment and develop the use of Non Conventional Waters (NCW) (wastewater, runoff water harvesting, desalination) and this implies considering those waters into innovative and adaptive water governance schemes (Qadir et al., 2007; UN-Water, 2020). Research at the Mediterranean scale provided evidence of the applicability of technologies to use NWC for multiple purposes. However, a “good governance” for the equitable use of such water resources is far to be reached and will need an advancement of current management practices to be fostered by integrating innovative approaches and evidence-based, co-produced decision-making. In this framework, a multi-actor approach that can guarantee the representation of multiple stakeholders in the decision-making process will be promoted to improve water governance schemes.

AG-WaMED project aims to promote participatory, innovative and climate-resilient governance of the water resource. To achieve this objective, a multidisciplinary methodology will be implemented, including the hydrological modeling of critical areas in the Mediterranean basin and the simulation of the use of non-conventional water management technologies. The results of the latter will be elaborated and discussed in Living Labs, territorial laboratories for comparison with the main stakeholders, to make the proposed solutions truly implementable in the local selected realities. In the framework of the project, and also among the Living Labs stakeholders, the estimation of monetary values for benefits expected to accrue from the use of NCW which are not valued in markets (non-use values) to inform the socio-economic analysis is envisioned as well.

There are some relevant barriers involved with sustainable water resources management at the Mediterranean scale, that AG-WaMED will address as follows: - Regulations that aren’t receptive of innovative decision-support tools: an innovative modelling and optimization procedure including NCW will be created and tested in 4 different case studies. This solution has the potential to allow the integration of ICT tools in water resources management in the LLs and potentially at the Mediterranean scale. - Lack of innovative solutions to take advantage of non-conventional and low-quality waters to mitigate water scarcity: The innovative solutions of AG-WaMED will not only promote the use of NCW, but will be based on an informed co-creation process through the LLs, that will build on scientific data accounting for all dimensions of sustainability - Poor stakeholders’ acceptance of the Innovative solutions: AG-WaMED’s multi-actor approach will lead to the creation of several policy documents. One Watershed management plan for each LLs to be proposed to river basin management administration and local and national government, 5 National policy documents for NCW upscaling (Italy, Spain, Egypt, Tunisia, Algeria), 1 Mediterranean policy document for the integration of land and water governance and 1 policy document for upscaling and out-scaling of NCW at Mediterranean scale - Need to develop new water governance organizational models: the created policy structures will be based on common protocols considering effectiveness, pertinence to local conditions, easiness, etc. and will also include local traditional knowledge and legislation in force. The LLs will co-create solutions for different and varying Mediterranean socio-cultural and environmental conditions, providing solutions applicable in other Mediterranean areas - Local conflicts for resource use: all activities will be based on stakeholder-inclusive participation and consensus, including water use choice and allocation scenarios - Implementation gaps between rules and societal compliance on the ground: co-created and evidence-based policies should limit this problem