Pilots

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  Munich, Germany

  Munich, Germany’s third‑largest city with over 1.6 million residents, lies about 80 km north of the Alps on the Munich Gravel Plain. The city sits at an average elevation of 519 m and is shaped by the River Isar and several smaller streams, while the southern forests and northern wetlands reflect the influence of shallow groundwater and post‑glacial landscapes. Beneath Munich, thick layers of gravel and sand form a highly permeable aquifer that can store large quantities of clean groundwater, making it an important resource for both the city’s water reserves and thermal uses such as groundwater heat pumps. Groundwater levels differ across the city—deeper in the south and much shallower in the north—and flow directions are strongly influenced by the Isar valley, leading to locally high flow speeds.

  
  

  Munich’s cool temperate climate is changing, with rising temperatures and more frequent extreme weather events that increasingly affect groundwater conditions and future water management decisions.

  
  

  Munich is taking part in the project because groundwater is becoming more important for both climate adaptation and energy planning, especially as more buildings use groundwater for heating and cooling. The city wants to better understand how climate change, urban growth, and thermal use influence groundwater levels and temperatures. Munich brings strong expertise in environmental management and works closely with the Technical University of Munich on groundwater and renewable-energy research. With its extensive monitoring network and large collection of groundwater data, the city can provide valuable insights into long‑term trends and existing challenges. By joining the project, Munich aims to improve data handling, strengthen groundwater protection, and integrate the results into future‑oriented urban planning and climate strategies.

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  Ljubliana, Slovenia

  Ljubljana, Slovenia’s capital and largest city, has about 291,000 inhabitants and lies in the Ljubljana Basin, surrounded by Alpine and karst regions. The city sits at an average altitude of 299 m, with a landscape shaped by alluvial sediments that host one of the country’s most important aquifers. Groundwater is Ljubljana’s sole source of drinking water, extracted from five well fields and requiring almost no treatment due to its high quality. The Ljubljansko polje aquifer is highly permeable, up to 100 m thick, and mainly recharged by the Sava River, making it both productive and vulnerable to pollution. Climate trends—rising temperatures, increasing rainfall, and fewer snow days—further affect groundwater dynamics and pose growing challenges for urban water management.

  
  

  Ljubljana is participating in the project because the protection of its groundwater resources is essential for the city’s long‑term water security. With strong experience in spatial planning and environmental monitoring, the city can directly apply new insights to improve local water management practices.

  
  

  Ljubljana also brings valuable knowledge from previous EU-funded initiatives focusing on groundwater quality, geothermal energy use, and climate adaptation. Through this project, the city aims to deepen its understanding of current and future risks to its aquifer and identify practical measures for sustainable resource use. Close cooperation with local stakeholders ensures that the project’s outcomes can support long‑term planning and deliver tangible benefits to the entire community.

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  Milano, Italy

  Milan, Italy’s second-largest city and a major economic hub, has over 1.37 million inhabitants and sits at the heart of the densely urbanised Po Valley. The city lies at an average elevation of about 120 m, with gently sloping terrain formed by thick alluvial deposits that host several productive aquifer layers. These Quaternary aquifers, composed mainly of gravel and sand, are highly permeable and provide an important groundwater reservoir for municipal, industrial, and agricultural uses. Groundwater generally flows southeast following the regional slope and is influenced by rivers, canals, and urban infrastructure. Climate trends—characterised by rising temperatures, intense heatwaves, and increasingly variable precipitation—add further stress to groundwater resources and complicate management in this highly urbanised environment.

  
  

  Milan is participating in the project because groundwater plays a key role in meeting the city’s water and energy needs, especially with growing interest in shallow geothermal use. The city brings strong competences in climate resilience, renewable energy planning, and urban sustainability through its involvement in major networks such as Eurocities, C40, and the Global Resilient Cities Network. Milan has already faced challenges linked to groundwater flooding, scarcity, and thermal changes, making it an important case for developing improved management tools. Participation in the project allows the city to better understand current pressures on its aquifers and plan for sustainable future use. By collaborating with regional authorities and utilities, Milan aims to integrate project results into its long-term climate and energy strategies, supporting its path toward decarbonisation.

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  Linz, Austria

  Linz, Austria’s third-largest city and capital of Upper Austria, has around 214,000 inhabitants and is located in the Linz Basin along both sides of the Danube River. The city lies at an elevation of 263 m and features diverse terrain, from the flat basin floor to surrounding hills such as Pöstlingberg and Lichtenberg. Linz sits on a complex Quaternary aquifer system formed by glacial and alluvial sediments, which includes highly permeable gravel deposits up to 30 m thick that support significant groundwater resources. Groundwater dynamics in the area are strongly influenced by riverbank filtration from the Danube and Traun Rivers, as well as by extensive hydraulic regulation linked to the Abwinden‑Asten power plant. Climate trends—including rising temperatures, more frequent heatwaves, and increasingly intense rainfall events—exacerbate pressures on Linz’s groundwater system and complicate sustainable urban water management.

  
  

  Linz is participating in the project because the city’s water supply relies on groundwater, with three of its four waterworks located directly within the urban area. As the municipal water and wastewater operator, LSG brings extensive experience in groundwater monitoring, water quality management, and long-term aquifer protection. The city can contribute valuable datasets and operational knowledge from its large monitoring network and groundwater modelling activities. Participation allows Linz to better understand how climate change, urban heat, and hydraulic regulations are affecting groundwater quantity and quality. By working with local authorities and stakeholders, the city aims to translate project findings into practical measures that support sustainable groundwater use and future urban planning.