Subsurface WAter Monitoring and Management to prevent drought risk in coastal systems

 

Objective

The Mediterranean region is subject to increasing pressures induced by climate change. The growing frequency of drought events and the spread of saline contamination in aquifers and soils are among the main concerns.  

In Adriatic coastal areas, focused on tourism and agriculture, water supply for the population and economic activities is increasingly at risk.

In the context of climate change, the availability of groundwater resources in under-researched onshore and offshore areas, often affected by saline intrusion, could be crucial in addressing drought crises. It is therefore essential to identify, quantify, and manage these fresh and low-salinity resources through sustainable actions for the coastal environment.  

The general objective of SWAMrisk is to increase knowledge of the impact of climate change on aquifer systems in Italy and Croatia, particularly in the Veneto and Neretva regions.  

 

Activities

To forecast the availability of groundwater resources in the short and long term in the Italian and Croatian sites, monitoring networks will be developed, hydrogeological surveys will be conducted, and modeling simulations will be carried out. Additionally, a “hydro-cloud” will be created, containing information on the characterization of the study areas, the results of the monitoring activities, the products of hydrogeological models, and vulnerability maps of aquifers related to drought, saline intrusion, and sea level rise.  

 

Partners

  • LP: University of Split, Faculty of Civil Engineering, Architecture and Geodesy (UNIST-FGAG), Croatia  
  • PP2: Veneto Region (VR), Italy  
  • PP3: M3E srl (M3E), Italy  
  • PP4: Regional Development Agency Dubrovnik-Neretva County (DUNEA), Croatia  
  • PP5: Croatian Water – Water Management Institute (CW), Croatia  
  • PP6: Aequum Ltd (AEQUUM), Croatia  
  • PP7: Land Reclamation Authority Adige Euganeo (AE), Italy  
  • PP8: National Research Council – Institute of Geosciences and Earth Resources (CNR IGG), Italy  

 

Duration:

30 months  

 

Start date:

April 1, 2024  

 

Total project budget:

€2,194,420.00, of which €1,755,536.00 is from ERDF (European Regional Development Fund) and €438,884.00 from national funds.  

 

M3E budget:

€276,360, of which €221,088 is from ERDF and €55,272 from self-financing. 

 

Contact: Eng. Omar Tosatto (o.tosatto@m3eweb.it)