Clepsydra - Groundwater monitoring and Decision Support System development to optimise decision-making in sensitive and water-scarce agricultural environments in the Mediterranean context
Programme 2021 - 2027 Interreg VI-B EURO Mediterranean (EURO MED)Description
Organisations cooperating across border(EN)
DSS based on artificial intelligent to support decision making
(EN)
DSS based on artificial intelligent to support decision making
(FR)
Thematic information
Priority: (VI-B_EM_1) Smarter MED
Priority specific objective: RSO1.1. Developing and enhancing research and innovation capacities and the uptake of advanced technologies
Priority policy objective (Interreg specific objective): PO1 A more competitive and smarter Europe by promoting innovative and smart economic transformation and regional ICT connectivity
Type of intervention: 029 Research and innovation processes, technology transfer and cooperation between enterprises, research centres and universities, focusing on the low carbon economy, resilience and adaptation to climate change
Partners (10)
Lead Partner: Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientificas - Instituto Geologico y Minero de España
PIC (Participant Identification Code): 999991722
Partner’s ID if not PIC: Q2818002D | ES1Q0005839 | DIR3 EA0042459 (FR), DIR3 EA0042459 (EN)
Department: Spanish Geological and Mining Institute - Instituto Geologico y Minero de España
Address: Ríos Rosas , 28003 Madrid, Spain
Department address: Avda. Miguel de Cervantes , 30009 Murcia, Spain
Legal status: public
Organisation type: Higher education and research organisations
Website: https://www.igme.es/
Total budget: EUR 465 460.00
Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 372 368.00
Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 80.00%
Partner contribution: EUR 93 092.00
Lead Partner: Centro Nacional Instituto Geológico Minero de España - Consejo Superior Investigaciones Científicas
PIC (Participant Identification Code): 999991722
Partner’s ID if not PIC: ESQ2818002D
Address: Ríos Rosas , 28003 Madrid, Spain
Department address: Avda. Miguel de Cervantes , 30009 Murcia, Spain
Legal status: public
Organisation type: Higher education and research organisations
Website: https://www.igme.es/
Total budget: EUR 465 460.00
Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 372 368.00
Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 80.00%
Partner contribution: EUR 93 092.00
- Università degli Studi di Cassino e del Lazio Meridionale
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Name: Università degli Studi di Cassino e del Lazio Meridionale
Department: Research Unit of the University of Cassino and Southern Lazio
Partner’s ID if not PIC: 81006500607 | IT120000036
Address: Viale dell'Università - Loc. Folcara, 03043 Cassino (FR), Italy
Department address: Via Gaetano Di Biasio, 03043 Cassino, Italy
Legal status: public
Organisation type: Higher education and research organisations
Website: http://www.unicas.it
Total budget: EUR 243 644.00
Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 194 915.20
Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 80.00%
Partner contribution: EUR 48 728.80
- Ίδρυμα Τεχνολογίας και Έρευνας / Ινστιτούτο Επιστημών Χημικής Μηχανικής
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Name: Ίδρυμα Τεχνολογίας και Έρευνας / Ινστιτούτο Επιστημών Χημικής Μηχανικής
Partner’s ID if not PIC: 090101655 | EL120000030
Address: Stadiou, GR-26504 Patras, Greece
Legal status: public
Organisation type: Higher education and research organisations
Website: http://www.iceht.forth.gr
Total budget: EUR 150 551.50
Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 120 441.20
Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 80.00%
Partner contribution: EUR 30 110.30
- Agenzija dwar l-Energija u l-Ilma
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Name: Agenzija dwar l-Energija u l-Ilma
Department: Water Policy Unit
PIC (Participant Identification Code): 940242632
Partner’s ID if not PIC: MT001/01 | MT120000001
Address: Mill street, QRM3104 Qormi, Malta
Department address: Mill street, QRM3104 Qormi, Malta
Legal status: public
Organisation type: Sectoral agency
Website: http://www.energywateragency.gov.mt
Total budget: EUR 305 619.80
Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 244 495.84
Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 80.00%
