Managing Groundwater Sustainability in Urban Areas: Quantifying the vulnerability of groundwater quality & quantity to climate change and urbanisation, and developing adaptation measures for cities
Programme 2021 - 2027 Interreg VI-B Alpine SpaceDescription
Validation of groundwater potential, risk assessment and recommendations for development of adaption strategies in Alpine space pilot cities (EN)
Guideline to assess groundwater potentials and risks due to climate change impacts and urbanization, including recommendations for the development of adaptation strategies on city-scale(EN)
Validating best practice for implementation of groundwater sustainability management at pilot cities in the Alpine space(EN)
Toolbox for implementation of Groundwater Sustainability Management on city level to build climate resilience and promote a sustainable use of potentials(EN)
Website: https://www.alpine-space.eu/project/margin/
Thematic information
Priority: (VI-B_AS_1) Climate resilient and green Alpine region
Priority specific objective: RSO2.4. Promoting climate change adaptation and disaster risk prevention and resilience, taking into account eco-system based approaches
Priority policy objective (Interreg specific objective): PO2 A greener, low-carbon transitioning towards a net zero carbon economy and resilient Europe by promoting clean and fair energy transition, green and blue investment, the circular economy, climate change mitigation and adaptation, risk prevention and management, and sustainable urban mobility
Type of intervention: 060 Adaptation to climate change measures and prevention and management of climate related risks: others, e.g. storms and drought (including awareness raising, civil protection and disaster management systems, infrastructures and ecosystem based approaches)
Partners (12)
Lead Partner: Technische Universität München
Partner’s ID if not PIC: DE811193231
Department: Chair of Hydrogeology
Address: Arcisstraße, 80333 München, Germany
Department address: Arcisstraße, 80333 München, Germany
Legal status: public
Organisation type: Higher education and research organisations
Website: http://www.tum.de
Total budget: EUR 600 950.36
Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 450 712.77
Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 75.00%
Partner contribution: EUR 150 237.59
- European Water Association
-
Name: European Water Association
Department: -
Partner’s ID if not PIC: DE815188820
Address: Theodor-Heuss-Allee, 53773 Hennef, Germany
Department address: Theodor-Heuss-Allee, 53773 Hennef, Germany
Legal status: private
Organisation type: Interest groups including NGOs
Website: https://www.ewa-online.eu/
Total budget: EUR 99 346.00
Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 74 509.50
Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 75.00%
Partner contribution: EUR 24 836.50
- Klima-Bündnis der europäischen Städte mit indigenen Völkern der Regenwälder
-
Name: Klima-Bündnis der europäischen Städte mit indigenen Völkern der Regenwälder
Department: -
Partner’s ID if not PIC: DE244331692
Address: Galvanistr., 60486 Frankfurt, Germany
Department address: Galvanistr., 60486 Frankfurt, Germany
Legal status: public
Organisation type: Other
Website: https://www.climatealliance.org/home.html
Total budget: EUR 221 916.70
Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 166 437.52
Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 75.00%
Partner contribution: EUR 55 479.18
- NACIONALNI INŠTITUT ZA BIOLOGIJO
-
Name: NACIONALNI INŠTITUT ZA BIOLOGIJO
Department: Department of Organisms and Ecosystem Research
Partner’s ID if not PIC: SI83534784
Address: Večna pot , 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
Department address: Večna pot , 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
Legal status: public
Organisation type: Higher education and research organisations
Website: http://www.nib.si
Total budget: EUR 155 916.67
Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 116 937.50
Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 75.00%
Partner contribution: EUR 38 979.17
- Universität Wien
-
Name: Universität Wien
Department: Department of Functional & Evolutionary Ecology, Unit of Limnology, Groundwater Ecology Group
Partner’s ID if not PIC: ATU37586901
Address: Universitätsring , 1010 Vienna, Austria
Department address: Djerassiplatz , 1030 Vienna, Austria
Legal status: public
Organisation type: Higher education and research organisations
Website: https://www.univie.ac.at/
Total budget: EUR 267 656.20
Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 200 742.15
Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 75.00%
Partner contribution: EUR 66 914.05
- Università degli Studi di Milano-Bicocca
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Name: Università degli Studi di Milano-Bicocca
Department: Departmenth of Earth and Environmental Sciences
Partner’s ID if not PIC: 12621570154
Address: Piazza dell'Ateneo Nuovo, 20126 Milano, Italy
Department address: Piazza della Scienza , 20126 Milano, Italy
Legal status: public
Organisation type: Higher education and research organisations
Website: https://www.unimib.it/
Total budget: EUR 176 916.67
Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 132 687.50
Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 75.00%
Partner contribution: EUR 44 229.17
- Geološki zavod Slovenije
-
Name: Geološki zavod Slovenije
Department: Department for Groundwater –Hydrogeology
Partner’s ID if not PIC: SI23064145
Address: Dimičeva ulica , 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
Department address: Dimičeva ulica , 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
Legal status: public
Organisation type: Higher education and research organisations
Website: http://www.geo-zs.si
Total budget: EUR 197 916.67
Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 148 437.50
Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 75.00%
Partner contribution: EUR 49 479.17
- GeoSphere Austria
-
Name: GeoSphere Austria
Department: Geophysical and Applied Geological Services / Mineral Resources and Geoenergy
Partner’s ID if not PIC: ATU78680526
Address: Hohe Warte , 1190 Vienna, Austria
Department address: Neulinggasse, 1030 Vienna, Austria
Legal status: public
Organisation type: National public authority
Website: https://www.geosphere.at/
Total budget: EUR 280 000.00
Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 210 000.00
Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 75.00%
Partner contribution: EUR 70 000.00
- LINZ Service GmbH für Infrastruktur und kommunale Dienste
-
Name: LINZ Service GmbH für Infrastruktur und kommunale Dienste
Department: Division Water Supply
Partner’s ID if not PIC: ATU23045700
Address: Wiener Straße, 4021 Linz, Austria
Department address: Wiener Straße, 4021 Linz, Austria
Legal status: public
Organisation type: Infrastructure and (public) service provider
Website: http://www.linzag.at
Total budget: EUR 127 916.67
Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 95 937.50
Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 75.00%
Partner contribution: EUR 31 979.17
- Landeshauptstadt München
-
Name: Landeshauptstadt München
Department: Department of Climate-and Environmental Protection
Partner’s ID if not PIC: DE 129 524 000
Address: Marienplatz, 80331 Munich, Germany
Department address: Bayerstraße, 80335 München, Germany
Legal status: public
Organisation type: Local public authority
Website: https://www.muenchen.de/
Total budget: EUR 473 716.67
Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 355 287.50
Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 75.00%
Partner contribution: EUR 118 429.17
- Comune di Milano
-
Name: Comune di Milano
Department: Environmental Department
Partner’s ID if not PIC: 01199250158
Address: Piazza della Scala, 20121 Milano, Italy
Department address: Via Sile , 20139 Milano, Italy
Legal status: public
Organisation type: Local public authority
Website: https://www.comune.milano.it/
Total budget: EUR 200 916.67
Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 150 687.50
Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 75.00%
Partner contribution: EUR 50 229.17
- Mestna občina Ljubljana
-
Name: Mestna občina Ljubljana
Department: Department of Environmental Protection, Urban planning Department
Partner’s ID if not PIC: SI67593321
Address: Mestni trg, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
Department address: Mestni trg, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
Legal status: public
Organisation type: Local public authority
Website: https://www.ljubljana.si/en/
Total budget: EUR 181 914.67
Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 136 436.00
Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 75.00%
Partner contribution: EUR 45 478.67
Partners map
Lead partner
Project partner
Summary
Project acronym: MARGIN
Project ID: ASP0500318
Project start date: 2024-09-01
Project end date: 2027-08-31
Project status: ongoing
Relevant linked projects:
- Interreg ASP - GRETA (EN) | GRETA investigated resources and conflicts of use associated with shallow geothermal energy in the Alpine region and gave an overview on legal requirements and regulations, as well as on environmental constraints. The assessments are an important input for MARGIN. MARGIN will also take up the developed guidelines, how to integrate shallow geothermal energy into local energy planning with respect to a sustainable groundwater use. TUM (project leader), GSA and C-Lj were involved in GRETA. (EN), Interreg ASP - EcoAlpsWater (EN) | Eco-AlpsWater improved the traditional water monitoring approaches by using advanced DNA sequencing techniques such as metabarcoding. The method was tested and optimized in 37 lakes and 23 rivers, and the new findings and experiences were gathered in a toolbox shared with decision makers and water managers. MARGIN will build on lessons learned and for biodiversity assessment test the Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) to analyse environmental DNA in groundwater. (EN), Interreg CE - MAURICE (EN) | MAURICE focuses on the mitigation of climate change (CC) impacts on urban water resources. It is developing management approaches aimed at enhancing resilience to extreme events such as floods and droughts with a specific emphasis on groundwater quantity issues. In this regard, the proposed project is complementary, as it considers