Development and application of integrated technological and management solutions for wastewater treatment and efficient reuse in agriculture tailored to the needs of Mediterranean African countries

Water is a vital resource, a primary element for humans and an essential source for the survival and development of any productive sector. It is a responsibility for everyone, as well as for institutions, to defend, protect and preserve water as the essence of life and the security for future generations. Hence arises the modern setting of water management in agriculture, based on stringent criteria of efficiency and environmental protection, required also by the EU and national legislation. The threat of climate change, the effects of which have an impact on the water cycle and are particularly evident in the Mediterranean area, requires an integrated approach to water management and policies. It is therefore necessary to ensure policies based on governance models compatible with various demands of use, taking into account the trends of water consumption and availability. Water covers 70% of our planet, and it is easy to think that it will always be plentiful. However freshwater - the stuff we drink, bathe in, irrigate our farm fields with -- is incredibly rare. Only 3% of the world's water is freshwater, and two-thirds of that is tucked away in frozen glaciers or otherwise unavailable for our use.