Partner contribution: EUR 61 123.96
Contractors:
-
Name: Paul Bugeja CPA
VAT registration or tax identification number: MT16919517
-
Name: Paul Bugeja CPA
- Instituto Superior de Agronomia-Linking environment agriculture and forests
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Name: Instituto Superior de Agronomia-Linking environment agriculture and forests
PIC (Participant Identification Code): 998463002
Partner’s ID if not PIC: PT505869721 | PT120000007
Address: Tapada da Ajuda, 1349-017 Lisboa Lisboa, Portugal
Legal status: public
Organisation type: Higher education and research organisations
Website: http://www.isa.ulisboa.pt
Total budget: EUR 280 699.10
Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 224 559.28
Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 80.00%
Partner contribution: EUR 56 139.82
- Pole Mondial De Competitivite Eau
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Name: Pole Mondial De Competitivite Eau
PIC (Participant Identification Code): 935612046
Partner’s ID if not PIC: 87527763445 | FR220000006
Address: Av. Charles Flahault, 34090 Montpellier, France
Legal status: private
Organisation type: Business support organisation
Website: https://aqua-valley.com/
Total budget: EUR 294 859.40
Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 235 887.52
Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 80.00%
Partner contribution: EUR 58 971.88
- Institut de Recherche pour le Développement
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Name: Institut de Recherche pour le Développement
Department: UMR G-EAU (Gestion de l'Eau, Acteurs, Usages)
PIC (Participant Identification Code): 999513803
Partner’s ID if not PIC: 75180006025 | FR120000014
Address: Boulevard de Dunkerque , 13572 Marseille, France
Department address: rue Jean-François Breton , 34196 Montpellier, France
Legal status: public
Organisation type: Higher education and research organisations
Website: https://www.ird.fr/
Total budget: EUR 250 278.00
Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 200 222.40
Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 80.00%
Partner contribution: EUR 50 055.60
- Comunitat d’Usuaris d’Aigües de la Vall Baixa i Delta del Llobregat
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Name: Comunitat d’Usuaris d’Aigües de la Vall Baixa i Delta del Llobregat
PIC (Participant Identification Code): 921723877
Partner’s ID if not PIC: V58994997 | ES2V0000004
Address: Carrer de Pau Casals, 08820 El Prat de Llobregat/Barcelona, Spain
Legal status: public
Organisation type: Other
Website: https://www.cuadll.org/
Total budget: EUR 257 657.70
Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 206 126.16
Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 80.00%
Partner contribution: EUR 51 531.54
Contractors:
-
Name: Faura Casas auditors consultor
VAT registration or tax identification number: b58671710
-
Name: Faura Casas auditors consultor
- Comunidad de Regantes del Campo de Cartagena
-
Name: Comunidad de Regantes del Campo de Cartagena
Partner’s ID if not PIC: G30607345 | ES2G0000075
Address: Paseo Alfonso XIII, 30201 Cartagena, Spain
Legal status: public
Organisation type: Other
Website: https://www.crcc.es
Total budget: EUR 349 880.40
Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 279 904.32
Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 80.00%
Partner contribution: EUR 69 976.08
Contractors:
-
Name: Plural Event Managmeent S.L.U
VAT registration or tax identification number: B73702805
-
Name: Plural Event Managmeent S.L.U
Partners map
Lead partner
Project partner
Summary
Project acronym: Clepsydra
Project ID: Euro-MED0200626
Project start date: 2024-01-01
Project end date: 2026-09-30
Project status: ongoing
Relevant linked projects:
- “Increasing the regional competitiveness and economic growth through the R&TD&I on sustainable water management (SWAM)” (FP7-REGIONS-2009-1 CSA-CA, Partners: Directorate-General for Universities and Science Policy. Region of Murcia (Spain), UMU University of Murcia (Spain), CETENMA Technological Centre for Energy and Environment (Spain), AFAMUR Machinery Manufacturers Association. Region of Murcia (Spain), GMA Galilee Municipalities Association (Israel), MIGAL Galilee Technology Centre (Israel), BERUTY BERUTY Ltd. (Israel), Region of Western Greece (Greece), FORTH/ICE-HT (Greece), Patras Science Park (Greece), ENBIO Ltd. (Greece), Duration: 01.03.2010-30.06.2012, Total Budget: 1,484,450€, FORTH/ICE-HT Budget: 145,380 €)
