Wastewater treatment and re-use should be an essential part of sustainable water management strategies in the arid and semi-arid areas of the Mediterranean. The Coordination Action INNOVA-MED aims at coordinating research activities of ongoing and recently completed EU and national projects dealing with the development of innovative technologies and practices for wastewater treatment and re-use in the Mediterranean region.

Background

The increasing scarcity of pristine waters for drinking and the growing consumption of water by industry and agriculture in the Mediterranean should be countered by efficient, rational use of water resources. One of the options is to increase the re-use of reclaimed water for various purposes. However, health risks associated with both pathogenic microorganisms and physico-chemical and bioactive pollutants need to be addressed, where reclaimed water is used for indirect potable water supply augmentation or for irrigation purposes, and adequate treatment has to be provided. This setting acts as a trigger for innovative research of processes and practices, to achieve optimum use of resources through wastewater re-use.

INNOVA-MED objectives

The specific objectives of the Coordination Action INNOVA-MED are:

• To explore synergies of research objectives, methodologies and data analysis of ongoing and recently completed EU and national projects on wastewater treatment and re-use in the EU and Mediterranean Partner Countries (MPC).
• To facilitate dissemination/exploitation of information and to improve the effectiveness in the transfer and sharing of integrated and comprehensive knowledge on wastewater treatment and re-use technologies between EU and MPC.
• To allow access to information on wastewater treatment and re-use in the Mediterranean region based on effective sharing and transfer of knowledge built and organised during the project.
• To counteract fragmentation of research and to improve dissemination of relevant RTD results, as well as promote public awareness on the sustainability of water by connecting research with local knowledge, policy institutions and implementing bodies in the Mediterranean region.

Ecologic in INNOVA-MED

Ecologic's part in this project is to coordinate the exchange of experience of project partners and contributing stakeholders regarding constraints to the application of innovative treatment and re-use of reclaimed water and sludge. Constraints may be, among others, relevant to reliable legal standards, certainty in planning, the regulatory framework, financial issues, safety of disposal or environmental safety. Ecologic also contributes to regional INNOVA-MED training courses aimed at capacity building in MPC.