Developing an innovative solution for water reuse through circular economy
Conquer will develop an innovative wastewater reclamation plant (WRP) to enable water reuse by dividing nitrates and salinity and obtaining an effluent rich in nutrients to re-use it for irrigation instead of discharging them to the environment. Dissolved salts, already separated from the reclaimed water stream, will be concentrated and then transformed to sodium hypochlorite, promoting a cost-effective solution to transform concentrated saline effluents into valuable by-products.
Thanks to this solution, the total water footprint of Murcia city urban irrigation system will be reduced by 25%, and its total energy consumption will be reduced over 35%. Besides, the consumption of NaOCl in EMUASA facilities will also be reduced by up to 20%.
Water contamination by salts and nitrates
Contaminated groundwater infiltrated in residential areas has a high concentration of nitrates and salts due to the agricultural activity and marine water intrusion caused by overexploitation of aquifers.
Discharges with high potential for eutrophization
Such water is treated by conventional water reclamation plants, which do not fully remove nitrates and salts. Then, treated water does not meet irrigation water requirements due to the high salinity and is discharged into the environment, which can cause eutrophication due to its high content of nutrients.
Irrigation of parks and gardensin Murcia
The effluent at the outlet of the reclamation plant is treated by a system of nanofiltration membranes, which allows to produce water rich in nitrates (nutrients) and with a low concentration of salts, which will be used to irrigate parks and gardens.
Transformation of brine in valuable products
The salts are concentrated in a brine that is treated by an electrochemical treatment to produce a disinfectant that can be used in water cycle facilities, avoiding the discharge of brines into the environment.
