Specific programme: Water4All - 2023 Joint Transnational Call

The Water4All Partnership (Water Security for the Planet) is a funding programme for scientific research on freshwater. Its aim is to address water challenges in order to tackle climate change, contribute to the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and boost the competitiveness and growth of the EU. It is co-funded by the European Union under the Horizon Europe programme (a key funding programme for research and innovation). The Partnership will run for seven years from 2022.
Spain, through the State Research Agency (AEI) and the Centre for Technological Development and Innovation (CDTI), is participating in the third call for transnational research projects on the theme ‘Water for Circular Economy’, within the framework of the European research network European Partnership Water4All.
 

Project PCI2025-163224 funded by MICIU/AEI /10.13039/501100011033 and co-funded by the European Union.

Code: PCI2025-163224
UPV/EHU: Beneficiary
IP UPV/EHU:  Aitor Larrañaga Arrizabalaga
Project start date: 01/01/2025
Project end date: 31/12/2027
Brief description:

The RECHARGE project aims to evaluate how the restoration of river ecosystems degraded by human activities promotes their resilience and the provision of ecosystem services. To achieve this, we will develop a set of indicators designed to comprehensively study hydrological dynamics and associated services in various river ecosystems across Belgium, Poland, Portugal, and Spain.

At the core of our methodology lies the concept of the water battery, which compares aquifer recharge cycles to the charging of a battery. This conceptual framework guides our research on how nature-based solutions (NbS) can enhance water retention in river basins by reducing runoff and improving infiltration. In this way, the ecosystem functions as a natural battery, storing and distributing water while strengthening biodiversity and
mitigating extreme events such as droughts and floods. As a result, rivers become more resilient to climate change, and the connection between river channels and their floodplains is improved.

To analyze the benefits of NbS implemented across different European countries, RECHARGE adopts a holistic approach, considering the entire basin and integrating hydromorphological, ecological, and socio-economic aspects in the comparison between restored and non-restored areas. First, we will assess the natural, anthropogenic, and climatic characteristics of each basin to identify its specific needs. Second, we will evaluate the effects of NbS through various metrics related to ecosystem service provision, such as self-purification capacity, carbon storage, nutrient recycling, and biodiversity support. Third, we will develop indicators to assess the extent to which the water battery's potential is being harnessed to provide ecosystem services, including its size, recharge capacity, leakages, usage, and thresholds for ecosystem service provision.

From the outset, key stakeholders, including local communities, managers, and conservation organizations, are actively involved to ensure their knowledge, perspectives, and insights are integrated into the process. Through this collaborative approach, we aim to develop robust metrics for evaluating outcomes and facilitating their integration into restoration policies and strategies.
By linking different scales and incorporating human dimensions into our research, RECHARGE offers a holistic and innovative approach to river ecosystem management. The knowledge generated will enhance our understanding of how these ecosystems function and inform policy decisions and climate adaptation strategies. Ultimately, RECHARGE seeks to contribute to the restoration and long-term sustainability of river ecosystems, ensuring water security and ecological health for the future.