Background Drought and threats of water scarcity are crucial problems for many European areas. Population growth and climate change continue to create new and urgent challenges. In the past century, worldwide water consumption has risen sixfold - more than double the rate of population growth, according to the EU joint research centre (JRC). In France, where this project is based, there is a shortage of water resources in two-thirds of the country. Total water consumption in the Département of Gironde is some 310 million m³/yr. At least half of this is extracted from deep aquifers - Miocene, Oligocene, Eocene, late Cretaceous. Changes in the aquifer levels have been monitored for many years and reveal severe over-exploitation. This situation represents a quantity and quality risk for groundwater resources, which provide 99% of the drinking water in Gironde. To counteract this, the beneficiary has implemented active water management since the 1990s. A water management scheme had suggested savings were needed of up to 30 million m3/yr per year, with half from reduced consumption and half from use of alternative resources. On current demographics, these objectives will increase by 50% to 45 million m3/yr. Objectives The MAC EAU project’s main objective is to preserve groundwater resources by reducing pumping in the most important aquifer. It aims to distribute water-saving equipment kits to households and public buildings and to gain a better understanding of the rationale for consumption by studying the impact this equipment has on consumption patterns. The project will carry out actions to optimise performance of drinking-water distribution networks. It will notably regulate the pressure in the distribution network in the Blayais area, since the higher the pressure, the higher the risk of leaks. A preliminary study will be carried out to identify sectors for the most efficient location of pressure modulators. The project aims to inform and involve stakeholders, households and local authorities, and encourage them to change consumption behaviour, thus preserving resources. It will install rainwater tanks to provide alternative supplies. It will also produce a guide for stakeholders involved in water resources management and include the issue of water management in land-use planning. The project will collect data on water savings and establish consumption references according to sociological or socio-economic types, something never previously done at an individual level. Monitoring will provide decision-makers with information on the impact of project actions on aquifer levels and thus help guide water management policies. Expected results 80 000 water saving equipment kits distributed; 70 rainwater tanks installed; Pressure of the drinking-water distribution network run by the Blayais water management office to be reduced by 30% (from 10 to 6 bars) on 25% of the network; Estimated water savings of 1.9 million m3/yr based on an average consumption of 120 m3 per household and an average saving of 20% per household; Definition of indicators to monitor the impact on aquifers; Compilation of a significant database; and Dissemination of a methodological guide at EU level.