IRIDRA

NAWAMED CONCEPT

Nature Based Solutions for Domestic Water Reuse in Mediterranean Countries

Project description
In Mediterranean countries, domestic water use accounts for a minor part of water consumption – a much larger amount is used for irrigation – but it requires the best quality and its demand is continuously growing, along with improving lifestyle and increasing urban population. Moreover, urban water is still the main cause of pollution of rivers and groundwater, even when treated before being discharged. Per capita domestic water use can be drastically reduced by using non-conventional water (NCW) resources for not potable purposes: greywater (and rainwater where available) can be reused for WC flushing and irrigation but requires the implementation of decentralised treatment systems, serving one or a few buildings. NAWAMED aims at changing the urban water management practice by mean of innovative, sustainable, and low-cost treatment technologies, applicable in a decentralised pattern, to replace the use of potable water with good quality NCW.

Objective
To increase the adoption of innovative, sustainable and low-cost technologies and measures for the use of non-conventional water resources for domestic purposes.

What will be improved
The project will demonstrate the technical and economic feasibility of nature-based and low-cost solutions, such as living green walls, to treat non-conventional water resources in schools, universities, public facilities and in a refugee camp. Recovered wastewater or stormwater will be reused for different purposes, including toilet flushing and irrigation and therefore consumption of potable water for domestic uses will be decreased. Furthermore, the project will showcase that design and architecture can make buildings water producer rather than water user.

Who will benefit

• Owners/managers of the 8 pilot sites
• 450 practitioners (e.g. engineers, architects, etc.), construction companies, university students
• 50 staff of local and regional authorities

Expected achievements

• 8 real scale pilot installation for greywater/rainwater treatment and reuse including living green walls (vegetated vertical elements mounted on building facades) and constructed wetlands treating flows froma public building, a parking area and a refugee camp
• 30% reduction in water consumption at pilot sites level
• 9.000 m3/year of unconventional water to be reused at urban/domestic level
• 15 technical visits to pilot sites
• 10 training workshops organized for technical staff and decision-makers
• 1 Mediterranean Policy Document to foster the inclusion of water demand management and non-conventional water resources measures in national policy frameworks.

Budget
3.2 Million total budget (90% ENI CBC MED Programme EU- contribution)

Duration in months
36 months : 10/09/2019 – 09/09/2022

Partnership
ITALY
Province of Latina (Lazio)
IRIDRA (Tuscany)
SVI.MED. Euro-Mediterranean Center for Sustainable Development (Sicily)

JORDAN
University of Jordan (Amman)

LEBANON
American University of Beirut

MALTA
Energy and Water Agency

TUNISIA
Centre for Water Research and Technologies (Nabeul)

Associates

• Municipality of Tunis - Tunisia
• Municipality of Jerash - Jordan
• Municipality of Ferla - Italy
• Politecnico di Torino - Italy

Contact
Lead Partner:
Fabio Zaccarelli
Project Manager
Province of Latina – Urban Planning Department
+39 0773 401317
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

IRIDRA Partner:
+39 0773 401317
Via Alfonso La Marmora, 51 - 50121 - Florence
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Downloadable material

• Survey on the potential for greywater separation and reuse in Italy, Tunisia, Jordan, Malta, Lebanon