- (EN), “Increasing the regional competitiveness and economic growth through the R&TD&I on sustainable water management (SWAM)” (FP7-REGIONS-2009-1 CSA-CA, Partners: Directorate-General for Universities and Science Policy. Region of Murcia (Spain), UMU University of Murcia (Spain), CETENMA Technological Centre for Energy and Environment (Spain), AFAMUR Machinery Manufacturers Association. Region of Murcia (Spain), GMA Galilee Municipalities Association (Israel), MIGAL Galilee Technology Centre (Israel), BERUTY BERUTY Ltd. (Israel), Region of Western Greece (Greece), FORTH/ICE-HT (Greece), Patras Science Park (Greece), ENBIO Ltd. (Greece), Duration: 01.03.2010-30.06.2012, Total Budget: 1,484,450€, FORTH/ICE-HT Budget: 145,380 €)
- (FR) | The SWAM project was a Coordination and support actions (CSA) project. The scope of the project was mainly networking, strategic planning, policy dialogues, mutual learning exercises and mentoring.
- The overall objective of the SWAM Project was to create a common dialogue platform and a joint action plan among three innovative and dynamic Water-Tech clusters that would maximise capacity for better RTD investments at regional level through complementarity and synergy, so as to contribute for sustainable development, economic growth, global competitiveness of the regions, and the emergence of the Water-Tech lead market", as it is written in the proposal.
- The SWAM project network will also be used for the Clepsydra Project dissemination. The project allowed the preparation of several EU proposals and the establishment of networks and new collaborations for future projects such as this one.
- (FR), The SWAM project was a Coordination and support actions (CSA) project. The scope of the project was mainly networking, strategic planning, policy dialogues, mutual learning exercises and mentoring.
- The overall objective of the SWAM Project was to create a common dialogue platform and a joint action plan among three innovative and dynamic Water-Tech clusters that would maximise capacity for better RTD investments at regional level through complementarity and synergy, so as to contribute for sustainable development, economic growth, global competitiveness of the regions, and the emergence of the Water-Tech lead market", as it is written in the proposal.
- The SWAM project network will also be used for the Clepsydra Project dissemination. The project allowed the preparation of several EU proposals and the establishment of networks and new collaborations for future projects such as this one.
- (EN), CF.10.096 - Enhancing National Monitoring and Public Engagement Capacity for improved Water Resources Management
- (FR), CF.10.096 - Enhancing National Monitoring and Public Engagement Capacity for improved Water Resources Management (EN) | The project aims at optimising the management of water resources management in the Maltese islands. The project actions envisage the development of an increased knowledge on the occurrence of natural water resources in the Maltese islands, coupled with an increased appreciation of the importance of water use in stakeholders. These two complementary actions will contribute towards increased appreciation on the vulnerability of water resources in the Maltese islands, and identify the optimal tools on how these resources can be protected.
- The project has undertaken actions to upgrade Malta’s hydrological monitoring network including the development of an unsaturated zone monitoring network. This network will be used in the Malta pilot action on the monitoring of nitrate concentration in recharge water in the unsaturated zone and hence will provide early data to the project as well as support other partners in the implementation of advanced monitoring networks under this project
- (EN), The project aims at optimising the management of water resources management in the Maltese islands. The project actions envisage the development of an increased knowledge on the occurrence of natural water resources in the Maltese islands, coupled with an increased appreciation of the importance of water use in stakeholders. These two complementary actions will contribute towards increased appreciation on the vulnerability of water resources in the Maltese islands, and identify the optimal tools on how these resources can be protected.
