Natural Water Treatment Systems fo Safe and Sustainable Water Supply in the Indian Context

Research and innovation plays an important role in providing solutions to major water challenges. Over the past decades, EU Framework Programme research funding has dedicated over EUR 1 billion to water research and Horizon 2020 will continue to support fundamental and applied research to address this complex and cross-cutting societal challenge. Water is also a very important area for international research cooperation with non-EU countries for promoting sustainable development in the context of the on-going Sustainable Development Goals discussion. Within the context of the Environment (including climate change) Theme of the FP7 Cooperation Programme, a dedicated research topic on water systems and treatment technologies to cope with water shortages in urbanised areas in India was launched in 2011. SAPH PANI “Enhancement of natural water systems and treatment methods for safe and sustainable water supply in India” was selected for funding following the evaluation of that call. Since then a more strategic cooperation on water purification and wastewater reclamation, and reuse issues was built between the European Commission and the Indian Department of Science and Technology that gave rise to a joint coordinated call for proposals in 2012 and the emergence of a strong network of European and Indian researchers working together. In this context, SAPH PANI could be considered as a precursor of such cooperation. This book summarises the key achievement of the SAPH PANI EU funded project