Facing rising temperatures and seasonal tourist surges, Mediterranean islands are under pressure to rethink water use fast. That is why WATERISE tackles water scarcity in seven Mediterranean islands hit hard by tourism and drought: Pantelleria, Lampedusa, Menorca, Corsica, Cyprus and Malta. The project brings together local players to test practical, low-impact solutions — natural wastewater treatment, rainwater harvesting, and atmospheric water generation — right where tourists gather: hotels, parks, museums. Local knowledge meets innovation, blending traditional systems like ‘dammusi’ and ‘Pantesco gardens’ with new tech. On the ground: pilot sites, study circles, bootcamps. Online: a shared e-learning hub and a growing network of 50 local authorities exchanging tools and plans
The goal? Make water-smart tourism the new normal!
Goals
WATERISE promotes climate change adaptation and resilience with ecosystem-based approaches in the water-scarce tourist islands where nature-based solutions and water-saving tourism strategies are jointly developed improving water security. Transnational cooperation on these islands enables local authorities and tourism stakeholders to adopt water-wise measures, fostering sustainable tourism throughout the Mediterranean.
Key