- The project has undertaken actions to upgrade Malta’s hydrological monitoring network including the development of an unsaturated zone monitoring network. This network will be used in the Malta pilot action on the monitoring of nitrate concentration in recharge water in the unsaturated zone and hence will provide early data to the project as well as support other partners in the implementation of advanced monitoring networks under this project
- (FR), LIFE 16 IPE MT 008 - Optimising the Implementation of the 2nd RBMP in the Malta River Basin District.
- (FR), LIFE 16 IPE MT 008 - Optimising the Implementation of the 2nd RBMP in the Malta River Basin District.
- (EN) | The main aim of the LIFE-IP RBMP-MALTA project is to support the implementation of the second RBMP through the establishment of an integrated framework for the optimised management of all water resources on the Maltese islands. This through the implementation of best practice, demonstration, pilot study, and capacity building actions will be mainly linked to severe water scarcity and drought conditions, high population density, high urbanisation rates, saline water intrusion, contamination, and vulnerability of coastal waters..
- One of the project’s actions focuses on the development of a comprehensive monitoring framework for inland and marine waters in Malta, and the interpretation of quality data to support the determination of linkages between the respective water bodies.
- The conclusions of the project will be taken into account when designing the DSS tool.
- (EN), The main aim of the LIFE-IP RBMP-MALTA project is to support the implementation of the second RBMP through the establishment of an integrated framework for the optimised management of all water resources on the Maltese islands. This through the implementation of best practice, demonstration, pilot study, and capacity building actions will be mainly linked to severe water scarcity and drought conditions, high population density, high urbanisation rates, saline water intrusion, contamination, and vulnerability of coastal waters..
- One of the project’s actions focuses on the development of a comprehensive monitoring framework for inland and marine waters in Malta, and the interpretation of quality data to support the determination of linkages between the respective water bodies.
- The conclusions of the project will be taken into account when designing the DSS tool.
- (FR), AQUIFER Project (SUDOE Programme): “Innovative tools for integrated groundwater management in a context of increasing scarcity of water resources SOE4/P1/E1045
- (FR), AQUIFER Project (SUDOE Programme): “Innovative tools for integrated groundwater management in a context of increasing scarcity of water resources SOE4/P1/E1045
- (EN) | The project proposal is based on the monitoring aspects established in the Interreg Sudoe AQUIFER project. The dynamics of flows in aquifers is slow, so sustained observations over time combined with near real-time control are required to be able to monitor events lasting a few hours, but with a great impact on the aquifer in terms of quantity and quality/pollution. The numerical models used in the Aquifer project will also serve as a basis for the Clepsydra project.
- (EN), The project proposal is based on the monitoring aspects established in the Interreg Sudoe AQUIFER project. The dynamics of flows in aquifers is slow, so sustained observations over time combined with near real-time control are required to be able to monitor events lasting a few hours, but with a great impact on the aquifer in terms of quantity and quality/pollution. The numerical models used in the Aquifer project will also serve as a basis for the Clepsydra project.
