Periodic Reporting for period 1 - AWARD (Alternative Water Resources and Deliberation process to renew water supply strategic planing)
Reporting period: 2024-01-01 to 2025-06-30
Europe’s freshwater resources are under increasing stress causing more frequent and widespread water-related extremes such as water scarcity, drought and floods in several regions. The recent European Union Water Resilience Strategy recognises the need for member states to manage water more efficiently by restoring and protecting the water cycle, improving preparedeness measures and fostering behavioural change and innovation for water savings. Adopting Alternative Water Resources (AWRs) such as rainwater harvest, water reuse and desalination are in this context regarded as an important element for alleviating pressure on surface and groundwater bodies.
Recognising this pressing need, the AWARD project has the objective of providing evidence-based solutions to consider AWRs into water supply strategic planning and actively engage with civil society, science, and policy with the creation of socio-political analyses and scenarios buildings to support decision makers in the wider adoption of these solutions. AWRs solutions such as rainwater and stormwater harvesting, water reuse and aquifer recharge are implemented at the local scale in 4 demo cases in Italy, Spain, Romania and Cyprus.
In AWARD, the social science is used to analyse the socio-political context and provide deliberative conceptual and digital tools to engage with stakeholders. As an illustration, the Deliberation Support Tool development provided by AWARD will support the exploration of resilient scenarios co-constructed with AWARD partners, experts and stakeholders.In addition, AWARD strongly relies on capacity building, with the integration and cross-fertilization of different domains of science, technical and social science and to collaborative social learning with the ambition of “building knowledge partnerships” in support of water resources management.
Recognising this pressing need, the AWARD project has the objective of providing evidence-based solutions to consider AWRs into water supply strategic planning and actively engage with civil society, science, and policy with the creation of socio-political analyses and scenarios buildings to support decision makers in the wider adoption of these solutions. AWRs solutions such as rainwater and stormwater harvesting, water reuse and aquifer recharge are implemented at the local scale in 4 demo cases in Italy, Spain, Romania and Cyprus.
In AWARD, the social science is used to analyse the socio-political context and provide deliberative conceptual and digital tools to engage with stakeholders. As an illustration, the Deliberation Support Tool development provided by AWARD will support the exploration of resilient scenarios co-constructed with AWARD partners, experts and stakeholders.In addition, AWARD strongly relies on capacity building, with the integration and cross-fertilization of different domains of science, technical and social science and to collaborative social learning with the ambition of “building knowledge partnerships” in support of water resources management.
Social political awareness and acceptability of AWRs was considered a critical enabler for the deployment of these solutions. Activities were conducted to assess the level of citizens’ awareness of AWRs through surveys, bilateral meetings and workshops. 7 Local Water Forums were conducted (1 in Romania, 4 in Italy, 1 in Spain, 1 in Cyprus). Social awareness surveys were conducted for Romania, Italy and Danube countries and is ongoing for Spain and Cyprus.
Policy and regulatory frameworks were examined at EU level and at the local context in the AWARD case studies and countries in the Lower Danube Basin. It allowed to identify enablers and barriers towards understanding technical concepts behind the AWRs including for their uptake in urban and climate adaptation planning.1 report and policy brief were produced.
An initial phase of co-construction with local stakeholders enabled the development of a vulnerability diagnosis for each of the demo cases defining the problem in terms of governance and to analyze vulnerabilities. In addition, the conceptual articulation of the Workpackage 3 methodology in a heritage perspective with the Deliberation Support Tool for Territorial Sustainable Development(DST-TSD) Knowledge Gateway (Workpackage 4) was developed.
During the first 18 months, the conception and deployment of the tool Knowledge Gateway (versions Alpha and Beta), with its collaborative tools for (i) integrative analysis, (ii) deliberation support, (iii) collaborative learning, and (iv) data-set management and documentation was conducted.
