Spain is one of the countries in the European Union most affected by climate change, with the effects of extreme weather events that produce increasingly prolonged droughts and periods of torrential rain each year, making the process of storing and subsequent management of water difficult. increasingly complicated. It is something that is being noticed in areas of southern Spain, specifically in Andalusia, as well as in Catalonia, with regions greatly affected by drought.
These extreme conditions affect water resources, both in their availability, in the face of increasingly growing demand, and in their quality; with consequences on ecosystems and human health.
This situation poses a challenge for society in general: rethinking the uses we give to water, a natural resource that is as necessary as it is scarce. A change of model is essential to redistribute and expand supply sources and ensure their supply on a continuous basis, in a sustainable and resilient manner.
At this point, companies like Veolia and its knowledge hub Agbar differentiate themselves as one of the main actors in the fight against climate change, providing more efficient management tools and models for water resources.
In Spain, Agbar provides its water supply services to 13 million people, in more than 1,100 municipalities, acting from proximity to the territory. Through innovation, digitalization, and the promotion of alliances, Agbar acts to improve the future of people by sustainably managing the water resources of each area. To this end, it promotes the development of mitigation and adaptation solutions to climate change, as well as reference projects based on the circular economy to advance the ecological transformation.
Drive circularity
Faced with the current context of growing water scarcity, it is essential to adopt responsible water management based on circular models, since most of the water sources we use are highly dependent on the weather, that is, on the amount of rain. Agbar places the circular economy at the center of its strategy and operations.
The company is committed, within a mix of different solutions, to the regeneration and subsequent reuse of water, allowing wastewater to be given a new life, key to ensuring water availability in the future.
In this way, after advanced treatment, the purified and regenerated water is destined for new uses such as irrigating green areas and agricultural fields, cleaning streets or for industries, among others. This regenerated water is also returned in optimal conditions to the environment, in rivers and aquifers, to begin the collection cycle again.
The reuse of wastewater is an alternative and complementary source that contributes to the sustainability of the integral water cycle and to preserve ecosystems and biodiversity. All of this would not be possible without alliances and public-private collaboration between companies and organizations. Agbar is committed to this model of success in all its areas of action, with the aim of contributing to adequate economic, social and environmental progress, as well as generating value for the entire society.
The application of this type of solutions has visible results in the territory and also in society in general. In Catalonia, this is the case of Aigües de Barcelona, which sends 1,500 liters per second of regenerated water from the Baix Llobregat ecofactory, upstream of the Llobregat River, to Molins de Rei to be reused as pre-drinking water. This water is collected at the Sant Joan Despí drinking water treatment plant, to make it drinkable and send it to the distribution network and thus continue the water cycle at a critical moment, when the region is experiencing its worst drought in recent years. 70 years.
Reclaimed water
In this way, regenerated water now represents 25% of the water resources used for supply in the metropolitan territory of Barcelona. In order to have new resources to face the water emergency in Catalonia, Veolia is committed to replicating this model in the Besòs basin, through the Next Generation European funds program. In this way, the water resilience of five million people in the region would be guaranteed.
In the Region of Murcia, another of the areas affected by water scarcity, thanks to the reused water, farmers in this region are able to produce more than 412,000 tons of vegetables per year. Irrigators in the area maintain that this system has allowed them to maintain production levels in situations of severe drought.
In order to make these projects a reality in other places, Agbar continues to advance in the digital transformation of water management through its network of digital hubs, combining cutting-edge technological solutions with the expert knowledge of its professionals.