On May 13, 2025, the Municipality of Paderno Dugnano hosted a Local Water Forum as part of the European AWARD project, focusing on sustainable water use and active citizen participation. Organized by the Metropolitan City of Milan, the event aligned with EU Green Deal goals for 2021–2027, promoting water conservation and circularity (reduce, recycle, reuse).
Through interactive Mentimeter sessions, participants explored the full water cycle—from natural sources to drinking water and back to the environment. Experts from CAP Group explained how water utilities apply circular principles to manage resources efficiently.
The audience also learned about practical uses for rainwater—such as toilet flushing, street cleaning, and irrigation—highlighting the potential to reduce potable water consumption. IRIDRA presented Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) as effective tools for enhancing resilience to climate change in urban areas.
A lively Q&A session followed, with citizens, local officials, and experts exchanging ideas on aquifer recharge, multifunctional urban basins, and small-scale reuse systems. The event showed strong public interest in water-smart policies and greater awareness of local environmental action.