TWIST
MediTerranean Water footprInt aSsessmenT
B.4 Environmental protection, climate change adaptation and mitigation
B.4.1: Support sustainable initiatives targeting innovative and technological solutions to increase water efficiency and encourage use of non-conventional water supply
The combined effects of climate change and growing demand on water will put more pressure on the existing water resources. The interactions between human usage, management of water and the response of nature to such human activities are complex. Therefore, we need various tools to assist us in coping with the challenges in managing these precious water resources. The project “TWIST” proposes the “Water Footprint Assessment” as a holistic tool unifying both quantity and quality aspects in water resources assessment, planning and management. The implementation of such a tool all over the Mediterranean area is expected to estimate what and where the pressures on freshwater resources are and what changes are necessary to improve the sustainability, efficiency and equitability of water use. The project foresee to function as a platform or as an instrument for discussion and dialogue among city regulators, water utilities and water users for the Mediterranean countries, evaluating their water use of local and global resources, and how this compares with each county’s endowment. Furthermore the project proposes the Water Stewardship as a commitment to the sustainable management of shared water resources in the public interest through collective action with other businesses, governments, NGOs and communities. This integration addresses all the aspects that make up innovative water management, as water source balance, water foot-printing, risk analysis and metrics, stewardship strategy, public policy guidance, standards development and partnerships with countries-companies in stressed watersheds.
• To accurately measure the water consumption in the individual, operational or public sector, for every Mediterranean country and identify water risks throughout the entire production process and services.
• To quantify the entire operational and supply chain water footprints to reduce water consumption and create a more sustainable platform for growth.
• To address practices and potential future legislation needs making the water footprint reporting a mandatory requirement (smart water buildings certificate, less water products labeling).
• To identify the “creditors” that have a positive balance and the “debtors” who are demanding more from nature than their resources can provide.
• To provide a platform for weighing the current status and future policy options that will help nations remain competitive in an increasingly resource-constrained world.
• To promote the European Water Stewardship (EWS) certification scheme, among the Mediterranean businesses as a progression of increased improvement of water use and a reduction in the water-related impacts of internal and value chain operations.
• To communicate best practices and efforts in water management or achieve independent recognition, certification is an excellent tool to manage your environmental impact.
• To model and predict future water footprint changes and trends under the primary determinants of population growth, decrease in biocapacity, climate change and weather variability, ecosystem threats, changes in life and livelihoods, or increasing costs for infrastructure to support sustainable human development.
• To provide guidance for sustainable abstraction, management, governance and conservation and assess potential water risks.
• To create effective informative tools of the water footprint and biocapacity for every Mediterranean country through time, via interactive infographics, GIS – story maps.
• To quantify the entire operational and supply chain water footprints to reduce water consumption and create a more sustainable platform for growth.
• To address practices and potential future legislation needs making the water footprint reporting a mandatory requirement (smart water buildings certificate, less water products labeling).
• To identify the “creditors” that have a positive balance and the “debtors” who are demanding more from nature than their resources can provide.
• To provide a platform for weighing the current status and future policy options that will help nations remain competitive in an increasingly resource-constrained world.
• To promote the European Water Stewardship (EWS) certification scheme, among the Mediterranean businesses as a progression of increased improvement of water use and a reduction in the water-related impacts of internal and value chain operations.
• To communicate best practices and efforts in water management or achieve independent recognition, certification is an excellent tool to manage your environmental impact.
• To model and predict future water footprint changes and trends under the primary determinants of population growth, decrease in biocapacity, climate change and weather variability, ecosystem threats, changes in life and livelihoods, or increasing costs for infrastructure to support sustainable human development.
• To provide guidance for sustainable abstraction, management, governance and conservation and assess potential water risks.
• To create effective informative tools of the water footprint and biocapacity for every Mediterranean country through time, via interactive infographics, GIS – story maps.
- Environmentally friendly technologies: the promotion, diffusion and identification of innovative water saving and water treatment technologies is one of the key activities of the project
- Economic Environmental and social benefits: Better water management and better water use, more efficient water consumption, better quality of water and better quality of life
- A European wider common approach on water use: definition of common strategies on water footprint will contribute to promote transnational awareness on water management, saving and innovations.
- A Mediterranean water footprint network: establish the Mediterranean water footprint network, as an active platform and an instrument for discussion and dialogue among city regulators, water utilities and water users for the Mediterranean countries, evaluating their water use of local and global resources, and how this compares with each county’s endowment.
- Economic Environmental and social benefits: Better water management and better water use, more efficient water consumption, better quality of water and better quality of life
- A European wider common approach on water use: definition of common strategies on water footprint will contribute to promote transnational awareness on water management, saving and innovations.
- A Mediterranean water footprint network: establish the Mediterranean water footprint network, as an active platform and an instrument for discussion and dialogue among city regulators, water utilities and water users for the Mediterranean countries, evaluating their water use of local and global resources, and how this compares with each county’s endowment.
TBA
Local governmental authorities, Municipalities, Regions, Environmental Organizations, SMEs, Universities/Research, Interregional and cross-border Associations.
4.0 M€
Ioannis
Dontas
Aratos Technologies SA
Company or other economic operator
Athens
Greece
idontas@aratos.gr
+302109400133
ioannisd71
www.aratos.gr
Approved