- (FR), SOE4/P5/E1059-AgroGreen SUDOE Programme
- (FR), SOE4/P5/E1059-AgroGreen SUDOE Programme
- (EN) | A harmonised planning tool for sudoe territory is being developed , to design resource management strategies, based on a co-creative process of data collection and modelling involving stakeholders, to mitigate water, soil and atmosphere pollution, caused by agri-food systems, considering the agronomic, environmental and socio-economic dimensions and the main actors involved. AgroGreen-SUDOE will model a set of management practices to minimise the environmental footprint of food and feed production, particularly in protected natural areas of SUDOE territory. The data for modelling will originate from the collaboration between end users and project researchers, within the framework of a multi-actor platform. Recommendations will be made adapted to the realities of farmers. The information will be disseminated among peers, increasing the potential for implementation and the generalisation of practices, increasing the durability of the project results
- The present proposal can capitalise AgroGreen results regarding estimations of nitrogen leaching from the crops root zone based upon in situ measurements and modelling now introducing an upscaling component
- (EN), A harmonised planning tool for sudoe territory is being developed , to design resource management strategies, based on a co-creative process of data collection and modelling involving stakeholders, to mitigate water, soil and atmosphere pollution, caused by agri-food systems, considering the agronomic, environmental and socio-economic dimensions and the main actors involved. AgroGreen-SUDOE will model a set of management practices to minimise the environmental footprint of food and feed production, particularly in protected natural areas of SUDOE territory. The data for modelling will originate from the collaboration between end users and project researchers, within the framework of a multi-actor platform. Recommendations will be made adapted to the realities of farmers. The information will be disseminated among peers, increasing the potential for implementation and the generalisation of practices, increasing the durability of the project results
- The present proposal can capitalise AgroGreen results regarding estimations of nitrogen leaching from the crops root zone based upon in situ measurements and modelling now introducing an upscaling component
- (FR), H2020-TWINING-2015-Nitroportugal- Strengthening Portuguese research and innovation capacities in the field of excess reactive nitrogen
- (FR), H2020-TWINING-2015-Nitroportugal- Strengthening Portuguese research and innovation capacities in the field of excess reactive nitrogen
- (EN) | The present proposal can capitalize Nitroportugal results by using the various data-base developed regarding agricultural management practices and N budgets for different agri systems
- (FR), The project GENESIS aimed at integrating pre-existing and new scientific knowledge into the development of methods, concepts, and tools for better management of groundwater resources.
- As an outcome of the project, they offered suggestions on the revision of the Groundwater Directive, one of them focused on the need to create a Common Monitoring Protocol to obtain comparable and consistent results.
- Clepsydra Project will take into consideration the conclusions on the revision of the Groundwater Directive when defining the protocol for data collecting and interpretation in the pilot sites.
- (EN), European Community 7th Framework Project GENESIS (226536) on groundwater systems.
- (EN), European Community 7th Framework Project GENESIS (226536) on groundwater systems. (FR) | The project GENESIS aimed at integrating pre-existing and new scientific knowledge into the development of methods, concepts, and tools for better management of groundwater resources.
- As an outcome of the project, they offered suggestions on the revision of the Groundwater Directive, one of them focused on the need to create a Common Monitoring Protocol to obtain comparable and consistent results.
- Clepsydra Project will take into consideration the conclusions on the revision of the Groundwater Directive when defining the protocol for data collecting and interpretation in the pilot sites.
- (FR), The project GENESIS aimed at integrating pre-existing and new scientific knowledge into the development of methods, concepts, and tools for better management of groundwater resources.
- As an outcome of the project, they offered suggestions on the revision of the Groundwater Directive, one of them focused on the need to create a Common Monitoring Protocol to obtain comparable and consistent results.
- Clepsydra Project will take into consideration the conclusions on the revision of the Groundwater Directive when defining the protocol for data collecting and interpretation in the pilot sites.
- (EN), SEVIRA - Water and people meet - learn, act and influence
- (EN), SEVIRA - Water and people meet - learn, act and influence
- (FR) | SEVIRA project was financed within the ENI CBC South-East Finland-Russia with the aim of improving monitoring of water quality and involvement of residents in the area by understanding their views on water bodies and providing a learning opportunity.
- The conclusions of the project will be taken into account especially in Clepsydra WP4 about the socio-educational outreach and the social dimension of the aquifers.
- (EN), SEVIRA project was financed within the ENI CBC South-East Finland-Russia with the aim of improving monitoring of water quality and involvement of residents in the area by understanding their views on water bodies and providing a learning opportunity.
