Water reuse initiatives in Macaronesia help farmers during drought

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Macaronesia is suffering the effects of climate change and in my country this means constant drought and water shortage. Cape Verde is satisfied with ADAPTaRES because we think that if we work together it will be possible to achieve better strategies to deal with this problem. As a research institute, what we intend with this project is to improve water quality. In Cape Verde, we want to treat and reuse water like in the Canaries, with quality and without risks.Regla Hernández, of the Instituto Nacional de Investigação e Desenvolvimento Agrário de Cabo Verde (INIDA)Information and awareness campaigns, which have so far reached 66 000 people, have helped reduce the amount of solid waste which ends up in water treatment plants. An app was developed to create more efficient communication channels between water management bodies and end users of irrigation water.Tests were conducted on four pilot plots, to develop proposals for good practices in soil and crop protection and water management, and to modify fertiliser programmes. Research was conducted into conventional water treatment technologies, low-cost sewage and aquifers, and the evaluation of pharmaceutical compounds in water. This led to an almost total elimination of these chemicals from the water. ADAPTaRES has created 20 jobs.Information and trainingWater-resilient awareness and information campaigns were rolled out to both farmers and the general population to create communities who actively take part in strategies to adapt to climate change and manage risk in the event of droughts.This was done through a comic-strip series information sheets, online games, theatre workshops aimed at primary schools, an audio workshop for secondary schools and various presentations that can be used in education settings.A audio knowledge bank with thematic programmes on climate change and water was created. These were broadcast on radio stations and social networks, reaching an estimated 66 000 people by the end of 2018. The aim is to increase this to 140 000 by the end of the project in 2020.In 2019, an app will be available in Madeira and Gran Canaria to enable quick and efficient communication between water-managing bodies and end users of irrigation water. It is estimated that the app will reach more than 40 000 people. The app will enable demand management policy implementation in situations of drought risk.In addition, farmers have received training in irrigation best practices.Waste water treatmentADAPTaRES is evaluating wastewater treatment technologies and control systems at sewage works in the Canary Islands and Cape Verde to enable secure and sustainable reuse. An integrated quality monitoring system for reclaimed water is being established.On the islands of Gran Canaria and Santiago, the project is analysing the levels of pollutants, particularly medicines, in the influent and effluent in sewage treatment plants. Eleven pharmaceutical compounds were evaluated and 5000 analytical results obtained. This has resulted in the elimination of 99 % of these chemicals.A network of four pilot plots was established to provide researchers with data on the advantages of using reclaimed water on crops. Best soil protection practices will be analysed, along with their effect on crops and on the health of farmers. Proposals for the modification of fertiliser programmes could be included, taking into account the nutrients supplied from regenerated water.VideoAdaptaresTotal investment and EU fundingTotal investment for the project “ADAPTaRES - Adaptation to climate change in Macaronesia through efficiency in water use and reuse” is EUR 1 959 083, with the EU’s European Regional Development Fund contributing EUR 1 665 221 through the “Interreg V-A - Spain-Portugal (Madeira-Açores-Canarias (MAC)) territorial co-operation programme” for the 2014-2020 programming period. The investment falls under the priority “Climate change and risk prevention”.