European Fundend Projects

  • ID:
    projects-564
  • fiwar:
    Not available
  • Project_Acronym:
    I-ReWater
  • Project_Name:
    Sustainable Management of Water Resources in Irrigated Agriculture in the SUDOE Area
  • Funding Authority:
    INTERREG - SUDOE
  • Call for proposals:
    2021-2027
  • Focus Area:
    1 - Preserve natural capital and strengthen climate change adaptation in the Sudoe area
  • Begin Date:
    2024-01-01
  • End Date:
    2026-12-31
  • Status:
    On going
  • Budget:
    € 002 216 300.00
  • Description:
    Over the next three years (2024–2026), the main objective of the I-ReWater project will be to improve water resource management in agriculture by integrating the use of reclaimed urban water in crop irrigation, while considering environmental factors to ensure its proper use in the context of the current climate crisis. The final outcome will be the development of a Transnational Strategy for the use of reclaimed water. These ambitious goals are supported by 15 pilot actions, recognizing that agriculture consumes more than half of all freshwater resources. The results of this applied research could help reduce groundwater and river extractions by up to 10%, providing a sustainable solution to water scarcity without compromising crop quality. Moreover, the use of reclaimed water from wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) could reduce the need for external inputs, as this water is naturally enriched with nitrogen, phosphorus, and other fertilizing components. In parallel, 15 trials will be conducted on woody crops (olive, vine, hops, and almond) and 2 on horticultural crops (tomato and lettuce), with digital technologies playing a central role. The entire fertigation network will be equipped with low-cost sensors at both soil and plant level to develop a new Decision Support System (DSS), scalable and replicable by end users. This tool will help farmers determine when and how much to irrigate, moving toward Agriculture 4.0 and promoting circular economy practices. Another key task during the I-ReWater project will be raising public awareness about the benefits of using reclaimed water in agriculture. The project is being carried out by 16 core partners forming a multidisciplinary consortium, supported by 39 collaborating entities.
  • Resource:
    https://interreg-sudoe.eu/proyecto-interreg/i-rewater/
  • Inland water types:
    Urban water', 'Groundwater', 'Rivers and estuaries'