- The conclusions of the project will be taken into account especially in Clepsydra WP4 about the socio-educational outreach and the social dimension of the aquifers.
- (FR), AQUARES Project - Water reuse policies advancement for resource efficient European regions
- (FR), AQUARES Project - Water reuse policies advancement for resource efficient European regions
- (EN) | It is a project co-financed by Interreg Europe Programme with the aim of achieving efficient water management through water reuse, profit from the opportunities in the water market, and secure the protection of water bodies.
- Clepsydra Project will benefit from the best practices detected on how to improve the use of water especially in the agricultural sector.
- (EN), It is a project co-financed by Interreg Europe Programme with the aim of achieving efficient water management through water reuse, profit from the opportunities in the water market, and secure the protection of water bodies.
- Clepsydra Project will benefit from the best practices detected on how to improve the use of water especially in the agricultural sector.
- (FR)
Total budget/expenditure: EUR 2 598 649.90
Total EU funding (amount): EUR 2 078 919.92
Total EU funding (co-financing rate): 80.00%
Co-financing sources:
Investments, deliverables, policy contributions
(bullets are inserted automatically and may be incorrectly placed)
Infrastructure investments:
- I3.4 - Upgrading the Unsaturated Zone Monitoring in Malta - EUR 38 000.00 - country: Malta (MT), town: Malta Mean Sea Level Aquifer system, street: Malta Mean Sea Level Aquifer system, Malta (MT00),
- I3.2 - Data monitoring and interpretation in Llobregat. - EUR 29 000.00 - country: España (ES), town: El Prat de Llobregat, street: Carrer Pau Casals, 14-46, postal_code: 08820, Cataluña (ES51), Barcelona (ES511)
- I3.1 - Data monitoring and interpretation in Cartagena - EUR 45 000.00 - country: España (ES), town: Cartagena, street: Eastern irrigable area Cartagena. Sectors:, 3,7,9,12, 12, 13, 16, Región de Murcia (ES62), Murcia (ES620)
Deliverables:
- Good practices Handbook on groundwater networks and models in pilot sites
- Good practices Handbook on groundwater networks and models in pilot sites
- Groundwater monitoring protocol for the pilot sites
- Groundwater monitoring protocol for the pilot sites
- DSS based on artificial intelligent to support decision making
- DSS based on artificial intelligent to support decision making
- Replication and Transferability Strategy
- Replication and Transferability Strategy
- Training materials
- Training materials
Contribution to wider strategies and policies:
- EuropeanGreenDeal Clepsydra will contribute to the European Green Deal objectives of clean water and healthy and affordable food to improve citizens' well-being.
- As a subsurface reservoir, an aquifer enhances the resilience of the water cycle, reduces treatment requirements for drinking water, and mitigates environmental hazards.
- For the period 2016-2019, across Member States, 14.1% of groundwater still exceeded the nitrates concentration limit set for drinking water.
- The monitoring frameworks and DSS created in the project will provide an early warning system, allowing for more tailored and immediate decisions that will ultimately avoid contamination and help maintain the groundwater in better conditions.
- Additionally, Clepsydra will contribute to the following strategies and plans:
- - Farm-to-fork strategy (EC2020a), by helping agronomical activities reduce their impact on the groundwater and groundwater-dependent ecosystems (GDE) and biodiversity and the environment.
- - EU biodiversity strategy (EC2020b), since the project will contribute to regulating groundwater abstraction helping preserve water flows that affect GDE, thus avoiding their disruption through human activity.
- - Zero pollution Action Plan (EC2021b) These are actually shared objectives with Clepsydra as it aims to monitor the quality of groundwater (including nutrients) to allow for more tailored decisions in agricultural activities through one of the main objectives of this plan: the reduction of nutrient losses and the improvement of water.
