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Balancing public health and recreation in Barcelona, Spain

Enabling more effective monitoring of coastal water quality when dealing with combined sewer systems 

  • Two

    digital innovations

  • Many

    Integration of many datasets

  • 2021-2025

    Implementation timeline

Replicability

How predictive tools can improve coastal water management by scaling up the monitoring of combined sewer overflows 

 
 

Best suited for

This model is particularly suitable for densely populated coastal cities with combined sewer systems, which are increasingly affected by heavy rainfall and storm surges. It is especially valuable where tourism and recreational beaches play an important economic role. 

Stakeholders' role

Successful implementation requires cooperation between municipalities, water utilities, environmental and public health authorities, researchers and coastal managers. Together they provide the operational, scientific and governance expertise needed to monitor water quality and respond rapidly to pollution events. 

Built-in scalable tools

The predictive modelling approach can be adapted to different coastal environments by integrating local weather, hydrological and water quality data. This flexibility makes the system readily transferable to other coastal cities facing similar climate-related water quality challenges. 

Funding pathways

The demonstrator was developed through the Horizon Europe-funded IMPETUS project, as part of the EU Mission on Adaptation to Climate Change. Its results provide a strong evidence base for further investment in digital EWSs, smart water management and climate resilience in coastal cities.