Nature-based Solutions and Living Labs for Water Reuse in Rural Areas

Published on September 29, 2025 – Updated on October 13, 2025
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SOLLAGUA aims to promote nature-based solutions (NBS) for water reuse in the SUDOE area, which faces major challenges linked to water scarcity due to a semi-arid environment, climate change (CC), and a growing population. The project seeks to address these shared challenges by implementing sustainable water management strategies in three rural communities in Portugal, Spain, and France.

The objective is to provide a more resilient water supply while delivering co-benefits such as climate change (CC) mitigation and adaptation. The project will help evolve practices by encouraging the adoption of green and innovative technologies in public procurement. These changes support a circular economy based on the reuse of local wastewater, while providing a new water source and an alternative to traditional “end-of-pipe” facilities. This transition is particularly suited to rural areas, which are generally less populated and have a more moderate economy compared to urban zones.

The outcomes include capacity building on NBS for the reuse of domestic wastewater and the creation of three demo sites. These demo sites (location, solution, capacity, design) will be developed through a new Living Lab strategy focused on water and NBS (NB-WoLL) and its action plan. This WoLL will foster cooperation between governments, universities, businesses, and users within an open innovation environment. The NB-WoLL strategy will (i) promote co-creation, (ii) be oriented towards NBS, and (iii) be adapted to water needs. The action plan mobilises tools on the costs and benefits of NBS. This will help raise awareness and demonstrate the feasibility of these innovations to public and private stakeholders.

The project will benefit all stakeholders in water management. By fostering transnational cooperation, it enables the sharing of experiences and lessons learned, encouraging their wider adoption. This approach also ensures that outcomes are fully aligned with the EU’s regulatory framework for water reuse.
 

Partners

Associated Partners

  The project began in January 2024 and will conclude in December 2026.

This project is co-financed at 75% by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) under the Interreg SUDOE Programme (2021–2027). The SUDOE Programme supports regional development in south-western Europe by funding transnational projects through the ERDF. It promotes transnational cooperation to address common issues across the regions it covers, such as underinvestment in research and development, low competitiveness of SMEs (small and medium-sized enterprises), and exposure to climate change and environmental risks.

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