From Research to Action: How the AquaticPollutants Era-Net is Shaping the Future of Water Quality

This month the AquaticPollutants Era-Net is holding its final conference and the final review of funded projects. Coinciding with this important occasion, Water JPI members wish to remind the water community of the objectives of the AquaticPollutants joint call and additional activities.

Aquatic pollutants, such as chemicals, pathogens, and other hazardous substances, pose significant threats to freshwater and marine environments, as well as the communities that depend on them. The AquaticPollutants Era-Net is a collaborative research program aimed at addressing the pressing issue of aquatic pollution, focusing on water quality and its impact on human health and ecosystems. It emphasises the need for an interdisciplinary approach, combining expertise from water sciences, environmental health, and socio-economic fields to tackle the complex and interconnected nature of water pollution. It also promotes transnational cooperation, enabling countries to share knowledge, resources, and best practices in order to develop more efficient and scalable solutions.

The AquaticPollutants Joint call is at the heart of this effort, funding interdisciplinary research projects across borders to investigate aquatic pollutants, with a particular focus on understanding their sources, pathways, and effects. The ultimate goal is to generate robust data and innovative technologies that can inform policy and improve water quality management strategies, leading to healthier aquatic environments and safer water resources for communities. Jointly launched by the Water JPI, the JPI Oceans and the JPI AMR, the call was divided into three themes:

Measuring – Environmental behaviour of contaminants of emerging concern (CECs), pathogens and antimicrobial resistant bacteria in aquatic ecosystems.

Evaluating – Risk assessment and management of CECs, pathogens and antimicrobial resistant bacteria from aquatic ecosystems (inland, coastal and marine) to human health and environment.

Taking Actions – Strategies to reduce CECs, pathogens and antimicrobial resistant bacteria in aquatic ecosystems (inland, coastal and marine)

The joint call allowed the funding of 18 projects.

Additionally, to the joint call, two flagship initiatives have been implemented by the AquaticPollutants Era-Net: The Transfer Project and the AquaticPollutants TAP.

The Transfer Project focuses on ensuring that research results from AquaticPollutants Era-Net projects are effectively transferred to end-users, including policymakers, water managers, industries, and the public. By fostering direct communication and cooperation between researchers and stakeholders, the Transfer Project plays a key role in ensuring that scientific findings have a practical, real-world impact. It supports the dissemination of innovations, helping to create actionable solutions that can be implemented at local, national, and international levels.

Complementing this, the AquaticPollutants Thematic Annual Programming (TAP) action adds an important dimension to the joint call by promoting structured coordination between national research programs. TAP focuses on the thematic alignment of research priorities across different countries, enhancing collaboration between existing programs and maximizing the efficiency of research investments. It provides a platform for the continuous exchange of knowledge and best practices, ensuring that the latest scientific insights on aquatic pollutants are shared across borders and that efforts to combat water pollution are harmonized.

Together, these three initiatives—AquaticPollutants joint call, the Transfer Project, and TAP—form a comprehensive framework for tackling the complex issue of aquatic pollution. Their joint call encourages interdisciplinary, cross-border collaboration, combining the strengths of scientific research with the practical needs of policymakers and water managers. By integrating research, knowledge transfer, and coordinated programming, this partnership aims to create more effective and sustainable solutions to safeguard aquatic ecosystems and protect human health from the harmful effects of water pollution.