the impact of CC and urbanization also on groundwater temperature and degradation of conditions for biological activity, and consequently groundwater quality. (EN), Interreg CE - GeoPLASMA (EN) | MARGIN will take up the harmonized strategies for planning, mapping, management and monitoring of shallow geothermal use in urban areas of GeoPLASMA-CE and integrate it into general groundwater management tools. Suitable methods and project results will be identified easily, as GSA (project leader), GeoZS and C-Lj were involved in GeoPLASMA-CE as well. Ljubljana takes the opportunity to further develop strategies, which started in GeoPLASMA-CE and continued in MUSE. (EN), Intereg CE - AMIIGA (EN) | The AMIIGA project provided management strategies and tools for the remediation of groundwater contamination in functional urban areas. The experiences gained in the development of groundwater management strategies, action plans, and supportive tools can be effectively implemented in the planned activities of the MARGIN project. (EN), Interreg CE - DEEPWATER (EN) | The project DEEPWATER-CE aims at developing solutions to climate-change impacts on groundwater availability by exploring the possibilities of Managed Aquifer Recharge (MAR). MAR is a viable approach of collecting excess surface water and precipitation in periods characterized with water abundance and storing it for dry times in aquifers. MARGIN can adopt benchmarking analysis and results from stakeholder interaction to evaluate challenges, requirements and options for adaptation strategies. (EN), Horizon Europe - GSEU (EN) | GSEU elaborates Pan-European data sets for shallow geothermal energy and groundwater, to provide the foundation for sustainable groundwater management strategies. A knowledge and competence hub will contain all outputs including capacity building tools. Aspired cooperation involves knowledge exchange – e.g. regarding language harmonization and management issues - and the possibility to publish outputs on the platform EGDI to reach a broader European audience. GSA and GeoZS are partners in GSEU. (EN), Horizon 2020 - GeoERA-MUSE (EN) | MUSE investigated resources and possible conflicts of use associated with shallow geothermal energy in European urban areas, to provide a sound basis for the development of management strategies. The proposed management concepts will be taken up by MARGIN to be integrated into general management tools. Suitable methods and project results will be identified easily, as GSA (project leader) and GeoZS were involved in MUSE as well. Ljubljana takes the opportunity to further develop strategies. (EN), Hoirzon 2020 - GeoERA-TACTIC (EN) | Geological Surveys collaborated in TACTIC on the development of a research infrastructure for the advancement and harmonization of climate change assessments utilizing knowledge and data on the groundwater system covering most climate challenges and hydrogeological conditions in Europe. Supplied data on a European Information Platform could be used for climate change assessments. MARGIN can test to integrate the provided information for the risk analysis in the pilot cities. (EN), Horizon 2020 - Water4Cities (EN) | The Water4Cities project developed Technology (ICT) tools that enable water utilities and authorities to monitor in real-time critical urban water resources parameters, support their decisions for optimal urban water management of minimal environmental impact and involve policy makers and public to provide support for sound and balanced decision-making. MARGIN can follow-up these approaches and adopt it to the alpine region and city-specified requirements. (EN), Biodiversa + - DarCo (EN) | DarCo aims to advance knowledge about groundwater biodiversity in Europe and inform its management. The overarching goal is to develop a concrete plan to incorporate subterranean ecosystems in the European Union (EU) Biodiversity Strategy for 2030. The biological data gathered and modelling approaches are planned to be used in the MARGIN project. (EN), LIFE - GeoBOOST (EN) | GeoBOOST aims to boost shallow geothermal energy to mainstream cost-effective and efficient renewable heating and cooling. It investigates the legal framework, statistical and market, and trends. MARGIN will take up project outcomes, such as a data collection methodology, tools to improve market data and a harmonized regulatory framework toolkit for Europe, and apply them in the pilot cities. Those topics will be integrated into general management tools for a sustainable groundwater. (EN), Austria - Heat Below the City (EN) | Groundwater temperature and biology play a crucial role in Heat Below The City and MARGIN. MARGIN will strongly benefit from lessons learned of field studies as well as from statistical methods of Heat Below The City to analyze field data and conduct trend-analyses based on long term time-series. Resulting recommendations of Heat Below The City for a sustainable use of groundwater for heating and cooling in Vienna take groundwater biodiversity into account. They will be taken-up by MARGIN. (EN), Germany - GEO.KW (EN) | The developed management tool enables an efficient thermal use of groundwater as decentralised energy source