On 23 March 2026, on the occasion of World Water Day, Trieste hosted a public event dedicated to a resource that is both precious and still little known: freshwater reserves hidden beneath the seabed. The meeting, promoted by the National Institute of Oceanography and Applied Geophysics – OGS, the University of Trieste, and the Polo Tecnologico Alto Adriatico, in collaboration with the Autonomous Region of Friuli Venezia Giulia, brought together around 50 participants, including researchers, institutions, and local stakeholders.
At the center of the morning was the RESCUE project, a European initiative funded under the Water4All programme and co-funded by the European Union. Coordinated by the University of Trieste and developed with international partners, the project aims to deepen knowledge of coastal aquifers – both offshore and onshore – characterized by low salinity. The goal is to assess their potential as new sources of water supply, capable of contributing to water security for communities and productive systems, especially under hydroclimatic stress conditions.
The event in Trieste, moderated by Maria Cristina Pedicchio, featured a series of scientific presentations focused on marine groundwater, followed by a roundtable discussion involving representatives from institutional, environmental, and economic sectors. The discussion provided an opportunity to explore both the opportunities and challenges related to the sustainable use of these resources, highlighting the need for shared governance.
The morning concluded with the launch of a project community, designed to strengthen dialogue between research, institutions, and the local community, promoting the dissemination of results and stakeholder engagement.
The initiative is part of a broader process of cooperation and knowledge exchange that continues within the framework of the WABIN project. The following day, on 24 March, the study visit and Blue Economy Forum in Ajdovščina, Slovenia, represented the natural continuation of this dialogue, linking the scientific dimension with practical application. The two closely connected events highlighted the importance of an integrated and cross-border approach to water resource management, strengthening cooperation between Italy and Slovenia on a challenge that is increasingly central to the future of the territories.
