Two Years of UNIVERSWATER: Partners Gather in Bari as the Project Enters Its Final Phase

On 20–21 October 2026, the UNIVERSWATER consortium gathered in Bari, Italy, for two days of project discussions, knowledge exchange and field visits. The meeting provided an opportunity to review progress across the project’s three European use cases and explore how innovative technologies can support sustainable water management and agricultural resilience.

Advancing Innovation Across Three European Use Cases

The meeting opened with a welcome from Gianfredi Mazzolani of Acquedotto Pugliese (AQP), who introduced the history and achievements of one of Italy’s major water utilities through a video presentation.

Serving approximately four million people across 250 municipalities, AQP operates in a region historically affected by water scarcity, where around two-thirds of distributed water originates outside Puglia. The presentation highlighted the importance of water reuse for agricultural irrigation, a strategic priority for the region and a central objective of UNIVERSWATER.

Project coordinator Pierre Lovera then officially kicked off the meeting, presenting the agenda and upcoming activities.

Now in its second year, UNIVERSWATER is preparing to test its innovative technologies across three European use cases, each addressing specific challenges in agricultural water management:

• Ireland: Improving the treatment of dairy soiled water, targeting nutrient removal, pharmaceutical residues and microbiological contaminants.
• Italy: Advancing the reuse of treated wastewater for agricultural irrigation, aiming to reduce groundwater withdrawals by up to 50% and mitigate soil salinisation.
• Greece: Applying nature-based solutions to improve surface water quality and tackle contaminants associated with agricultural activities, including pesticides.

Partners reviewed the progress achieved, discussed technical developments and aligned on the next steps towards validation and demonstration.

Discovering Bari’s Water Heritage

The afternoon continued with a guided visit to the magnificent Palazzo dell’Acqua, the historic headquarters of Acquedotto Pugliese.

The visit offered a fascinating insight into Puglia’s relationship with water, from centuries of scarcity to the arrival of water in Bari on 24 April 1915, when it flowed for the first time from a public fountain in Piazza Umberto I.

Built between 1925 and 1932, the Palazzo dell’Acqua is an architectural landmark whose interiors were decorated by artist Duilio Cambellotti, with mosaics, stained glass, sculptures and furnishings inspired by water as a source of life.

The day concluded with a networking dinner, providing an opportunity for partners to strengthen collaboration in an informal setting.

Day Two: Exploring Water Reuse at Torre Guaceto

On the second day, partners travelled to the Torre Guaceto Nature Reserve, home to the Italian UNIVERSWATER use case. Despite challenging rainy weather, the field visit offered valuable insights into the local water reuse infrastructure and the needs of agricultural stakeholders.

The first stop was the Carovigno wastewater treatment plant, where partners explored an initiative designed to supply reclaimed water for agricultural irrigation in the surrounding area.

Supported by the Puglia Region, the initiative includes a water storage basin and approximately 17.5 km of distribution infrastructure connecting treated wastewater to agricultural land. By providing an alternative to groundwater extraction, the system aims to protect local aquifers, limit saltwater intrusion and strengthen the resilience of agricultural activities.

The visit continued at a local vineyard, where farmers shared their experiences and concerns about water availability. Currently relying on groundwater wells for irrigation, the vineyard is expected to benefit from reclaimed water supplied by the treatment plant, potentially replacing groundwater use for its current production needs.

These discussions demonstrated the practical relevance of UNIVERSWATER’s Italian use case, which will combine water quality monitoring, innovative treatment technologies and decision-support tools to promote safe and efficient water reuse in agriculture.

Connecting Water, Agriculture and Biodiversity

In the afternoon, partners explored the Torre Guaceto Nature Reserve, learning about its rich history, which stretches back to prehistoric settlements, and its importance for the protection of Mediterranean ecosystems.

The visit concluded at the local sea turtle rescue and rehabilitation centre, highlighting the strong connection between water resource management, healthy ecosystems and biodiversity conservation.

Looking Ahead

The Bari meeting marked another important step in UNIVERSWATER’s implementation, strengthening collaboration among partners and supporting preparations for the testing and validation of technologies across its three European use cases.

From technical discussions to exchanges with local farmers, the two-day meeting demonstrated the importance of connecting scientific innovation with real-world challenges. A special thank you to Acquedotto Pugliese, our local hosts and all consortium partners for making the meeting a success.