In December 2023, the Living Lab (LL) in Venice organized a large local event to bring stakeholders, the community of practice (CoP) but also interested citizens, technicians, and scientists together to discuss the water future of the Venice region.

The first day of the event was dedicated to the CoP and the presentation of the first results of the LL-Venice case study to local stakeholders and sector technicians. Participants had the opportunity to view the way in which Venice and the Veneto regional territory are facing some challenges for the valorisation and reuse of water-related resources. An initial video (which replaced the visit to the pilot plant) made it possible to virtually place the pilot in the purification supply chain (where the case study was developed). At the same time an initial macroscopic sharing of the results obtained was carried out with a projection on the territorial and/or future potential. There was a discussion about the territory and innovative strategies for the reuse of water and the sustainable management of sludge, followed by a press conference.

In the afternoon, the top officials of key organizations/institutions of the CoP met, taking stock of the topics covered over the two years since the initial CoP kick-off meeting in December 2021. The scenarios were analysed to identify whether these were still in line with the initial strategic objectives. The work done to date was highlighted: a collaborative and multidisciplinary work which, for what concerns the case study, made possible to clarify implications and hypothesize solutions for the valorisation. A work that allowed developing the informatics strategic tools supporting decision makers, for an overall and integrated vision of water and sewage sludge systems to improve their management. The event was attended (partly in person and partly remotely), by the key stakeholders of the CoP, including end-users and other interested sector technicians.

The second day was spread in two conceptual parts:

The first part in the morning was dedicated to a Water Europe Market Roadshow, led by Andrea Rubini, where technologies suppliers and problem-owners met and case studies with innovative solutions for Resource Recovery and Circular Economy were presented. It was a very interesting morning where the participants had the opportunity to meet and network, thus facilitating the matching between supply and demand for innovation in the water sector.

The second part of the day was dedicated to the inclusion of citizen in the decision-making process and their decisive role within it. Several roles that citizen cover (the journalist, the teacher, the educator, the student, the social media manager, and the user) were involved to discuss about responsibilities in raising awareness, and the cruciality of this function in the citizen inclusion process towards sustainability choices and awareness. Only if informed correctly, citizens are enabled to support choices and directions suited to the declared “sustainable intentions” and adopt in line behaviour.

Here you will find a report from the local event in a local newspaper: https://www.enordest.it/2023/12/24/da-venezia-le-5-r-dellacqua-per-la-sostenibilita/