While cities expand and rainfall intensifies, the water that once nourished aquifers now runs across pavement, loaded with pollutants, only to vanish into storm drains that eject it from the natural cycle. In the 21st century, we are depleting groundwater faster than we replenish it. According to UNESCO (2023), over 60% of exploited urban groundwater does not naturally recover. This is not just a water crisis—it is a rupture between the infrastructure we build and the cycles that sustain life. In this urgent context, the project presents a bold vision: to redesign our cities and industrial areas so they become allies—not enemies—of the subsurface.
The initiative takes place in an urban and industrial basin in southern Europe, where natural recharge has been interrupted by decades of urbanization, soil sealing, and rapid drainage. Through sustainable urban drainage systems (SUDS)—including infiltration trenches, permeable pavements, artificial wetlands, and controlled recharge wells—rainwater is intercepted, filtered, and returned—clean—into the aquifer. This transformation turns what is currently an urban risk (polluted runoff) into a regenerative solution with measurable and replicable impact.
The project aims to solve two simultaneous challenges: the shortage of groundwater in both quantity and quality, and the rise of extreme weather events overwhelming urban systems. Using the VWBA 2.0 methodology, the Volumetric Water Benefit (VWB) generated by each additional cubic meter infiltrated is quantified, with full physical and digital traceability. Recharge zones have been selected based on hydrogeological potential and strategic urban network points, maximizing the yield of each intervention.
The alliance includes municipal entities, stormwater network operators, urban hydrology experts, technology firms, and corporate sustainability managers. The proposal fully complies with the principles of additionality, intentionality, and traceability defined by the Water Positive framework: it generates new water in the subsurface cycle, through a deliberate, monitored, and validated action. What was once lost as runoff is now measured, regenerated, and multiplied as shared value.
At the heart of this proposal lies a technical opportunity as evident as it is underutilized: rainwater. Every year, millions of cubic meters fall on rooftops, streets, and parks, yet only a tiny fraction infiltrates the aquifer. The rest turns into fast-moving runoff, causing erosion, overloading drainage systems, polluting surface waters, and wasting a vital resource. In densely paved urban zones, natural infiltration has been reduced by up to 90%. This disconnection between rainfall and recharge is the core of the problem—and the opportunity.
This project intercepts that runoff and transforms it into effective recharge. Through infiltration trenches, multi-stage filtration wells, urban wetlands, and permeable systems, rainwater is captured, cleaned, and directed to geologic layers where it can be safely stored. The estimated volume recovered ranges between 80,000 and 150,000 m³/year—equivalent to the annual consumption of over 2,500 people—with potential to scale up and cover 20% of current extraction needs.
The benefits are immediate: reduced urban flood risk, lower peak flows in stormwater networks, increased groundwater levels in critical zones, and significant improvement in the quality of water recharged. Additionally, each cubic meter recharged helps offset water stress in the basin and reduces the need for future extraction, generating operational and environmental savings.
The model is made viable through clear governance, integration with urban planning, and scalability via public-private partnerships. The technologies applied—already validated in other high-efficiency contexts—are low-maintenance, long-lasting, and quick to install. The system quantifies benefits and generates verifiable Volumetric Water Benefit (VWB) units, which can be reported by companies with ESG commitments, Net Positive Water goals, or alignment with Science-Based Targets for Nature (SBTN).
This model is especially appealing to companies in construction, utilities, food, energy, and real estate sectors seeking to lead in environmental action. Investing in regenerative infrastructure not only meets sustainability standards but also brings strategic visibility, early regulatory compliance, and competitive positioning in markets that demand proof of impact. In a decade where water security will define operational resilience, this project turns every drop into a competitive advantage.
The project integrates aquifer recharge strategies and rainwater management solutions to enhance water availability, reduce flood risks, and improve long-term groundwater sustainability. By combining filtration, infiltration, and controlled water retention, the initiative aims to maximize rainwater use while protecting both surface and underground water resources.
1. Rainwater Collection and Filtration for Improved Water Quality
To ensure that rainwater infiltrates safely into the aquifer, filtration systems will be installed at strategic locations to remove sediments and contaminants before infiltration. These systems include sand filters, artificial wetlands, and biological treatment units, which naturally process rainwater and prevent pollutants from reaching groundwater reserves. By integrating pre-treatment measures, the project mitigates the risk of contamination and enhances the overall quality of aquifer recharge. Additionally, these systems help prevent clogging in recharge infrastructure, ensuring long-term efficiency.
2. Enhancing Groundwater Recharge Capacity
Increasing the recharge of groundwater beyond natural infiltration rates is a key component of this project. This will be achieved through the construction of recharge wells, infiltration trenches, and permeable pavements, which allow rainwater to penetrate the subsurface efficiently. These interventions help restore declining aquifers, stabilize groundwater levels, and reduce dependence on external water sources. Additionally, by directing rainwater into controlled recharge zones, the project prevents excess runoff that could otherwise contribute to soil erosion and surface water contamination.
3. Reducing Flood Risks Through Sustainable Drainage Systems
To mitigate the risk of urban flooding, the project will implement sustainable urban drainage systems (SUDS) designed to capture, store, and regulate rainwater flow. These systems will include temporary underground storage facilities, which retain excess water during heavy rainfall and release it gradually into recharge areas. By integrating controlled drainage solutions, the project not only prevents localized flooding but also optimizes rainwater use, ensuring that excess water is directed toward productive infiltration rather than being lost as runoff.
By combining filtration, recharge infrastructure, and flood prevention strategies, this project delivers a holistic and sustainable approach to managing rainwater efficiently while safeguarding groundwater resources for future generations.
SDG 6 – Clean Water and Sanitation: Improves groundwater quality and availability through controlled infiltration and filtration processes.
SDG 9 – Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure: Implements modern water management infrastructure to optimize aquifer recharge.
SDG 11 – Sustainable Cities and Communities: Reduces urban flood risks through rainwater capture and sustainable drainage systems.
SDG 13 – Climate Action: Enhances climate resilience by managing extreme rainfall events and securing water resources for the future.
To ensure the effective execution of the project, implementation is carried out in three main phases: preliminary studies, construction and implementation, and monitoring and follow-up.
1. Phase of Studies and Diagnosis
2. Phase of Construction and Implementation
3. Phase of Monitoring and Follow-Up
The implementation of the Aquifer Recharge with Rainwater Solutions project is a key step toward ensuring the sustainability of groundwater resources and reducing flood risks in urban and rural areas. By combining corrective actions (such as controlled infiltration and contamination removal) with preventive strategies (such as improved rainwater management and infrastructure design), the project will provide long-term benefits for both water security and climate adaptation.
This approach ensures that groundwater remains a reliable resource while also enhancing climate resilience for future generations.
