The transition towards a circular water economy (CWE) involves new governance challenges raised by adapting existing water loops with new and different types or qualities of water, new risks, and a new set of stakeholders involved.
Co-creation processes are key tools to engage current and new stakeholders to further improve institutional arrangements and water reuse management strategies. Co-creation workshops contribute to win-win strategies to face new challenges and to manage and reduce potential risks, as well as to collectively ensure adequate rules and governance approaches.
On Wednesday 4 May 2022, the second live online co-creation workshop was held with relevant stakeholders and agencies in the Puglia region in Italy, one of the Project Ô demosites. During this four-hour workshop, participants discussed and identified potential solutions to problems related to the implementation of the new water loop in the Puglia region.
Based on the potential problems identified during the workshop, stakeholders identified two possible solutions based on their priority, feasibility and efficacy:
- Implementation of an institutional technical committee in which all partners can participate
Participants mentioned this could be initiated by the City Hall, Acquedotto Pugliese or the water regulators. This committee could provide valuable information on water resources, allowing for shorter consultation periods and faster shared decision making.
- Water quality control and monitoring
Since the level of contamination by seawater in the wells could increase, participants agreed that the water use should continue to be monitored and controlled. This will ensure that the water meets the quality standards stipulated by law.
The next co-creation workshop, involving the demosite in Croatia, will take place on Wednesday 8 June 2022.