In a changing climate context and with many water-stressed areas in Europe, it is key to raise awareness on water’s relevance, foster the adoption of new solutions and make a smart use of this essential resource. CIRSEAU is a European project aiming at accelerating the transition towards a water-smart economy and society. With 10 partners from 6 European countries, the project will create a permanent collaborative ecosystem to prioritise water and promote innovation within the sector.
CIRSEAU wants to engage with relevant actors and to involve them in this collective process, where water is the protagonist and cross-sectorial collaboration is key to achieve a circular water cycle in Europe. The project has launched five working groups, which will operate during the project to foster market uptake of water-innovative solutions, knowledge exchange, education, process analysis and policy improvement proposal.
These five working groups form a Circular Water Economy Community, where all stakeholders can participate, collaborate and propose ways to accelerate Europe’s water circularity. The ultimate goal is to remove social barriers towards smart solutions such as brine mining, water reuse and digitalisation for water users to embrace these innovations and contribute to a more water-smart and climate-resilient environment.
1. Process analysis
Considering the results of the cluster and other 80 projects, CIRSEAU will generate a set of KPIs with the goal of assessing these contributions, as well as to guide potential water-related EU policies.
2. Engaging
The project will actively engage different stakeholders with the goal of consulting them and co-creating solutions to remove social barriers. By working closely with these stakeholders within the different working groups, a roadmap for efficient management of resources and energy in a sustainable water cycle will be developed.
3. Proposing
The project will accelerate the transition to a circular water economy by integrating relevant bodies to develop End of Waste criteria (EoW) and identifying needs for standards, in line with EU policies to avoid pollution and mitigate climate change.
4. Widely spreading
CIRSEAU will remove social barriers towards water management solutions such as desalination or water reuse, highlighting their benefits, as well as promoting their market uptake, to achieve a water-smart ecosystem for all. Perceptions and behaviour of water users will be changed to embrace circular and innovative solutions.
With targeted education, training and professional skills development, Young Water Professionals will be prepared to face a work environment where climate changes and innovation helps tackling water issues in Europe.
5. Building a collaborative ecosystem
CIRSEAU will actively communicate with various audiences and will help disseminate previous results from the cluster. The project will create a Circular Water Economy Community through effective communication, for it to become a self-sustained body to promote circular solutions and the transition towards a water-smart economy and society.