The Network | Potential impact

The main problem to be addressed is the stress situation of water, water scarcity is a consequence of the dramatic increase in water demand. Reclaimed water is our "focal problem". The causes of the focal problem can be divided in four main branches: technological, economical, institutional and social matters. At mid-long term, the work carried out by the network envisages to have a positive impact on different European policies as well as on Mediterranean countries policies where the experts are carrying out their professional work, mainly:

Insitutional  Social  Economical  Technological

Institutional impact To integrate wastewater reuse in water governance master plans. The first step towards the improvement of lack of water is the recognition by local officials that water is a limited resource that has to be well managed. Integrate wastewater reuse practices is essential, the paper of government has to be planning and promoting projects that involve non-conventional water resources, but also provide the necessary resources to make this projects possible. To interwove regional strands. Water resource is the same in all Mediterranean regions, therefore it is very important to improve the management having in count that resource management is something that countries have to share. In that way, it's necessary to establish regional models and policies to use reclaim water, and interwove them with local ones. To test European legislation on water. Water resource is the same in all Mediterranean regions, therefore it is very important to improve the management having in count that resource management is something that countries have to share. In that way, it's necessary to establish regional models and policies to use reclaim water, and interwove them with local ones. To establish the best tools and approaches of evaluation for water government scenarios. All the experiences obtained implementing new ways of managing water resources have to set a best platform of governance. The challenge is to establish tools for evaluate these experiences and transform them in parameters and guidelines to follow in the becoming projects. [up ^]

Social impact To achieve public acceptance. There is certain concern among population about safety and quality of treated water. To achieve public acceptance it is necessary to inform and educate them about the goodness and advantage of using reclaim water. To balance the development of the Mediterranean regions. In general, the matter is to ensure that adequate supplies of safe water be accessible to everyone in the world today and ensure supplies for future generations. A regular and adequate supply of drinking water can help to enable disadvantaged people to exert control over their means of livelihood and development, enjoy equality of opportunity, and live in a safe and healthy environment. [up ^]

Economic impact To inspire future prices policies. How to value water economically is a complicate debate, especially in developing countries where attaching a price to water may be politically, economically or culturally unpopular. It is necessary an analysis of real cost to determinate who should pay it. To define if the reclaimed water is a competitive alternative resource and in which condition. The opportunity cost and externalities such as hygiene and health costs and the quality of the final output will be taken into account. [up ^]

Technological impact To study the long-term impacts of water reuse on the natural environment. This relates to problems derived from the implementation of the technology for recycling water like the environmental impact. In other hand, there is a need to establish monitoring and control systems to ensure reuse of suitably treated water, since in many countries there have been numerous indications of major health hazards due to reusing raw sewage. To exchange of scientific and technological knowledge. Mediterranean Partner countries have developed diversified technologies and know-how specialising in certain fields dictated by peculiar local conditions. Some countries have thus built up knowledge and expertise on specific problems, gaining a wealth of experience that could benefit those countries faced with similar problems. [up ^]