Many big cities are currently expanding and demanding more water. They are also facing the impact of climate change, with longer drought periods in summer and increased precipitation in winter. Therefore, the need to upgrade water management infrastructure is growing, especially in peri-urban areas. For example, the natural surface water flows in the German capital, Berlin, are relatively small, leading to a semi-closed water cycle management system between water supply and wastewater discharge. As the impact of climate change increases, pressure on water resources will also increase, requiring innovative and sustainable strategies to serve more people with fewer resources.

SOLUCIR aims to promote and implement circular and decentralised water management solutions to enable a resilient water management strategy in such areas. The project aims to overcome the technical, financial, regulatory and societal challenges hindering the adoption of these solutions.

For Berlin, different water management strategies will be considered. The economic and environmental impacts of centralised and decentralised approaches will be evaluated, as will the quality standards and potential for water reuse in decentralised systems. The evaluation will include decentralised, nature-based solutions for local water reuse as well as solutions to augment natural flows. The aim is to prevent ecosystem degradation. This will enable a resilient water management addressing equally population growth, industrial development and ecosystem quality.

Therefore, SOLUCIR will draw on the insights and lessons learned from 23 inspirational pilot sites across Europe. In addition to Berlin, water management concepts will be developed for five more regions: Catalonia (Spain), Thessaly (Greece), Flanders (Belgium), South Marche (Italy) and South Africa.

Comprehensive risk assessment tools will be developed that encompass health, operational and environmental risks. These tools will be complemented by targeted policy recommendations and societal interventions. KWB is leading the corresponding work package and the activities in the region of Berlin Brandenburg.