Joint actions for the development and implementation of new technologies for the optimal management of water resources in the urban environment

The CB area of Greece-Bulgaria is characterized by numerous, important water resources located on similar geomorphological features, but subjected to different management. Areas at the proximity of large water bodies commonly encounter problems managing excess water, as is the case in Drama; while municipalities deal frequently with water shortage as happens in Pavlos Melas and seasonally in Blagoevgrad. The need for efficient municipal water management is common to all CB areas, and solutions addressing similar issues can be developed collectively.

LYSIS proposes an integrated approach to regional socio-climatic changes with the use of innovative techniques and technologies addressing sustainable urban water management. Although a wide range of EU Directives and national legislative acts address water management and monitoring, established methodologies and technical and operational implementation standards are generally lacking at the municipal level. The development of these methodologies and standards present a common challenge to both Greece and Bulgaria in their efforts to promote sustainable municipal water management and reduce ecological footprint of urban green spaces.

Specifically, this project establishes problem solution strategies for municipalities facing water excess or shortage issues. The main project outputs are: implementation of smart urban irrigation systems addressing exact water needs in space and time; development of excess water management techniques emphasizing on water quality and reuse; development of a Good Practice Guide for ecological footprint reduction in urban green spaces; knowhow dissemination seminars and public awareness events addressing efficient municipal water management.

Project main beneficiaries are municipalities and related water management organizations gaining knowhow and local communities benefiting from natural resources conservation.

The CB approach of LYSIS is based on the common problems faced by multiple municipalities at both sides of the national borders creating the need for advanced urban water management. Additionally, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (AUTH) is a source of advanced irrigation and water management knowledge, which can be transferred and provide technical solutions to beneficiaries in both countries.

Project innovation lies at the fact that this specific project will develop a soft infrastructure that will not only implement the pilot actions, but will continue monitoring, inter-calibrating, denoising and servicing the data achieved from the telemetry network. In brief, the pilot actions will bring into play innovative technologies such as SCADA, DSS systems and smart telemetry tools.

Furthermore, the project covers a wide range of problems encountered in the CB area, thus the added value and purpose of the project exceeds local needs and can be seen as an exemplar for the majority of bodies and authorities which are responsible for urban water management.

Visit the project's website for more information: 
https://lysis-interreg.eu