The intense effects of climate change, such as floods, droughts and sea level rise, among others, have turned wastewater treatment plants into resource bases with great potential. In this aspect, Cetaqua, Water Technology Centre is working on turning them into biofactories, where water, energy and nutrients, among others, are produced from wastewater, promoting a circular economy model.
Specifically, water reuse is a fundamental resource to tackle water stress. Currently, 2% of water is reused in Europe, and high growth is expected due to the needs arising from climate change. There are already success stories such as California, Singapore or Namibia, that have produced reclaimed water for decades, being a fundamental pillar for the urban and industrial growth of the territories, where it is used for urban, agricultural, environmental, industrial and even indirect and direct potable reuse. In the latter application, reclaimed water is connected to drinking water treatment plants, thus closing the water cycle.
To promote reuse and water availability, Cetaqua is working on several projects to demonstrate the potential of water reuse. One case is the B-Water Smart project, which is presented as an innovative way to demonstrate the potential of water reuse through the implementation of the Alicante Living Lab. This innovation space will allow the development of digital technologies and solutions to address water scarcity. Specifically, the Rincón de León Water Reclamation Plan will allow testing a set of technologies to enhance the biofactory model and identify circular opportunities in the Alicante region.
The Spanish Living Lab of the B-WaterSmart project is located in Alicante
Another case is the Guardian project, which is demonstrating an innovative water regeneration system to be used for fire preparation and fire resistance. This project is based in the area that includes the La Vallesa forest in Riba-roja de Túria, Paterna, which is immersed in the Túria Natural Park.
However, reuse is not exclusive to the urban water cycle. In the LIFE Remine Water project, Cetaqua is demonstrating an innovative treatment train to reuse wastewater from the mining industry in Andalusia, which will allow them to reduce the discharge of treated water into the environment and the plant’s water resource needs.
The LIFE Remine Water project fosters water reuse in the mining sector
All these demonstration projects, together with the contribution of LIFE CONQUER, promote the implementation of the biofactory concept that will promote the reuse of water in different territories with high water stress such as the Valencian Community, Murcia and Andalusia. In this way, they will reduce the water discharged into the environment and capture of conventional water resources such as rivers and aquifers.
Click here more information on the LIFE CONQUER project.