Background According to the Strategic Research Agenda (SRA) of the Water Supply and Sanitation Technology Platform, the key priority for the European water sector is to develop low carbon-footprint technologies and concepts for water production and wastewater treatment. It is also vital that the sector balances water resources and demand, while protecting aquatic ecosystems and reducing environmental impacts by putting in place an integrated management system for water resources. In this context, the SRA highlights the need to promote a new life cycle approach to water management in order to identify the processes and approaches that have less impact on the environment. Objectives The general objective of the LIFE SANePLAN project is to improve sanitation management through the development and demonstration of an information system that integrates sanitation and urban planning. The project foresees the integration of all elements of sanitation (water networks and water treatment facilities) with urban planning, taking account of the involvement of multiple actors and territories, as well as current needs and future economic and environmental conditions. Specific objectives are to: Contribute to a reduction in the pressure on water bodies, in line with the European Water Framework Directive (2000/60/CE); Improve the effectiveness of sanitation systems in areas covered by the Council Directive 91/271/EEC, concerning urban waste water treatment; Contribute to the development of transparent governance systems in relation to environmental information, in line with the Directive 2003/4/EC (Aarhus) on public access to environmental information; Contribute to the development of the white paper, ‘Adapting to climate change: Towards a European framework for action (COM 2009/147)’; Contribute to a better use of budgets for sanitation by promoting joint management and operation.The project will provide information for the assessment of the status of seawater bodies in line with the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (2008/56/EC), and also on risk events generation through sanitation systems (Directive 2008/114/EC on the identification and designation of European critical infrastructures). Expected results: The project will provide a tool for improving the management of sanitation and urban planning in three different aspects: operational, environmental and engineering. From an operational point of view, the project will provide technological support to allow structured access to geo-referenced data. Such information will lead to a system that integrates the different management needs from the relevant actors. From an environmental point of view, the project will improve the impact of sanitation systems as a result of the improved knowledge of risk and deficiencies, and improved design of networks and facilities, based on real needs. From an engineering point of view, the project will provide mathematical modeling of sanitation systems and the provision of results to managers through the information system. This will allow for the establishment of current and future scenarios that factor in population increases, economic and environmental constraints and the effects of climate change.