MAR2PROTECT LivingLabs for Sustainable Water Solutions

The MAR2PROTECT project aims to safeguard the world’s groundwater from contamination through an innovative and holistic approach. At a time when climate change (CC) and global change (GC) are threatening human health, food security, and biodiversity, the importance of groundwater protection cannot be overstated. Groundwater represents a significant proportion of the world's freshwater resources, making its protection essential, especially as both climate change and increased exploitation continue to degrade its quality and quantity.

To address these challenges, MAR2PROTECT has established a robust consortium of 11 partners from seven countries, working together to implement two main strategies: the M-AI-R tool and LivingLabs. The project focuses on Managed Aquifer Recharge (MAR), with the M-AI-R tool collecting real-time data on groundwater conditions, while LivingLabs provide a platform for stakeholders—ranging from citizens and civil society organisations to scientists and industry leaders—to co-create solutions in real-life settings.

Seven demo-sites across Europe and Africa—Italy, Portugal, Spain, the Netherlands, South Africa, and Tunisia—have been carefully selected based on their unique climatic conditions, types of pollution, and political/societal contexts. At these sites, tailored methodologies are used to establish LivingLabs, where a series of workshops allow stakeholders to evaluate the effectiveness of project technologies and co-create societal engagement activities. These activities help raise awareness about pollution prevention and the risks posed by climate change, driving tangible changes in daily practices at the household level.

To date, seven sessions have been held in six LivingLabs, yielding significant results. These sessions have focused on ensuring the economic, environmental, and social sustainability of the proposed strategies, exploring successful case studies, identifying key challenges, and outlining the next steps. The implementation of these LivingLabs is supported by detailed guidance from the IHE Delft Institute for Water Education, ensuring a structured and replicable approach.

By fostering understanding and encouraging active participation, the MAR2PROTECT project is not only conducting cutting-edge research but also triggering real-world changes, making a lasting impact on groundwater protection. The success of these LivingLabs demonstrates the power of collaboration and innovation in addressing the complex challenges facing Europe’s water resources.

#WaterWiseEU campaign 

This story has been submitted by a partner of the #WaterWiseEU campaign. The EU-wide campaign focuses on water resilience, aiming to change the way we see, use and value water. Find out more about the campaign and how you can get involved.