Urwan Project

Urban regeneration and sustainable water management through
Nature-based solutions

The project URWAN - Urban Regenerative Water Avant-garde(N) is a European initiative co-financed by the Interreg EuroMED, coordinated by ANCI Lazio, which promotes innovative solutions based on nature (Nature-Based Solutions, NbS) for sustainable water management and urban regeneration. URWAN aims to strengthen the resilience of Mediterranean cities to water scarcity and climate change by involving local communities and territorial stakeholders in the co-design of concrete and replicable solutions. In Latium, the pilot area of the Istituto Comprensivo Matteo Ricci in Rome represents an urban laboratory in which to experiment sustainable water management strategies, enhance green spaces and promote the active participation of citizens, fostering more resilient, sustainable and liveable cities. The project involves 9 partners from 7 Mediterranean countries, working closely together to influence decision-making processes and increase the effectiveness of public investments.

Project Objectives

Improving sustainable urban water management and reducing the impact of extreme weather phenomena.
Experimenting with Nature-based Solutions (NbS) to regenerate multifunctional and resilient urban spaces.
Involve local communities, schools and citizens in co-design processes.
Transferring experiences between European partners to foster replicability of innovative interventions.
Promoting the inclusion of NBS in local and regional urban planning policies.

Duration and financing

Duration

January 2024 - September 2026

Programme

Interreg Euro-MED 2021-2027

Lead partner

ANCI Lazio

Partners

MedCities (ES); Sarajevo (BA); Make it Better (PT); ZRS Bistra Ptuij (SI); IRIDRA (IT); SVIMED (IT); Energy & Water Agency(MT); Larnaka (CY).

Total budget

€2,836,118 (of which €2,268,894 co-financed by Interreg)

The pilot areas of Rome (IT) and Cuba (PT)

One of the distinctive features of the project is the pilot area of Rome, at the Istituto Comprensivo Matteo Ricci. In this context, innovative interventions of sustainable water management and urban regeneration are experimented, directly involving students, teachers and families, transforming the school into a real living laboratory of sustainability.
Specifically, a raingarden will be created to collect rainwater from the roof and paved surfaces; two bioretention areas will also be created and the asphalt surface paving will be replaced with drainage paving, equipped with a water storage tank to serve a school garden.

This experience in Rome not only concretely demonstrates the impact of Nature-based Solutions, but also becomes replicable model for other Italian and Mediterranean cities.

Intervention in the pilot area in Cuba (Portugal) envisages the regeneration of a public space and the surrounding area with the incorporation of a Raingarden solution (rainwater harvesting on the roof of a car park, creation of an artificial wetland for black water treatment with a storage tank for water reuse and an extensive green roof with pergola.

Products and expected results

Nature-based Solutions Catalogue - URWAN, a practical tool for administrations and technicians (Link).
Roadmaps and NbS implementation plans developed and tested in the pilot cities of Rome (IT) and Cuba (PT).
Implementation and validation of NbS solutions in the two pilot areas, supporting urban resilience and quality of life.
Communication and training materials: videos, infographics and data sheets.
Educational experiences and school workshops that can be replicated in other Italian schools.