- - Climate change adaptation strategy (EC 2021a) because the importance of groundwater is emphasised in the context of climate change with recurrent and persistent droughts. Clepsydra aims to avoid the effects of human activity in groundwater improving the monitoring and the results obtained from the DSS may help us understand the relationship between groundwater and climate, as well as preserve ecological flows.
- Other The Nitrates Directive (91/676/EEC)
- Various European Commission documents indicate that little progress has been made by the Member States in the fight against nitrate pollution, especially as far as aquifers are concerned. For this project, the principle of necessity can be invoked, which has its raison d'être in the obligation to provide a more forceful response to the problem of diffuse pollution, which is necessary in view of the poor results obtained so far in the fight against this problem.
- Clepsydra contributes to the implementation of the nitrates Directive in groundwater bodies through monitoring and the development of a DSS that will provide an early warning system. The monitoring protocol, networks, and DSS aim to help understand the path of nitrates from the soil to the aquifer and to take the necessary actions to prevent leaching based on real-time scientific data.
- The implementation of the project will contribute to better identify polluted or at risk of pollution groundwater bodies, establishing the appropriate measures for agriculture and other practices based on the current situation with the help of the DSS, and improving monitoring and reporting on nitrates including estimation of future trends.
- Other Directive 2006/118/EC on the protection of groundwater against pollution and deterioration
- The Groundwater Directive objectives are at the core of Clepsydra as it precisely aims to protect groundwater in the Mediterranean area from potential pollution from agriculture and other practices by accurate monitoring, improvement of the monitoring network, and interpretation of data through a DSS.
- The inclusion of the unsaturated zone is an additional monitoring parameter that is included in this project, this area has been barely studied and it is crucial to understand the paths pollutants follow from the soil to the groundwater.
- Clepsydra will provide a complementary monitoring tool to support the adoption of the GWD’s Prevent and Limit Objectives, particularly by providing insights on the beneficial impact of the unsaturated zone.
- Other EU Water Framework Directive (2000/60/EC)
- Clepsydra contributes to the implementation of WFD requirements to monitor groundwater bodies so as to detect changes in chemical composition, and to reverse any induced upward pollution trend from human activities as well as impacts of exploitation and recharge. It will therefore contribute to the River Basin Management Plans implementation.
- Clepsydra will support the WFD in providing information to transparently determine extensions to the good status objectives based on natural conditions.
- Of particular relevance, also, Clepsydra will enable the estimation of nitrate loading from today’s land use activities, hence enabling the projection of the path to good qualitative status.
- Quantity is also a major issue for groundwater. There is only a certain amount of recharge into groundwater each year, and of this recharge, some is needed to support connected ecosystems (whether they are surface water bodies or terrestrial systems such as wetlands). For good management, only that portion of the overall recharge not needed by the ecology can be abstracted, this is the sustainable resource, and the Directive limits abstraction to that quantity. Continuous monitoring and the DSS will support management bodies so their decisions match the requirements and protect the aquifer.
- In particular it affects to the following articles:
- Article 4 in terms of improving the reliability of status assessments.
- Article 8 Monitoring of surface water status, groundwater status and protected areas: Clepsydra will provide a complimentary monitoring framework to that required by the Directive – increasing confidence in status assessment
- Article 11 Programme of measures: Clepsydra will increase capacity to assess the effectivity of measures.
- MediterraneanSeaBasin
- For the implementation of Clepsydra, a close cooperation between international partners is vital to develop common tools and share best practices, this is one of the goals of this strategy. The new DSS will support professionals in taking adequate decisions to protect and improve aquifers situation what will contribute to the blue economy. At the same time, the preservation of ecosystems and biodiversity (one of the purposes of this Initiative) is achieved by controlling the flows of contaminants in GDE such as rivers, wetlands, etc, which can be accomplished by the outputs of the proposed project.
