InnoWATCCH

Climate change results changing precipitation conditions, evapotranspiration and drier soil
conditions which all contribute to a decrease in groundwater recharge. Given the current trends, his
phenomenon will be most pronounced in the middle and lower sections of the Danube, threatening
the water supply of millions of people. Groundwater is in direct interaction with nearby rivers,
tributaries or irrigation channels: when the river level is high, the tributary recharges the groundwater,
while when the river level is low, the tributary has a draining, tapping effect, creating a depression in
the groundwater level. The presence of a tributary or paleochannel also affects the groundwater level:
paleochannel crossings influence the stability of the dikes. 

The project aims to address several challenges such as water scarcity and declining water quality;
flood protection challenges due to outdated infrastructure; coordination among different
stakeholders in water management approaches; access to reliable data for decision-making; capacity development and awarness raising.

The project has three specific objectives:
1. Development of a joint methodology, through collection of archive data, delineation of
sampling areas and development of pre-feasibility studies for the application of innovative water
retention technologies.
2. Establishment of a monitoring system for MAR technologies in the four cross-border pilot
areas. It serves a twofold aim: investigation of the hydrodynamic connection between paleochannels
and the Danube river and determination of dike stability in the selected sample areas.
3. In order to establish an integrated and sustainable transnational water management approach
in the Danube River Basin, for the application of innovative water retention measures, a joint action
plan will be developed.

Lead Partner General Directorate of Water Management (OVF), Hungary

Project Partner 2 GeoGold Kárpátia Environmental and Engineering Expert Llc. (GeoGold), Hungary

Project Partner 3 Technische Universität München (TUM), Germany

Project Partner 4 Croatian Geological Survey (HGI), Croatia

Project Partner 5 Regional administration Vidin (R.A. Vidin), Bulgaria

Project Partner 6 Research and Development Institute for Wildlife and Mountain Resources (ICDCRM), Romania

Project Partner 7 Institute of Hydraulic Engineering and River Research, Austria

Project Partner 8 Public Water Management Company Vode Vojvodine (PWMCVV), Serbia

Project Partner 9 Public Institution "Vode Srpske", Bosnia and Herzegovina

Project Partner 10 Central European Service for Cross-Border Initiatives Balkans (CESCI Balkans), Serbia