About WATERGRID

WATERGRID’s objective is to develop and demonstrate the Smart Water Grid (SWG) concept for more climate resilient water management, particularly targeting extreme drought, but framed within Integrated Catchment Management, addressing the whole catchment in a holistic approach. The resource efficiency of Nature Based Solutions (NBS) previously established in eight sites will be analysed alongside the academic literature, forming an Evidence portfolio (Project Result 1 - PR1). Of these eight sites, five will be demonstrators, spread across the Atlantic, Continental, Mountain and Mediterranean biogeographical areas, with specific water scarcity challenges, NBS types and scales, in which 58 additional innovative and locally attuned NBS will be implemented to slow, move and actively store water for reuse as part of locally designed SWGs. Three validation sites will mainstream potential of the SWG approach and demonstrate replicability of the Project Results (PRs) that have been co-created and co-deployed with 138 stakeholders in a participatory approach. Protocols and standards will be developed, providing a step-by-step guide for the design, maintenance and operation of the SWG (PR2).

 A digital Platform (PR3) will display models of the catchment and a Design App will provide guidance to users on designing NBS into their SWGs. This Platform will be linked to a Monitoring programme (PR4) to display real time information via a Digital Twin to support long term maintenance of SWGs. An Operationalising toolkit (PR5) will create enabling social, governance and economic environments for sustainable SWGs. Finally, at least three Policy briefs (PR6) will display SWG benefits to various policies, from the EU to the local scale. 

WATERGRID has 8 demonstration / validation Sites where we will co-develop, test, and evaluate the Smart Water Grid (SWG) concept. They form our European “laboratory” where we aim to: 

• Slow, move, and store water more effectively 
• Reduce pollution and nutrient pressures 
• Enhance drought resilience
• Support healthy ecosystems and sustainable water use 
• Provide real-world evidence for the SWG concept

By 2035, WATERGRID expects to increase by 20% the water available for usage to compensate scarcity, decreasing 7 types of water pollutants and saving 10.6M €/year through 37 SWGs across Europe.

• Implement Nature-based Solutions for water retention to store water in the landscape and increase groundwater infiltration combined with smart sensors for real-time data to aid water management 
• Develop protocols, standards and digital tools for the design, operation and maintenance of Smart Water Grids, and an operationalizing toolkit to ensure innovation and commercial flexibility 
• Three validation sites ensure universal applicability and scalability of the project results

• Planning permission and ownership rights of the water stored could pose challenges 
• Balancing retention measures with ecological needs 
• Implementing measures without threatening existing biodiverse ecosystems or recreational networks

This project has received funding from the European Union's Horizon EUROPE research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 101180636.