Lisbon, Portugal

Description

The Lisbon Living Lab key smart-water challenges are: a growing resident population and economy, dependent on distant freshwater resources (up to 100 km), climate challenges (e.g., droughts and floods) and the need to increase urban green areas. Lisbon has a smart management strategy for all key areas of urban development. Lisbon’s European Green Capital 2020 Award has catalysed political willingness and investments to improve the city’s water-smartness. The city aims at providing a high quality of life for an increasing population and a growing economy, whilst tackling climate change challenges based on a green-blue problem-solving infrastructure. Actions include increasing green areas while decreasing the city’s water-energy-phosphorus (W-E-P) footprint by improving the water supply & demand management, testing alternative sources (e.g., reclaimed water) and smart metering housing.

Lisbon LL ambitions are to deliver algorithms and software for a smart allocation of the water quality (fit-for-purpose) and quantity (water efficiency) in the city, namely: i) The Water-energy-phosphorous balance planning module for the quantification of city water cycle components and assessment of water-energy-phosphorus (W-E-P) balance for non-potable uses; ii) the UWC observatory, Lisbon’s urban water cycle observatory; iii) Risk Assessment for urban water reuse module for risk assessment of alternative water sources; iv) the Reclaimed water distribution network water quality model for modelling reclaimed water quality in the distribution network; v) the Environment for decision support and alternative course selection, a decision support tool for W-E-P sustainable management based on performance-cost-risk assessment. Furthermore, a protocol for food-grade water production from treated wastewater by ozone/reverse osmosis (O3/RO) for craft beer production is to be demonstrated and a climate-readiness index and the subsequent auditing/certification mechanism for Climate Readiness of households, buildings and neighbourhoods is to be developed.