ABOUT US

High treatment costs, possible negative effects and actual low public acceptance can hinder and restrict the safe usage of non-conventional water resources (NCWR, i.e. treated wastewater and desalinated water) that can help the Mediterranean region to overcome water scarcity in agriculture. FIT4REUSE aims to tackle these challenges through three main pillars of the project: i) innovation of treatment technology, ii) application in simulated/relevant environment and iii) assessment and regulation, insured by the inclusion of research, governmental and industrial partners from different parts of the Mediterranean region. The first pillar will concentrate on the wastewater treatment and desalination to optimize the treatment technologies and to offer sustainable solutions. In particular, nature-based solutions and intensive wastewater treatment will be tested singularly or combined to provide the best possible quality of alternative water resources that can later be safely used in agriculture. Once water of suitable quality is obtained, the second pillar will study direct and indirect water reuse schemes. Different irrigation technologies and practices, together with the effects that NCWR have on soil and food safety will be studied. In the case of aquifer recharge with treated wastewater, the application pillar will aim to find the best way to preserve aquifer water quality and its ecological balance, improving also the soil treatment and the infiltration processes. The third pillar will study the results obtained and analyse economic, social and environmental impacts of the solutions proposed. Moreover, the reasons for low public acceptance of NCWR will be analysed and solutions offered to overcome problems connected to it within the actual policies and regulatory framework. Finally, guidelines to standardise water reuse safety planning will be developed to minimise the threats and support regulation and water policies in Mediterranean regions.

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Period of Implementation
Jul 1, 2019 - Dec 31, 2022
Total Budget
EUR 2,020,000.00

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Partners

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OUR IMPACT

Objectives

The main objective of FIT4REUSE is to provide safe, locally sustainable and accepted ways of water supply for the Mediterranean agricultural sector by exploiting non-conventional water resources, namely treated wastewater and desalted water. In particular, FIT4REUSE will focus on innovative treatment technologies and on the use of non-conventional water resources in agriculture and for aquifer recharge. Inclusion of partners from different areas of the Mediterranean region will enable FIT4REUSE to conduct high-quality collaborative research and to produce of substantial results on a regional scale that fit local scenarios, and to start long lasting collaboration between participating institutions.

Problems and Needs Analysis

The United Nations recognised access to water and sanitation a relevant human right. Yet, more than 60% of the world population lives in areas where water requirements cannot be satisfied with available supplies, and global water demand is expected to grow further. The Mediterranean region is characterised by limited and irregular availability of water resources in both time and space. Climate change and drought events, in a context where water consumption in some places already exceeds the depletion of renewable water resources, will make the region even more vulnerable in the near future. Agriculture is still by far the greatest user of water in the Mediterranean basin accounting for more than 80% of the total consumption. Municipal wastewater, being also nutrients-rich, is a very precious resource and should be valorised for irrigational use. On the other hand, desalination technology, although widely used (especially in insular, coastal or arid contexts for potable uses), still faces problems that can negatively affect its use for irrigation. Exploitation of these water resources in a safe and sustainable manner, within a context of circular economy and environmental sustainability, could bring significant benefits for the whole Mediterranean region. However, high treatment costs, possible negative effects on human health and the environment, and low public acceptance can hinder and restrict the safe usage of both treated wastewater and desalted water. World Bank considers these nonconventional water resources, together with better storage infrastructure, as essential pathways to meeting future water demand. Treated wastewater and desalted water can contribute to compensate the gap between available and needed water, and provide regular water supply throughout the year. FIT4REUSE, well aware of the existing baselines in different parts of the region, will contribute to tackle these challenges by providing sustainable solutions that are fit for the local scenarios.

Impact Pathway

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