Kickoff Meeting for RECREATE Initiative Addresses Water Scarcity with Innovative Solutions

Published by Dimitra Panou on February 17, 2024February 17, 2024

Dr. Ioannis Zarikos represented NCSR “Demokritos”  at the kick-off meeting of RECREATE, which  took place in Manresa, Spain, on the 13th and 14th of February. This  initiative aims to address water scarcity by integrating Alternative Water Resources (AWR) into water management across four diverse European demo locations, marking a crucial step towards circular and climate-resilient futures amidst Europe’s escalating drought challenges. The project utilizes  innovative approaches like rainwater harvesting, water reclamation, advanced seawater and brackish water desalination, and aquifer storage and reuse (ASR) to:

• Amplify rainwaterharvesting to meet the estimated future demand.
• Transform reclaimed water into a strategic asset for agriculture and industrial use, easing the pressure on freshwater resources.
• Advance desalination with innovative, low-energy consumption technologies for environmental compatibility.
• Utilize ASR technology to secure water for dry spells, protecting groundwater bodies.

Our hands-on research in North Holland, Kalundborg, Syros, and Costa Brava is providing insights to integrate AWR within strategic water management, aligning with EU’s regulatory frameworks under the European Green Deal.

In collaboration with water utilities PWN in the Netherlands, KCR in Denmark, and DEYAS in Greece, as well as with the support from our other project partners – KWR Water Research Institute in the Netherlands, Eurecat – Technology Centre and ICRA in Spain, National Technical University of Athens, Adelphi, Kompetenzzentrum Wasser Berlin and ICLEI and our own C-EREL team – we’re aiming to bridge the gap between research and industry, contributing to technology transfer in AWR.