MARCLAIMED Project Advances Innovative Water Solutions with Field Visit to Texel Pilot Site

The EU-funded MARCLAIMED project has successfully completed an insightful field visit to its demonstration site on the island of Texel, the Netherlands, advancing its mission to combat water scarcity in coastal regions. Last month, Nazim Uddin, a key Work Package Leader within the project, visited the site to study a cutting-edge Aquifer Storage and Recovery (ASR) system designed to provide freshwater for agricultural use in saline environments.

Texel is one of three critical demonstration sites for the MARCLAIMED project, alongside locations in Barcelona, Spain, and Comporta, Portugal. The project explores the integration of Managed Aquifer Recharge (MAR) with Alternative Water Resources (AWR) to mitigate water stress and proactively manage droughts across Europe.

The challenge on Texel is acute: local farmers face a lack of usable water for irrigation, as both surface and groundwater sources are too saline. In response, project partner Acacia Water has developed an innovative ASR system. This solution captures freshwater from tile drainage during the wet winter months, purifies it through a slow sand filter enhanced with activated carbon, and stores it underground. During the dry summer, this stored freshwater is recovered for crop irrigation, creating a circular and climate-resilient water source.

MARCLAIMED plays a crucial role in monitoring, validating, and upscaling this ASR concept for wider application. Key components of the Texel installation include:

• An advanced filtration system to meet strict water quality thresholds.

• A sophisticated control and monitoring system supported by real-time data collection.

• Comprehensive stakeholder engagement through webinars and case study publications to ensure local adoption and support.

The MARCLAIMED project is proud to contribute to the development of saline-adaptive agriculture and secure, sustainable freshwater solutions for coastal communities. The collaboration and knowledge-sharing at the Texel site exemplify the project’s commitment to creating a climate-resilient future.