WP 3 - WATER DEMAND AND SUSTAINABILITY

WATER DEMAND AND SUSTAINABILITY

 
Objectives
The aim of WP3 is to develop joint research with UMI in collaboration with UA and the European partners about urban water demand, water stress, drought indicators and climate change. This joint research practice will contribute to the projected SWC. A second general objective will be to make a contribution among partners concerning institutional issues, dealing with water governance and implementation of the European Water Framework Directive (WFD) as a background. The objectives aim to contribute to the general commitments defined by the WFD, i.e. maintenance of the health of aquatic ecosystems, active participation of users in management decisions and coast recovery of water services.
Specific objectives include:
Exchanging knowledge and building cooperation among partners on:
- socio-hydrological urban water cycle governance;
- useful instruments for improving water resources management in urban areas;
- climate change simulation models applied to study the effects of scenarios on urban water demand
- debates and implications of WFD general goals, methodological advances and socio-institutional experiences.
WP3 specific tasks will concern water demand, climate change and risks (WP1), social actors’ participation, water governance (WP2) and specific issues concerning urban water (WP4).
In addition, WP3 aim to:
- promote the dissemination of the activities of SWC project and results by organizing lectures on the SWC within the framework of PhD studies in the university of Seville. These will be aimed at postgraduate students as well as technicians and managers of water companies and local and regional governments;
- promote links between knowledge and management through Spanish stakeholder participation in the activities (seminars, workshops).
 
Description of work and role of partners
WP3 will be led by partner 4 with substantial input from partners 1 (climate change/risks), 2 (urban water), 3 (governance) and will involve partners 5 and 6 for specific activities.
 
Task 3-1: Preparation and realization of stays at UMI
The integration of the research team and the students with the UMI and UA research activities will have two main foci: the analysis of domestic water demand explanation factors and the development of common models of drought indicator systems’ geo-referenced database. Some of the specific tasks to perform are:
- collect information from relevant specialized literature and official documents;
- comparison of experiences with similar studies in partners’ countries through cartographic analysis of recent urban processes;
- surveys on territorial characteristics (dominant urban form, age and type of housing), demographic (population dynamics, household size, age), cultural (origin and nationality of residents, cultural and religious values) and social (education);
- monitoring of actual water consumption;
- comparison of statistical tools to validate and explain results and domestic water consumption in selected case studies (Spain, Europe / Arizona, USA).
Months 1-12
 
Task 3-2: Developing web tools for sustainability
Together with partner 5 and WP4 will study the development of innovative tools for risk management. First steps will include analysis of:
- drought indicators;
- drought geo-referenced database;
- urban water demand geo-referenced database;
- regional actors and interlocutors involved in the risk management process (with special focus on drought).
Months 12-24
 
Task 3-3: Participation in joint research activities
This task will coordinate joint research (researchers and students) with WP1, WP3 and WP4 and the contribution to the seminar and workshops.
With WP1, collaboration will be on Integrative models under climate change scenarios. This activity will encompass: diagnosis of water risks, simulation of water demand behavior under different climate scenarios, identification of the appropriate actors and interlocutors for the risk management process.
With WP2, this work package will develop an “Evaluation of the WFD implementation process” analyzing key issues related to water systems involved in the WFD implementation process and its potential and limits for its application abroad.
Months 12-36
 
Task 3-4: Dissemination of the activities of the Center, joint publications
Different activities will be envisioned with WP5 (i.e. lectures by invited partners at least  two lectures  will be organized within the framework of PhD studies in the University of Seville aimed at postgraduate students as well as technicians and managers of water companies and local and regional government. Meanwhile, these tasks will coordinate with WP4 an edited book publication and contribute to the preparation of the International Conference.
Months 36-45
 
List of deliverables
D3.1: Working papers: “Key water data for water resources planning and risks”
D3.2: Working papers: “Evaluation of the WFD implementation process in Europe”