Observatory on Non-Conventional Water Resources & Associated Renewable Energies

Freshwater is a limited resource on our planet. Its uneven distribution leaves a significant portion of the population without access to safe water and sanitation. Climate change further exacerbates the problem. In this context, non-conventional water resources emerge as a solution that countries can turn to.

The Observatory for Non-Conventional Water Resources and associated Renewable Energies has been founded by the World Water Council, with its implementation entrusted to the Mediterranean Water Institute (IME). It addresses the need to establish dialogue and identify innovative solutions—ranging from micro to macro scale—to tackle water scarcity in specific geographic areas. The Observatory aims to gather and analyze experiences from various stakeholders in integrating non-conventional water resources and their associated energy requirements.

So far, the Observatory has carried out work in the Sahel and Mediterranean regions, where several countries have had to rely on unconventional water resources and renewable energies to meet their needs. Special attention has been given to the reuse of treated wastewater and the desalination of seawater and brackish water,

A second phase of this Task Force’s work aims to expand its reach worldwide through the creation of a Global Observatory, bringing context-specific solutions that could be replicated in different parts of the world, synthesizing existing data and collecting additional information.