EU-funded WaTIMed project aims to turn wastewater into safe
water for irrigation
Launched on 1 October 2026, the three-year WaTIMed project will install four solar-powered pilot systems in Egypt,
Jordan and Greece
The WaTIMed project – “Optimizing Water Sustainability through Advanced Wastewater Treatment and Irrigation
Innovations across the Mediterranean”, funded by the European Union under the Interreg NEXT MED Programme, officially
started on 1 October 2026. It will run until September 2029, with the participation of seven partners from Greece, Italy,
Egypt, Jordan and Tunisia.
Across the Mediterranean, droughts are lasting longer and rainfall is becoming less predictable. Agriculture uses more
than 70% of the region’s fresh water, while large volumes of treated water are simply discharged.
WaTIMed will install advanced, low-energy wastewater treatment systems, powered by solar energy, at four pilot sites: two
in Egypt (Alexandria and Ismailia), one in Jordan (Al Mafraq Governorate) and one in Greece, at the Rio Wastewater
Treatment Plant in Patras. The treated water will feed sensor-based precision irrigation, so that crops receive only the
water they need.
The project aims to:
• reduce water consumption by 15–20% in the pilot areas
• work directly with agricultural cooperatives
• support 8 local and regional authorities and 4 wastewater treatment plants
• develop practical guidelines and policy recommendations for the safe reuse of treated water in agriculture.
The partners’ kick-off meeting will take place in Patras, on 9–10 December 2026.
The partnership includes: the University of Patras – Coordinator: Prof. Apostolos Vantarakis (with the participation of the
Laboratory of Hygiene, Epidemiology and Quality of Life and the Laboratory of Biochemical Engineering and
Environmental Technology), Hellas Environment (Greece), ReAgri (Italy), the Arab Academy for Science, Technology &
Maritime Transport and the Agricultural Research Center (Egypt), the German Jordanian University (Jordan) and the
Plateforme Africaine de Réseautage et d’Innovation – ITAUN (Tunisia).
WaTIMed has a total budget of €2,388,600, of which €2,125,854 (89%) is the European Union’s contribution through the
Interreg NEXT MED Programme.
About Interreg NEXT MED
Interreg NEXT MED promotes transnational cooperation among 15 EU and Partner Countries, funding projects that address
common socio-economic, environmental and governance challenges across the Mediterranean. The Programme, with a budget
of €263 million, is funded by the European Union and managed by the Autonomous Region of Sardinia (Italy). More information:
www.interregnextmed.eu
Media contact
Zoi Anastopoulou, University of Patras · zoi.anastopoulou@ac.upatras.gr
Project webpage: https://www.interregnextmed.eu/projects/watimed