- Other Common Agricultural Policy
- The CAP aims to promote synergies between a healthy environment and agriculture. In case of groundwater, it is a valuable resource for agriculture, industry, tourism and other sectors, however, the aquifers have been damaged through their exploitation and pollution. Clepsydra aims to develop innovative tools to reverse these situations through more efficient management that benefits both parties. One example is the use of nitrates, if farmers are able to measure the amount of nitrates leaching below the roots, they will be able to better estimate the fertilisers needed so leaching to the aquifer doesn’t happen and they avoid added costs. This is a mutually beneficial initiative, and cooperation with farmers should be sought.
- Other EU Missions
- The proposed Project is at the heart of EU Missions, in particular, in the Adaptation to Climate Change Mission, because the Clepsydra will entail more sustainable agricultural activities; the Restore our Ocean and Waters Mission to contribute to fighting against water pollution through monitoring and a DSS to support decision making, and the Soil Deal for Europe, dealing with soil protection and soil restoration.
- Other Agenda 2030 for sustainable development
- Agenda 2030 focuses largely on the protection of the environment, and Clepsydra aims to contribute to this through the protection of groundwater. To be more specific, this project will mainly contribute to the Sustainable Development Goal 6 Clean water and sanitation. Clepsydra will provide innovative tools to public authorities and water management organisations that will monitor quality and quantity values in groundwater and interpret the obtained data to facilitate decision-making (6.5) resulting in a better quality of groundwater (6.1) with the reduction of leached pollutants (6.3) and more efficient use of groundwater resources minimising the effects of exploitation and recharge. Through the project, we expect to help improve the groundwater bodies and this will inevitably impact the Groundwater Dependent Ecosystems (connected lagunes, rivers, sea, etc) and the biodiversity of these areas (6.6).
- Clepsydra involves stakeholders from the 4helix among its partners and associated organisations, with the aim to involve them in the solutions developed. (6.b 6.a) One of the main objectives of the project is to raise awareness of the importance of aquifers, the problems they face and the solutions developed among all stakeholders including general society through socio-educational outreach and training. (6.a)
- With the implementation of the activities Clepsydra will also contribute to SDG 8-12-13-14-15 with more sustainable agriculture, the protection of the aquifers and the GDE and biodiversity.
- TerritorialAgenda2030 The Territorial Agenda 2030 addresses the needs created by climate change and sustainable development, among the areas to which it aims to respond and on which Clepsydra will have an important effect are the quality of air, soil and water and indirectly the loss of biodiversity and soil consumption.
- Within the objective of a Green Europe, and the priority Healthy Environment, the project will contribute to improving groundwater management through the development of the DSS that will act as an early warning system allowing for tailored to the real situation.
Deliverable (other than infrastructural investment) areas:
- Portugal (PT), Santarém, Quinta da Cholda, Golegã, 2150-066
Programme Common Output Indicator:
-
RCO 116 - Jointly developed solutions, Measurement unit:
-
RCO 087 - Organisations cooperating across borders, Measurement unit:
Programme Common Result Indicator:
-
RCR 104 - Solutions taken up or up-scaled by organisations, Measurement unit:
Programme Result Indicator:
-
PSI1 - Organisations with increased institutional capacity due to their participation in cooperation activities across borders, Measurement unit: organisations
Information regarding the data in keep.eu on the programme financing this project
Financing programme
2021 - 2027 Interreg VI-B EURO Mediterranean (EURO MED)
Last month that data in keep.eu was retrieved from the Programme's website or received from the Programme
2025-01-30
No. of projects in keep.eu / Total no. of projects (% of projects in keep.eu)
64 / 87 (73.56%)
No. of project partnerships in keep.eu / Total no. of project partnerships (% of project partnerships in keep.eu)
603 / 774 (77.91%)
Notes on the data
Source of estimation of the number of projects as of 2025-03-17: Website of the programme
Method for estimating the number of partners as of 2025-03-17: Average partners per project based on the average of the previous period.