In the dynamic landscape of environmental sustainability, an inspiring innovation continues to shine brightly in the Mediterranean region. Born from the successful progress of the NAWAMED project (funded by the ENI CBC MED programme), Wall2Water is an innovative system designed to collect, treat, and reuse greywater from the Istituto Comprensivo Statale Valle dell’Anapo in the Municipality of Ferla, Sicily.
Wall2Water has now entered a new chapter, becoming a subdemonstration within the CARDIMED initiative as part of Demo 4 in Sicily. This integration underscores its pivotal role in showcasing Nature-based Solutions (NbS) as effective tools to mitigate climate change impacts in the Mediterranean region.
Since its inception, Wall2Water has exemplified collaboration and ingenuity, being the result of a partnership between SVI.MED Euromediterranean Centre for Sustainable Development and IRIDRA. Its success has earned it recognition, including being named one of the best proposals in the “Circular Water Management in collaboration with Enea” sector for the Sustainable Development Award 2023. This prestigious award, promoted by the Foundation for Sustainable Development and Ecomondo-Italian Exhibition Group with the support of MASE (Ministry for the Environment and Energy Security), highlights Wall2Water’s commitment to excellence in sustainability.
The municipality of Ferla was recently awarded at the Cresco Award – Città Sostenibili in November 2024, a contest promoted by Fondazione Sodalitas with the support and collaboration of ANCI (National Association of Italian Municipalities). This recognition highlights the town’s commitment to sustainable territorial development in line with the UN’s 2030 Agenda Goals. Ferla received the award in the category “Preserving Our Future by Protecting Biodiversity” for its Wall2Water.
The Cresco Award, which has gathered over 1,000 projects in recent years, serves as a key reference for Italian municipalities and has inspired innovative, replicable sustainability initiatives nationwide. All the projects are accessible in the Cresco Library, an online database that stands as a unique resource showcasing the crucial efforts of Italian municipalities in steering their communities toward a sustainable future.
Through CARDIMED, the effectiveness of NbS in addressing environmental challenges will be further validated, with Wall2Water serving as a flagship example. The initiative amplifies Wall2Water’s capacity to promote environmental resilience, innovation, and awareness in the Mediterranean.
Wall2Water’s reach extends beyond technical achievements, inspiring communities through creative initiatives. Its story is captured in the short film “Gocce di Rugiada” (Drops of Dew), which engages audiences and sparks dialogue on the urgency of adopting NbS and Non-Conventional Water Resources (NCWR). By involving students from the Valle dell’Anapo Institute in Ferla, the project empowers younger generations to take an active role in shaping a sustainable future.
The short film, shot in Italian and subtitled in English, French, Arabic, Spanish, Catalan, and Greek, has been featured in numerous international film festivals. It has already won accolades, including the Audience Award (12-17 years) at one of them, demonstrating the broad appeal and impact of its message. To discover the Wall2Water and watch the short film “Gocce di Rugiada”, click here.
As Wall2Water advances through its journey within CARDIMED Demo 4 in Sicily, it continues to transcend borders, languages, and cultures, inspiring a greener and more sustainable future for the Mediterranean and beyond.
