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HYDROUSA

  • Writer: PROJECTS
    PROJECTS
  • Jun 5
  • 4 min read

Updated: 2 days ago

Demonstration of water loops with innovative regenerative business models for the Mediterranean region






Duration: July 2018-June 2023,  5 years ( with 6 month extension due to COVID-19)

Funding programme and call: Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Programme, call topic CIRC-02-2016-2017 (Water in the context of the circular economy)

Project budget: 12,015,448

SEL NTUA budget: 1, 372, 800

Coordinator: NTUA

SEL NTUA role: Coordinator

Project website: https://www.hydrousa.org/



Project summary and objectives


HYDROUSA aims to revolutionize the water supply chain in Mediterranean regions by demonstrating innovative solutions for water/wastewater treatment and management, which will close the water loops and will also boost their agricultural and energy profile. These technologies and services  are  demonstrated at six demonstration sites at full scale in three Mediterranean islands (Lesvos, Mykonos and Tinos), adopting innovative, nature-based water management solutions for different types of water characterised by low energy footprint. Clear water loops are demonstrated, recovering added value products, while integrating and interacting with the local market. Transferability of HYDROUSA solutions was assessed in 25 early adopter cases in Mediterranean coastal areas and islands and at several water-stressed rural or peri-urban non-Mediterranean areas in Europe and even beyond Europe.




Project demonstration sites


  • HYDRO1 consists of a sewage treatment system applied in decentralized areas with high seasonal loads. The demo site treats the domestic wastewater of Antissa village wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) located at the island of Lesvos, Greece.HYDRO1 combines anaerobic processes with constructed wetlands and disinfection to treat domestic wastewater as a completely circular solution where water, nutrias and the produced sludge are reused. Furthermore, the anaerobic process recovers energy in the form of biogas, which is then upgraded to produce high purity methane used to fuel local vehicles.


  • HYDRO2 is a 1ha of an agroforestry system that is fertigated using reclaimed water with a high nutrient content that is the result/output from HYDRO1 system.   The nutrient-rich water is used to cultivate 1ha of an agroforestry system. The agroforestry is divided into 3 main groups: (1) trees for fruit production, (2) orchards bushes; and (3) herbs and annual crops. These were selected after intense research of the HYDROUSA consortium, but also co-created with the locals who shared their knowledge and experience on appropriate plants. HYDRO2 combines the regenerative capacities of agroforestry with the use of reclaimed water and nutrients. Up to 100 m3 of reclaimed water per day (in summertime) is available for irrigation.


  • HYDRO3 is an innovative, nature inspired rainwater harvesting system, located in Ano Mera village in Mykonos Island.  A shallow, sub-surface rainwater collector of 280 m2 surface area is designed to collect rainwater by draining, to transport it into two cylindrical light structure storage tanks of 60 m3 total water storage capacity and eventually to irrigate 0.4 ha of oregano cultivation. Precision irrigation of oregano and online monitoring of the water quantity and quality are implemented. The oregano yield is processed to produce essential oil giving an added value to the whole chain that will be locally exploited.


  • HYDRO4 is a smart residential water management system located in the village of Ano Mera in Mykonos Island. In this site, rainwater, stormwater and surface runoffs are collected and stored into buffering tanks, in order to recharge the aquifer during the wet season, and to be recovered during the dry season. Stormwater is collected through a hybrid bioswale system, rainwater from the 400 m2 available rooftops and surface runoffs from 350 m2 residential yards. A small part of the water is upgraded to potentially potable water quality standards, using the slow sand filtration process coupled with disinfection. The majority of water is used for non-potable domestic uses and the irrigation of 0.2 ha lavender using precision irrigation and online monitoring of the water quality. Lavender was chosen to produce high added value essential oil.


  • HYDRO5 is a nature-inspired, low-cost solar driven desalination system based on the principles of evaporation and condensation, which is implemented in Tinos Island.Seawater and brine from the existing desalination plant is treated in the Mangrove Still System to produce freshwater and salt.The treated water is channeled to a 200 m2 greenhouse irrigating tropical plants. Freshwater is produced in the Saltwater Evaporation Greenhouse, where atmospheric moisture is generated and then converted into usable fresh water by means of condensation. Mangroves and halophytes are planted to enhance this process.


  • HYDRO6 is an innovative combination of water management cycles coupling agricultural and touristic activities. It is implemented within Tinos Ecolodge and aims to demonstrate how a small touristic unit can be self-sufficient and sustainable in using their resources efficiently.Within HYDROUSA, new rainwater harvesting loops have been developed. Water is also harvested through innovative vapor condensation units. Finally, small constructed wetlands are coupled with disinfection to produce reclaimed water. The reclaimed and harvested water is used for the cultivation of 0.15 ha of fruits, vegetables, herbs using precision irrigation techniques. The facility is remotely located off the grid and thus all activities are powered from renewable energy.



Research team 




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