The project

Closing the loop of water, nutrient and resource management for irrigation activities

Towards Zero waste

Conquer is a European project co-funded by the LIFE Programme that aims to promote the circular economy by developing a system to reuse contaminated groundwater infiltrated in residential areas, maintaining the necessary nutrients and eliminating salinity, for irrigation purposes in the city of Murcia.

The third part of the EU territory experiences water stress. Water reuse has been evidenced as the most sustainable alternative to the use of freshwater sources in terms of cost and environmental impact. However, wastewater salinity is a challenge in wastewater treatment (WWTP) and reclamation (WRP) plants where collectors receive industrial brines, agricultural runoff waters and/or marine intrusion.

Conquer will demonstrate an innovative water reclamation plant (WRP) to enable contaminated groundwater infiltrated in residential areas reuse by dividing nitrates and salinity and obtaining an effluent rich in nutrients to re-use it for irrigation instead of being discharged them to the environment.

NAME: CONQUER 

FUNDING: LIFE programme, the EU’s funding instrument for the environment and climate action 

BUDGET: €1,655,288

EU CONTRIBUTION: €910,408

DURATION: 48 months (November 2020-October 2024) 

COORDINATOR: Cetaqua Barcelona

CONSORTIUM: EMUASA and Aquambiente Circular Economy Solutions

DEMONSTRATION SITE: Murcia, Spain

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Timeline of the Conquer project

Permit procedures acquisition

Description: Permits procedures acquisition. Duration: November 2020 – December 2020

Environmental and economic assessment

Description: Technical evaluation of LIFE CONQUER demonstrated solutions. Environmental evaluation of LIFE CONQUER demonstrated solutions through LCA. Economic assessment of LIFE CONQUER solutions through Life Cycle Costing (LCC). Cost-benefit analysis (CBA). Duration: November 2022 – January 2024

Design, construction and commissioning of the prototype

Description: Design of the Smart NF unit for dissolved salts and nitrates separation. Design of the brine valorization treatment unit. Tender process – buffer. Construction and delivery (+ 2 months of buffer). Commissioning and connection to the existing UIN. Duration: February 2021-April 2022

Development of a business plan

Description: Market/competition analysis. Definition of business model CANVAS. Development of a business plan. Duration: May 2023 – January 2024

Prototype operation, optimization and integration of results

Description: Transfer the brine valorization units of the prototype to reverse osmosis brine treatment and valorization. Duration: May 2022 – January 2024

Replication and transfer plan

Description: Selection of the Replication cases and territorial data collection. Technical guidelines. Risk assessment. Feasibility study of the replication cases. Replication plan of the solution. Duration: February 2023 – January 2024

Visit the virtual tour of the LIFE Conquer project site

Discover the LIFE Conquer project pilot site thanks to this virtual tour.