for heating and cooling in cities. A flexible planning tool facilitates implementation of groundwater-based energy systems and optimises management of the resource, ensuring networking of city-specific consumers. For practical application of project results, a web application was developed which is already in use in cities (e.g. Munich) and will be further developed and adopted in MARGIN. (EN), Germany - GeoSPOT (EN) | The GeoSPOT-project investigated the underground for an efficient use of (geo)potentials and to preserve the resources, esp. groundwater, for future generations. Hence, sustainable and future-oriented spatial planning of the underground is developed in the pilot area of the City of Augsburg, Germany. MARGIN can use the results of requirements, administration structures and strategies as input for the project and the developed network includes the City of Augsburg as a ‘follower city’ in MARGIN. (EN), Interreg ASP - X-Risk-CC (EN) | X-RISK-CC helps risk managers and policy makers across the AS to address the compound/cascading risks of CC-related weather extremes by developing local actions and transnational guidelines. They are based on newly generated and harmonized Alpine-wide data and knowledge on past and future extremes. The actions for upgrading current risk management instruments are designed with risk managers in five pilot areas. The project outputs are co-developed by and disseminated through EUSALP and AlpConv. (EN), Upcoming projects under the HORIZON calls (EN) | Upcoming projects under the calls HORIZON-CL6-2024-BIODIV-02-1-two-stage and ZEROPOLLUTION-02-1-two-stage will demonstrate nature-based solutions for the sustainable management of water resources in a changing climate, with special attention to reducing the impacts of extreme droughts and develop approaches for effective monitoring of water quality in urban areas. These topics are also addressed in MARGIN, indicating potential synergies among projects. (EN)
Total budget/expenditure: EUR 2 985 083.95
Total EU funding (amount): EUR 2 238 812.94
Total EU funding (co-financing rate): 75.00%
Co-financing sources:
- ERDF: Amount, EUR 2 238 812.94. Co-financing rate, 75.00%.
Investments, deliverables, policy contributions
(bullets are inserted automatically and may be incorrectly placed)
Deliverables:
- Catalogue of current data handling practices
- Catalogue of current strategies and measures
- Catalogue of current regulations
- Potential and Risk maps
- Catalogue of groundwater potentials and risks as well as adoption measures
- Implementation guideline
- Gamebook
- Catalogue of best practice examples concerning implementation
- Letter of commitment for NOC
Contribution to wider strategies and policies:
- EUStrategyAlpineRegion MARGIN contributes to EUSALP by integrating management tools for sustainable groundwater use into city planning. AG6, with the topic of “Identification of potential conflicts of groundwater uses” supports MARGIN and link it to the cross-cutting initiative Task Force. Joint activities are foreseen. AG8: Good practice solutions of groundwater management for climate change adaption is direct linked to the MARGIN’s focus; AG9: Inclusion of groundwater-based heating and cooling into planning tools.
- EuropeanGreenDeal MARGIN contributes to the EU Green Deal goal becoming a climate-neutral continent by fostering predictability and reliability of groundwater as a sustainable, local and renewable energy source in cities to reduce CO2-emission, increase access to energy and self-sufficiency. By adding the evaluation of groundwater ecosystem health to management tools, preservation and restoration of groundwater ecosystems/biodiversity will be facilitated and support the aim of maintaining a healthy environment.
- TerritorialAgenda2030 MARGIN strengthens awareness of cities to sustainably utilize and protect their groundwater resources through management concepts and tools, which are developed together with municipalities in order to be implemented into spatial planning. This fits to the scope of nature-based solutions and linking ecosystem and protected areas in spatial planning and land management as well as developing crisis management tools to foster resilience and support a Green Europe and Health Environment.
- Other MARGIN supports the EU ADAPTATION STRATEGY and its MISSION on ADAPTATION ON CLIMATE CHANGE to build a climate resilient society focusing on cities by fostering faster and systematic adaptation in city planning procedures. MARGIN can contribute knowledge, good practices and solutions to Climate-ADAPT, Urban Adaptation Support Tool (UAST), Water Information System for Europe (WISE) and ESPON TAPS Climate Neutral territories, Nature-Based-Adaption to Climate Change and Place resilient to crises. (
- Other MARGIN project results can directly support the MISSION 100 CLIMATE NEUTRAL AND SMART CITIES and its goal to reach climate neutrality until 2030. MARGIN partners Ljubljana, Milan and Munich are members of the 112 NetZeroCities. Milan can contribute to MARGIN’s concept on data handling in cities to the Italian multi-city pilot activity on Data Cluster to remove data related barriers and increase data accessibility at city level.
