Improving the water management in the cross-border area for the protection of natural resources

The AQUANA project is a 24-month cross-border initiative  under the Interreg VI-A IPA Greece–North Macedonia Programme, designed to improve water management and protect natural resources in the municipalities of Prilep (North Macedonia) and Almopia (Greece). Both areas face serious challenges including significant water loss, aquifer vulnerability and the impacts of climate change. AQUANA addresses these issues through a combination of advanced technologies, targeted infrastructure improvements and community engagement, aiming to ensure sustainable, resilient water resources across the region.

The project’s actions are equally implemented in the two areas. In Prilep, activities focus on developing a GIS-based Integrated Climate and Infrastructure Management System to optimise water, sewage and atmospheric network management, alongside the creation of a Climate Change Management Platform and geological–hydrolithological mapping. In Almopia, the emphasis is on installing advanced monitoring systems for leakages, conducting aquifer vulnerability studies and implementing water quality monitoring and soil property evaluation.

All four partners contribute to the project with complementary roles. The Public Communal Enterprise Water Supply & Sewerage – Prilep (Lead Partner) is responsible for project management, communication and capacity-building actions, as well as delivering part of the pilot water management system. The Municipality of Prilep develops the Climate Change Management Platform and supports awareness events such as the World Water Day celebration. The Municipal Water Supply & Sewerage Company of Almopia leads the technical work on advanced water management, including leakage detection and aquifer monitoring and hosts cross-border awareness activities. The Environmental Centre of Western Macedonia provides scientific expertise, implements aquifer and soil studies, supports climate change management tools and contributes to capacity-building and research dissemination.

Key deliverables include: the GIS-based management system, the Climate Change Management Platform, the leakage detection and monitoring systems, aquifer vulnerability studies, water quality monitoring and soil property evaluation. Public engagement outputs include cross-border capacity-building events, a round table on water management, a cross-border school competition, the celebration of World Water Day, as well as communication materials, videos and final dissemination events.

AQUANA directly benefits multiple target groups: local communities gain cleaner, safer drinking water; local governments improve control over water distribution; environmental organisations protect ecosystems and biodiversity; businesses and industry secure stable water resources; and the agricultural sector safeguards irrigation and food security.

The project is expected to achieve measurable results: reducing water loss by up to 40% in Prilep and significantly in Almopia, addressing Almopia’s 20% aquifer recharge deficit and integrating climate resilience measures in both municipalities. It will deliver two cross-border public events, one cross-border school competition and one Water World Day celebration, while establishing long-term cooperation agreements between the four partner organisations. The integrated pilot action for water management will be jointly developed, implemented and upscaled, creating a model for sustainable water resource management in the cross-border area.