Living Labs Reveal Governance Gaps Hindering Groundwater Sustainability in Mediterranean Coastal Zones

Groundwater systems along Mediterranean coasts are under increasing pressure from over-extraction, contamination, and climate-driven rainfall shifts. A recent study, based on four “living labs” in Italy, Greece, Tunisia, and Türkiye, shows that traditional top-down governance, relying on regulation and infrastructure, is not delivering sustainable aquifer management. Researchers argue that stronger social, institutional, and participative frameworks are required to make progress.

The study, led by the Desertification Research Centre and funded by the EU’s PRIMA initiative, focused on four living-lab sites located in agricultural and tourism-intensive regions: Arborea in Italy, Malia in Greece, Wadi El Bey in Tunisia, and Erdemli in Türkiye. These sites were selected because they face critical groundwater challenges, including nitrate pollution, saltwater intrusion, aquifer depletion, and biodiversity loss in surrounding wetlands.

Key Findings Across the Mediterranean

Researchers developed a framework of 20 indicators across four dimensions: environment, institutions and policy, science–policy–public interface, and social equity, and rated each site from 1 (highly negative) to 5 (highly positive).

• Arborea (Italy): overall 3.9, institutions/policy 4.4, environment 3.3

• Malia (Greece): overall 3.5, institutions/policy 4.4, environment 2.0

• Wadi El Bey (Tunisia): overall 2.5, institutions/policy 3.0, environment 1.5

• Erdemli (Türkiye): overall 2.3, institutions/policy 2.8, environment 1.8

While most sites had moderate policy and institutional frameworks, their environmental performance remained weak. This highlights a gap between the existence of rules and their effectiveness in achieving tangible groundwater recovery.

What Drives Better Groundwater Governance

The study identifies three main drivers behind successful outcomes. First, a strong local stakeholder organisation can make a decisive difference. In Arborea, for example, a local dairy cooperative brought farmers, researchers, and authorities together to plant trees, recycle nutrients, and reduce contamination. In contrast, Erdemli and Wadi El Bey, where participation was weaker and interventions were mostly top-down, achieved poorer results. Second, learning through participation proved essential. In Malia, residents joined scientists to model water flows and test groundwater–surface water integration. In Tunisia, workshops led to agreements on wastewater treatment and the reuse of treated water for irrigation. Third, social equity and inclusion improved outcomes. Sites where women, small farmers, and community organisations were meaningfully engaged saw more innovation and faster adoption of measures. Where such inclusion was lacking, implementation was slower and local conflict more frequent.

Implications for Water, Climate, and Industry

For agriculture and tourism, the two sectors most dependent on groundwater, the message is clear: regulation alone is not enough. Long-term sustainability requires participative governance, shared monitoring, and flexible management adapted to local realities.

For regulators and policymakers, the findings reveal that existing rules are not translating into effective environmental results. The study recommends complementing regulation with adaptive governance, approaches that combine formal rules with co-designed initiatives, transparent monitoring, and ongoing stakeholder engagement.

For water planners and infrastructure developers, investments in wells, treatment plants, or monitoring systems should be accompanied by investments in local governance capacity. Technical solutions must go hand in hand with social and institutional innovation.

From a net-zero and climate resilience perspective, groundwater depletion and salt intrusion are increasingly linked to climate impacts such as drought, irregular rainfall, and sea-level rise. Reliable freshwater access is fundamental to resilient agriculture, the bioeconomy, and circular water systems, all pillars of a low-carbon transition.

Toward Adaptive and Inclusive Water Governance

The concept of the “living lab” lies at the heart of this approach. These real-world testing environments allow researchers, citizens, industry, and policymakers to co-develop and trial practical solutions under real conditions. The study’s comparison of diverse Mediterranean sites demonstrates that governance models work best when they combine local participation, equity, and iterative learning.

As climate and demographic pressures intensify, governance systems that remain rigid or purely hierarchical are unlikely to succeed. The research suggests that long-term groundwater sustainability depends on cooperation and shared responsibility, where rules and infrastructure are complemented by social engagement and adaptability.

Groundwater risk, the study concludes, is not just a technical or regulatory issue; it is a socio-ecological challenge. Only governance systems that can learn, evolve, and include diverse voices will ensure water security for future generations.

Source: environment.ec.europa.eu