Launch of 6 calls for projects to adapt to climate change

To adapt to climate change, the water agency is launching six calls for projects for climate

 

L’he Rhône Méditerranée Corse Water Agency will launch six new calls for projects between now and 2024 in order to support territories in adapting to climate change. The first three, launched this year, concern the greening of schoolyards, middle schools, high schools and universities, water-saving devices and the preservation of wetlands, which play a key role in making territories more robust in the face of climate change. The Water Agency will allocate up to 70% of financial aid to project owners.

The conclusions of the Assises de l'eau highlight the need to promote water saving in all areas, to de-waterproof soils and to resort to nature-based solutions. In response, the Water Agency is programming a set of six calls for projects to act faster and stronger in the face of climate change with additional support for :

- Dampen soils by disconnecting rainwater from wastewater to infiltrate or reuse water,

- Saving drinking water,

- Restore or preserve major wetlands,

- Changing agricultural practices to promote water absorption by the soil,

- Valorize resources, materials or energy for industrialists,

- Observe the effects of climate change through sentinel networks.

 

The Water Agency is already devoting 40% of its aid to actions in favour of adaptation to climate change, i.e. 1 billion euros. With these calls for projects, it is stepping up its support to project owners throughout its Save Water 2019-2014 programme with aid rates raised to 70 %. The first three calls for projects were presented to the Board of Directors at the end of June 2019.

 

Creating a green space for rain in schools, colleges, high schools and universities

Urbanization and increasing soil sealing have many consequences on the water cycle, but also on the quality of life. While new construction projects take better account of rainwater management by means of vegetated structures (e.g. gullies), de-waterproofing of existing buildings is not always carried out when redeveloping or redeveloping neighbourhoods. Schoolyards, colleges, high schools and universities represent large areas and a strong potential for dewatering. They are also a place of life and passage where children, students, parents ... who can be made aware of the water cycle and the importance of infiltration. This is why the Water Agency is launching this call for projects which aims to support projects of de-waterproofing and revegetation to manage rainwater in schools by integrating an educational component on the water cycle. The agency is devoting a budget of 5 million euros to this.

Submission of dossiers from 1 July 2019 to 15 September 2020 on www.eaurmc.fr/verdureetpluie

 

Saving water: reducing drinking water consumption

The fight against water wastage is a priority of the Water Forum and the basin plans for adaptation to climate change. In addition to actions to fight against leaks on drinking water networks, reducing consumption is one of the strong levers for saving water and thus leaving more volume available in rivers and aquifers.

This call for projects is aimed at local authorities, social landlords and collective structures that have a global approach to reducing drinking water consumption (water-saving devices, dry toilets, reduced watering of green spaces, etc.). It benefits from an aid package of 2 million euros.

Submission of dossiers from 1 November 2019 to 15 July 2020 on www.eaurmc.fr/economies-deau

 

Conserving and restoring wetlands that play a key role in climate change adaptation

During periods of heavy rain, like a sponge, wetlands retain excess water in the soil. And in times of drought, they release this water and thus help to recharge groundwater levels and support low water flows in rivers. Their role is essential in the face of climate change. Under this call for projects, the Water Agency will provide €2 million in aid to restore the hydrological functioning of wetlands in the event of degradation, or to acquire a wetland that is still preserved, targeting major wetlands for adaptation to climate change.

Submission of applications from 1 January to 1 July 2020 on www.eaurmc.fr/