A research team from the University of Palermo – Department of Engineering, composed of Prof. Daniele Di Trapani and Ing. Alida Cosenza, carried out a technical field visit to the island of Lampedusa in April 2026. The mission is part of UNIPA’s role as scientific supervisor of the WATERISE pilot actions, supporting the design and monitoring of Nature‑based Solutions for water management in Mediterranean tourist islands.
The environmental engineering team brings consolidated expertise in wastewater treatment, biological processes, membrane bioreactors, constructed wetlands, and nature‑based treatment technologies, including modelling and monitoring of green infrastructures for water reuse. This multidisciplinary background strengthens the scientific supervision of WATERISE and guides the design of integrated solutions combining rainwater harvesting, natural grey-water treatment, and reuse for irrigation.
During the visit, the team carried out a preliminary exploration of three entirely hypothetical pilot sites, identified together with local stakeholders as potential locations where WATERISE Nature‑based Solutions could be tested in the future. The reconnaissance was conducted at: the MARP Archaeological Museum — an area with summer tourist flows and adjacent green spaces that could, in theory, host water‑reuse solutions; the Marine Protected Area of the Pelagie Islands — a municipal property aligned with sustainable tourism, offering limited but interesting spatial opportunities; the Municipal Sports Field — a green area where water reuse could be conceptually explored.
This reconnaissance mission enabled the UNIPA team to assess preliminary technical feasibility, identify advantages and constraints, and gather the information needed to support the next phase of analysis.
The field activity strengthens collaboration between UNIPA and local actors and contributes to the study phase of WATERISE, aimed at collecting the information necessary to design practical, low‑impact solutions to be tested to reinforce water‑wise tourism in Mediterranean islands.
