A new solution in Zadar mimics nature to cope with drought
In the rural areas of Zadar County, summer temperatures reach alarming levels and rainfall is becoming almost nonexistent.
The region is located in central Dalmatia, along the Middle Adriatic, and is one of those areas in Croatia that, due to the scarcity of rainfall, are often hit by very intense drought. The scarcity of water, especially in the rural areas, often makes it complex or even impossible to irrigate fields, and sometimes even to provide access to drinking water to residents.
A new answer: AquaWeb
The constant intensification of this phenomenon, due to climate change, has made it necessary to think about different and innovative integrated water resources management solutions to help the population and preserve the ecosystems and biodiversity. In February 2022, the Baštica region (not far from the city of Zadar) installed AquaWeb: an innovative solution capable of capturing and retaining moisture from the air, that can be used for irrigating fields and subsequent food production. The tool, patented in the United States by the company NexLoop and installed here for the first time in Europe, is based on biomimicry, i.e. it imitates processes that already exist in nature.
Shape and structure
The installation includes a series of hexagonal-shaped panels similar to honeycombs in beehives, that are currently hanging on the exterior wall of a facility owned by the University of Zadar. The hexagonal shape has proven to be the most efficient in bearing substantial weights, and the modular construction increases structural efficiency. The tool relies on the same principle as spider webs for water absorption. We spoke with Andrea Vitlov-Kurtin of the Zadar County Development Agency ZADRA NOVA, who explained how this incredible “spider web” works.
Irrigation
Next to the AquaWeb, we find a series of succulents that are irrigated with the water collected through the retention mechanism, which in turn mimics the way water is stored by these very organisms. Instead, liquid transport takes place in a manner similar to that of mycelia.
“AquaWeb is an innovative Nature-Based Solution that is biomimicry designed”
Andrea Vitlov-Kurtin
Innovation is trial and error
AquaWeb is currently being tested: the Adriaclim project has enabled its first installation, allowing to accurately assess all the pros and cons of this new technology for future development. The structure and materials can still be improved (for example, currently the nets are still made of plastic material). The plan is to continue testing this solution until it is brought to its maximum efficiency, to make it soon replicable in different contexts and at different scales.
A more "traditional" method: the AdriaClim truck
Water (or rather, its absence) is thus the main challenge for the rural area of Zadar. In the scorching summer seasons, drought affects most rural villages, causing a lack of drinking water for local residents. As part of the AdriaClim project, the municipality of Zadar has provided a truck with a water tank that will help meet the needs of citizens during longer dry spells, thus improving the quality of life in these particular areas. The vehicle, which arrived in February 2022, will be operated by the Zadar Region Fire Department and will be employed as soon as the summer season begins.
Water is the most precious resource
In a drought-prone area such as Zadar rural region, sustainable water management is essential to enable humans and nature to thrive even during the driest and warmest periods. In the words of Marina Dujmović Vuković, Director of the Zadar County Development Agency ZADRA NOVA: “Adriaclim project played a key role in promoting awareness about the importance of developing an integrated water resources management system”, and it allowed innovative, nature-based solutions to be implemented in Croatia for the first time along with more traditional – but not less important – adaptation measures.