Innovative water management for a more resilient industry
Water scarcity is becoming an increasingly pressing challenge across the Mediterranean, making efficient water management a priority for both communities and industry. Within CARDIMED DEMO2, located at HALCOR’s industrial facilities in Oinofyta, Central Greece, partners are developing innovative solutions that combine Nature-based Solutions, digital technologies and hydraulic modelling to transform rainwater into a valuable resource.
The demonstration supports HALCOR’s ambition to achieve net-zero water consumption by recovering and reusing rainwater, stormwater and wastewater within its production processes. Rather than relying solely on conventional water supplies, the project is creating a more circular water management system capable of reducing freshwater demand while strengthening resilience to climate change.
A key contribution to this work comes from REHY, which is leading the hydrological and hydraulic modelling activities behind the demonstration. After carrying out a detailed analysis of the industrial site, the team developed models capable of estimating how much stormwater can be harvested, stored and reused under different weather conditions. The recovered rainwater is intended to replace part of the freshwater currently used during the washing and rinsing of copper and aluminium products, turning what was once a wasted resource into an operational asset.
Connecting hydraulic modelling with digital innovation
To support day-to-day operations, REHY has also developed Reon SWMM, an integrated digital platform that links real-time field measurements with hydraulic simulations. The platform provides operators with live information on water availability, flood risk and system performance, allowing them to make more informed operational decisions.
The platform is fully integrated into the Digital Twin being developed within CARDIMED DEMO2. By combining hydraulic models with real-time operational data from the facility, the Digital Twin creates an accurate virtual representation of the industrial water network, helping optimise water distribution and evaluate different management scenarios before they are implemented. In parallel, a detailed hydraulic model of HALCOR’s pressurised water distribution network enables engineers to assess how recovered water can be efficiently integrated into the existing infrastructure while ensuring reliable industrial operations.
A scalable solution for Mediterranean regions
Beyond improving water efficiency at HALCOR, CARDIMED DEMO2 is designed to demonstrate an approach that can be replicated across other industrial facilities and Mediterranean regions facing increasing water scarcity. By combining Nature-based Solutions with advanced hydraulic modelling and digital technologies, the project showcases how industry can reduce its dependence on freshwater resources while building greater resilience to climate change.
