The objective of WaterTech cluster is to create partnerships among businesses, research institutions and support agencies specializing in managing and processing water resources and waste water in the RWG.

The Cluster consists of all actors of the triple-helix innovation model: businesses, research & knowledge institutions, local and regional authorities.

The RWG Water-Tech cluster is part from the cluster coalition Regional Innovation Pole of Western Greece, a union comprised of 47 organizations from the private and public sector (including 30 SMEs) aiming at the development, promotion and exploitation of innovation in the Region of Western Greece in specific thematic areas. The main objective of RIP-WG is to organize and strengthen the bonds between the research/technological institutions and regional enterprises, aiming at actions that will enhance the technological and innovation performance of the RWG. This union was created in 2006 and organised around priority and specific competitive markets and scientific areas, where the largest development of innovations were observed, together with the corresponding need by the existing or developing enterprising activity. These thematic areas are: Technologies of Informatics and Communications, Safety and Technologies of Foods, and Environmental Management and Protection. They are actually constituted as individual research-driven clusters, and the Environmental Management and Protection area includes the water management and water/wastewater treatment sector. These areas constitute the competitive advantage of the Western Greece Region in innovation and business activities.

Potential for increased growth and competitiveness within the WaterTech sector

The water district of the region of Western Greece (RWG) demonstrates an active balance of supply and demand of water resources on average. The agricultural cultivation comprises the main water consumer. The water consumption is distributed on average as following: Agriculture 87%, Water supply 10%, other usages 3%. However, in the 92% of the irrigated areas of the country, the irrigation is accomplished with methods and techniques of high loss (larger than 50%) and without rational pricing having as a consequence the overexploitation of the underground water. The above situation creates essential needs that can lead to significant water-tech sector growth.

 
The Region of Western Greece

The main water contamination sources are the agricultural actions due to the frequent heavy usage of fertilizers, pesticides etc., and due to the industrial and livestock wastes. The extensive usage of fertilizers comprises major cause of pervasive pollution of the surface and underground water of RWG along with the illegal urban wastes’ disposal. Although the sea water of the region is relegated due to the town buildings in the coastal areas, river mouths, harbor institutions, sea transfers and coastal aquaculture. Nevertheless, the sea water near the coast should be regarded as of “good” quality, rich in piscatorial resources and increasing usage in for the growth of aquacultures.

It has been recommended by the OECD (2000) among others to develop an overall water resource management strategy by water basin, addressing both quantity and quality issues; establish basin councils to reinforce co-operation and partnership among all relevant authorities and water users; continue to develop sewerage networks, waste water treatment capacity; pursue efforts to monitor surface water quality and strengthen and extend monitoring of groundwater quality; continue the transfer to users of irrigation facilities, and establish mechanisms to strengthen cost recovery; pursue efforts aimed at protecting zones around vulnerable aquifers.

Additionally, the National Strategic Reference Framework (NSRF) 2007–2013 constitutes the reference document for the programming of European Union Funds at national level for the 2007–2013 period. In particular, two of the Priority Axis (Priority Axis 7: Sustainable Development and Quality of Life in Western Greece & Priority Axis 8: Sustainable Development and Quality of Life in Peloponnesus) include goals related to the water such as restoration of ecological balance, protection of  the environment & biodiversity and support the rational use of water resources and improvement of the conditions and/or increase of the number of people living in the region and the visitors benefiting from drinking water, in tandem with a reduction of water losses.

A research in 2008 indicated that problems related to drinking water quality in the various regions of Greece seem to correlate with a series of factors. Violations of the parametric value for nickel (50 μg/L) were observed in Western Greece (where the particularly high value of 350 μg/L was recorded) and Peloponnesus, very high concentrations of nitrates and ammonium and the parametric value of fluoride was exceeded in drinking water samples. In Western Greece, problems are mostly related to the contamination of surface and ground waters by sewage (as evidenced by high ammonium and phosphate content) and/or agricultural run-off or percolation of waters laden with agrochemicals (e.g. nitrates, phosphates). Pollution with heavy metals may originate mainly from old or poor quality distribution networks and piping systems.

The WaterTech Cluster is currently participating in approved European Networks and projects of the 7th Framework Programme (FP7), such as:

Project: STInno - Sustainable Innovations and Treatment in Industrial Waste Water Clusters

Project: SWAM - Increasing the regional competitiveness and economic growth through the RTD&I on sustainable water management