- Other MARGIN support EU CLIMATE RISK ASSESSMENT (EUCRA) at DG CLIMA by assessing the climate change impact on the natural resource ‘groundwater’ due to increasing events of droughts and extreme rainfall and evaluate the related risk for the environment and wider society as well as develop successful adaption strategies for cities. Hence, the project contributes to an increased understanding of direct and indirect climate heating impacts and consequences.
- Other MARGIN supports ALPINE CONVENTION by enabling cities to use groundwater-based heating/cooling (Energy), developing management tools for sustainable groundwater use, raising awareness among decision makers, preserving ecosystem health (Water), considering effects of urbanization/climate change to improve use of resources (Spatial Planning), vulnerability assessments and guidelines to support healthy groundwater ecosystems with preserved fully functional biodiversity (Nature conservation).
- Other MARGIN will support local actions initiated by the COVENANT OF MAYORS with the city-focused approach for a groundwater sustainability management increasing the city’s climate resilience focused on changes in the hydrosphere and fostering the sustainable implementation of climate-friendly groundwater-based heating /cooling systems supporting the decarbonisation of cities with respect to urban related conflicts. The project results contribute to the ‘climate and energy’ objectives of the Covenant.
- Other With implementation strategies for a groundwater sustainability management in cities, MARGIN directly addresses the goal defined by CLIMATE ALLIANCE: ‘cities and towns are squarely focused on taking a holistic and truly sustainable approach to climate change’. Concepts that include fostering renewable energy implementation, developing adaptation strategies to increase climate resilience in cities and including monitoring of ecosystem health contributes to the aims of Climate Alliance members.
- Other MARGIN supports the URBAN AGENDA for the EU by analysing existing regulations on groundwater use, as well as by sharing and developing knowledge, data and good practices on climate adaptation. MARGIN supports the priority themes climate adaptation and energy transition. Knowledge and expertise on urban issues is also supported in the Community of Practice – Cities, to identify challenges and effective urban policies.
- Other MARGIN supports the UN SDGs: Climate action - Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts (13), Sustainable cities and communities - Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable (11), Affordable and clean energy – Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all (7), Clean Water and sanitation - Ensure access to water and sanitation for all (6), Life below water (14) and life on land (15) and Climate Action (13).
- Other INTERREG ASP: the main contribution to Priority 1 MARGIN contributes as well to Interreg ASP Priority 2 by supporting the aim of promoting energy efficiency and decrease greenhouse gas emissions by increasing the reliability of groundwater-based renewable energy systems, and Priority 3 with the goal of digitalisation supporting green alpine region by improving monitoring, data handling and management of groundwater related databases.
- Other MARGIN supports the EU’s BIODIVERSITY STRATEGY for 2030, which is a comprehensive, ambitious and long-term plan to protect nature and reverse the degradation of ecosystems. Biodiversity of urban groundwater ecosystems is assessed for the first time in terms of ecological status.
Programme Common Output Indicator:
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RCO 084 - Pilot actions developed jointly and implemented in projects, Measurement unit:
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RCO 116 - Jointly developed solutions, Measurement unit:
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RCO 121 - Area covered by protection measures against climate related natural disasters (other than floods and wildfire), Measurement unit:
Programme Common Result Indicator:
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RCR 098 - SMEs staff completing training for skills for smart specialisation, for industrial transition and entrepreneurship (by type of skill: technical, management, entrepreneurship, green, other), Measurement unit:
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RCR 104 - Solutions taken up or up-scaled by organisations, Measurement unit:
Project part of European Union Macro-Regional or Sea Basin Strategy: EUSALP
EUSALP Priority (Policy) area / Horizontal action:
EUSALP Degree of compliance:
Information regarding the data in keep.eu on the programme financing this project
Financing programme
2021 - 2027 Interreg VI-B Alpine Space
Last month that data in keep.eu was retrieved from the Programme's website or received from the Programme
2025-04-23
No. of projects in keep.eu / Total no. of projects (% of projects in keep.eu)
46 / 46 (100%)
No. of project partnerships in keep.eu / Total no. of project partnerships (% of project partnerships in keep.eu)
459 / 459 (100%)
Notes on the data