Under sub-theme 3: “Strengthening Productive Wastewater Management and Improved Water Quality”, GWP-Med emphasized that through the Integrated Urban Water Management (IUWM) approach, what is needed is water fit for the purpose. Not all uses require top quality water; many secondary uses can be covered through water of appropriate for the purpose quality. Moreover, diverse sources of water provide better water security.
Ms. Konstantina Toli, Senior Programme Officer at GWP-Med, presented local solutions utilising NCWR through multi-stakeholder partnerships. These included low-technology and low-cost solutions, already applied in Mediterranean countries, in the framework of the NCWR Programme in the Mediterranean, through a multi-stakeholder partnership model, involving also the public and private sector. Various examples were presented and the modalities of practicing, for example, rainwater harvesting and greywater recycling were discussed. The replication potential in African cities as well as in rural communities is significant, as their multiple benefits go beyond collecting more water, but can also prevent flooding, which is among others a major risk for water quality and health.