Workpackage 5 contributed by the implementation of AWR technologies in 4 demo cases. Preliminary data collection, stakeholder mapping and feasibility analyses laid the groundwork for integrating AWRs in strategic planning.2 Transversal Interest Group meetings were held in Bucharest and Cyprus, allowing stakeholders to share progress and discuss technical challenges in implementing and monitoring AWR performance.
Policy and regulatory frameworks were examined at EU level and at the local context in the AWARD case studies and countries in the Lower Danube Basin. It allowed to identify enablers and barriers towards understanding technical concepts behind the AWRs including for their uptake in urban and climate adaptation planning.1 report and policy brief were produced.
An initial phase of co-construction with local stakeholders enabled the development of a vulnerability diagnosis for each of the demo cases defining the problem in terms of governance and to analyze vulnerabilities. In addition, the conceptual articulation of the Workpackage 3 methodology in a heritage perspective with the Deliberation Support Tool for Territorial Sustainable Development(DST-TSD) Knowledge Gateway (Workpackage 4) was developed.
During the first 18 months, the conception and deployment of the tool Knowledge Gateway (versions Alpha and Beta), with its collaborative tools for (i) integrative analysis, (ii) deliberation support, (iii) collaborative learning, and (iv) data-set management and documentation was conducted.
Workpackage 5 contributed by the implementation of AWR technologies in 4 demo cases. Preliminary data collection, stakeholder mapping and feasibility analyses laid the groundwork for integrating AWRs in strategic planning.2 Transversal Interest Group meetings were held in Bucharest and Cyprus, allowing stakeholders to share progress and discuss technical challenges in implementing and monitoring AWR performance.
During the first period, AWARD has already contributed to knowledge co-creation, policy dialogue, and public awareness, setting the stage for systemic change in water governance across Europe. In particular, a deep insight into regulatory gaps and barriers, as well as gaps in funding framework enabled better understanding of AWR-related challenges. In parallel, scientific Key Performance Indicators have been established to track progress throughout the demo cases in the fields of water reuse efficiency, energy optimisation, Sustainable urban drainage system facilities performance, and nature-based solutions.
Key results from the cases studies included the completion of a diagnostic including urban hydrological and hydrogeological model with land use mapping and simulations for urban aquifer recharge (Romania). In Cyprus, a review of the waste water treatment plant performance enabled the stakeholders to identify the need to install new sensors in order to improve data acquisition and operational transparency. In Italy, two key sites have been selected for monitoring, due to their potential to assess the multiple benefits of SuDS and NbS. In Spain, early monitoring results showed that the installed Nature-based Solution composed of a wetland and pond was reducing pollutants, hence demonstrating the effectiveness of this type of technology.
The activities involving citizen engagement (local water forums and school activities) started building the network of local stakeholders. These activities produced several mid -term impact achievements, informing citizens and local stakeholders on future usage of AWR including their benefits, thus reducing initial reluctance for its adoption. In addition, social acceptance surveys increased the stakeholders trust in participatory processes proposed by the AWARD project. These activities will hopefully lead to sustainable stakeholders engagement beyond the initial scope of AWARD project.
Key results from the cases studies included the completion of a diagnostic including urban hydrological and hydrogeological model with land use mapping and simulations for urban aquifer recharge (Romania). In Cyprus, a review of the waste water treatment plant performance enabled the stakeholders to identify the need to install new sensors in order to improve data acquisition and operational transparency. In Italy, two key sites have been selected for monitoring, due to their potential to assess the multiple benefits of SuDS and NbS. In Spain, early monitoring results showed that the installed Nature-based Solution composed of a wetland and pond was reducing pollutants, hence demonstrating the effectiveness of this type of technology.
The activities involving citizen engagement (local water forums and school activities) started building the network of local stakeholders. These activities produced several mid -term impact achievements, informing citizens and local stakeholders on future usage of AWR including their benefits, thus reducing initial reluctance for its adoption. In addition, social acceptance surveys increased the stakeholders trust in participatory processes proposed by the AWARD project. These activities will hopefully lead to sustainable stakeholders engagement beyond the initial scope of AWARD project.