WATERVILL – Innovative solutions for enhancing village water supply and addressing water scarcity in resilient rural and mountainous areas – is an Interreg Euro-MED–funded project tackling water scarcity in rural and mountainous regions of the Mediterranean. These areas often rely on outdated, inefficient, and climate-vulnerable water supply systems. As droughts intensify and infrastructure deteriorates, communities face frequent shortages, poor water quality, and unreliable services, which threaten public health and economic stability.

WATERVILL develops innovative and sustainable solutions to modernise rural water management by combining smart technologies, nature-based strategies, and community-led governance. The project aims to reduce water loss, improve distribution, and increase climate resilience.

KEY NUMBERS

3
12
9

FOCUS

The main focus of the WATERVILL project is to address water scarcity in rural and mountainous areas of the Mediterranean, with four rural and mountainous municipalities in the Balkans acting as pilot territories. This region is increasingly vulnerable to climate change, particularly with regard to water scarcity, as longer and more severe droughts reduce water availability for both agricultural and domestic use. While temperatures rise, water evaporates faster, and with rainfall becoming more unpredictable, water supplies are less reliable, even during the rainy season.

Moreover, the water supply infrastructure in these areas is often outdated and operates outside of official public municipal systems, as many of these networks were built by local communities. This results in frequent shortages, particularly in summer, when population growth driven by tourism further strains the systems due to a sharp rise in water demand.

This situation leads to an inefficient and often unsafe water distribution and management. By bringing these systems under municipal oversight and modernising them, it is possible to improve both water quality and efficiency.

Through research, pilot testing, and large-scale knowledge transfer, WATERVILL aims to deliver sustainable, inclusive and climate-resilient water management models across the Mediterranean.

What we achieve

The mission of the WATERVILL project is to secure reliable and sustainable water access for rural and mountain Mediterranean communities by promoting smart, climate-resilient, and community-centered water management solutions. It strives to foster collaboration across regions to build a more water-secure and climate-proof future.

Over its 45-month implementation period, WATERVILL will deploy three areas of work or work packages (WPs) with the following main objectives:

  • Optimise and modernise rural water supply systems
  • Reduce water losses and improve water quality
  • Produce smart tools to detect leaks and monitor water use
  • Strengthen cooperation between local communities and neighbouring regions
  • Promote nature-based solutions to safeguard water resources

What the project will deliver:

  • Better planning tools: Creation of a decision support system as a digital platform for improved water management strategies
  • Real-life testing: New technologies and nature-based methods will be tested in four rural areas : Zabljak (Montenegro), Bitola (North Macedonia), Ilirska Bistrica (Slovenia), Teslic (Bosnia and Herzegovina)
  • Knowledge transfer: Good practices and training will be shared across the region though e-learning and a regional learning network of practitioners

Over the coming months, explore this section to learn more about project progress and deliverables.

What we do

WATERVILL contributes to safer water supply in rural and mountainous Mediterranean regions by assisting communities in modernising their small and vulnerable water networks. Through collaboration among municipalities, associations, and research institutions, the project designs and tests smart, nature-based, and community-led solutions that reduce water losses and improve service reliability. By combining digital innovation, local engagement, and policy reform, WATERVILL builds the foundation for sustainable, climate-resilient water management that can be replicated across borders.

Partners contribute their diverse expertise — from local water governance and infrastructure improvement to policy development and community capacity building — ensuring that solutions are practical, adaptable, and rooted in real territorial needs. Together, they turn local challenges into shared Mediterranean opportunities for innovation and resilience.

Project overview

Understanding local needs and planning innovative solutions (WP1)

We start by analysing the situation in rural and mountain areas to understand why water is being lost and what challenges local communities face.

Based on this, we create tools and guidance to help municipalities make better decisions about their water systems, including digital (for example real-time water monitoring dashboards) and nature-based (such as restoring vegetation around springs) solutions.

This helps communities plan smarter and sustainable improvements.

Testing solutions on the ground (WP2)

Four pilot municipalities in Bosnia and Herzegovina (Teslic), Montenegro (Zabljak), North Macedonia (Bitola) and Slovenia (Ilirska Bistrica), then test these smart and nature-based solutions to reduce water losses and improve supply, following a decision-support system developed in WP1.

Local actors:

  • Work together in  groups
  • Install and monitor new solutions
  • Receive technical training
  • Organise events to share results

These pilots show what works in real conditions and help build capacity locally.

Share knowledge and replicate solutions (WP3)

Finally, lessons learned from the pilots are shared widely to benefit other municipalities across the Mediterranean region.

This is done through:

  • National learning groups in the four pilot countries
  • A Community of Practice bringing together experts
  • A practical e-learning course
  • Communication activities such as events, videos and online materials

This helps scale successful solutions and ensures impact beyond the pilot areas.

Начална проектна среща - Загреб, Хърватия

В периода 03-04 февруари 2026 г. в гр. Загреб, Хърватска се проведе срещата, даваща официално начало на проекта WaterVill. На нея всеки проектен представи основните му роли, отредени в процеса на работа по проекта. За БАВ най-важните дейности са отчитането на въглеродния отпечатък и координирането на учебните дейности. По-долу можете да разгледате презентацията, изнесена по време на срещата.