MARGIN 
Managing Groundwater Sustainability in Urban Areas: Quantifying the vulnerability of groundwater quality & quantity to climate change and urbanisation, and developing adaptation measures for cities
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Outcomes

Overview

Alpine cities face unique groundwater issues, including the impact of climate change and rising competition for groundwater use. To address these concerns, MARGIN helps cities understand their vulnerability and risk, building resilience to future groundwater changes. The project offers city-tailored management for upcoming groundwater difficulties, creating the potential to replicate best practices and accelerate their implementation in Alpine cities, thus strengthening preparedness and capacity to cope with the impacts of climate change.

Factsheet

  • 2021 – 2027
  • Climate resilient and green Alpine region
  • SO 1.1 - Promoting climate change adaptation and disaster risk prevention, resilience, taking into account eco-system based approaches
    • 2.985.084 EUR
    • 2.238.813 EUR

    Partners

    Technical University Munich (Lead partner)
    • Lead partner
    • Germany
    • Oberbayern (DE21)
    • München
    City of Ljubljana
    • Slovenia
    • Zahodna Slovenija (SI04)
    • Ljubljana
    Municipality of Milan
    • Italy
    • Lombardia (ITC4)
    • Milano
    Municipality of Munich
    • Germany
    • Oberbayern (DE21)
    • Munich
    LINZ Service GmbH for infrastructure and municipal services
    • Austria
    • Oberösterreich (AT31)
    • Linz
    GeoSphere Austria
    • Austria
    • Wien (AT13)
    • Vienna
    Geological Survey of Slovenia
    • Slovenia
    • Zahodna Slovenija (SI04)
    • Ljubljana
    University of Milan-Bicocca
    • Italy
    • Lombardia (ITC4)
    • Milano
    University of Vienna
    • Austria
    • Wien (AT13)
    • Vienna
    National Institute of Biology
    • Slovenia
    • Zahodna Slovenija (SI04)
    • Ljubljana
    Climate Alliance of European Cities with Indigenous Rainforest Peoples
    • Germany
    • Darmstadt (DE71)
    • Frankfurt
    European Water Association
    • Germany
    • Köln (DEA2)
    • Hennef
    • 48.1490727511.567444920339295
    • 46.0498090514.50707959564592
    • 45.46666019.1904174
    • 48.13778811.575343667017169
    • 48.280808514.3093233
    • 48.24862595000000516.356562264678487
    • 46.0708530514.5146146672204
    • 45.51829759.2137546
    • 48.213128416.360685994114505
    • 46.051076614.46985
    • 50.117673858.636413400398371
    • 50.7747373499999957.2773661976965

    Outcomes


    • Catalogue of fact sheets for the current state of groundwater management in Alpine cities and needs for future challenges, assessed in pilot cities by a transnationally transferable approach

      The catalogue of fact sheets describes current data handling, on-site management and adaption strategies, as well as country-specific/regional regulations and policies regarding present groundwater risks and adaptation measures in the pilot cities. The fact sheets outline lacks, barriers and requirements for a groundwater sustainability management, identified via stakeholder interaction. A general approach for this assessment is deviated from outcomes and lessons learned in the pilot cities.

    • Validation of groundwater potential, risk assessment and recommendations for development of adaption strategies in Alpine space pilot cities

      Potential and risk assessments are demonstrated and validated in pilot cities by applying harmonized transferable approaches, which feed into O2.2. Data by pilot cities serve as input for the assessment, are supplemented by new field data and jointly analysed by all PPs. Assessment results are cross-checked with relevant cities’ stakeholders (O1.1) and transmissive recommendations for development of adaptation strategies are evolved. Factsheets and maps create awareness in the cities and beyond

    • Guideline to assess groundwater potentials and risks due to climate change impacts and urbanization, including recommendations for the development of adaptation strategies on city-scale

      The guideline comprises approaches to assess groundwater potentials based on quantity and quality, as well as impacts of climate change and urbanization induced groundwater changes on various city values and ecosystem health. The approach to assess risks builds on jointly defined, transnationally applicable vulnerability and risk indicators (e.g. protocols for biodiversity assessment) and on specific city needs and conditions (O1.1), incl. recommendations to develop adaption strategies.

    • Validating best practice for implementation of groundwater sustainability management at pilot cities in the Alpine space

      Validation of the successful implementation of groundwater sustainability management in pilot cities applying transferable guidelines, approaches and tools from the toolbox (A3.3). The assessments and strategies approaches will be implemented and tested i) in the groundwater management tool (GEO.KW web app) used by the Munich City administration, ii) in Milan integrated and combined in provided urban-scale models iii) in other pilot and observer cities depending on the evaluated capabilities.

    • Toolbox for implementation of Groundwater Sustainability Management on city level to build climate resilience and promote a sustainable use of potentials

      The toolbox for implementation of a user-oriented Groundwater Sustainability Management regarding future groundwater changes in cities includes: tailored guidelines for city administrations to conduct and implement a management structure into city’s administration/for data-handling and monitoring/for vulnerability and risks assessment, catalogue of evaluated adaptation strategies, measures and implementation in policy instruments, gamebook, best practice examples and tools.