News
– This European project, which comes to an end after three and a half years, has produced 78,500 m³/year of Class A reclaimed water, the highest quality for this use
– The pioneering water regeneration system developed during the project is based on the use of recycled ultrafiltration membranes and ultraviolet disinfection
The European LIFE WARRIOR project, which began at the end of 2022 with the aim of producing reclaimed water suitable for agricultural irrigation in a sustainable manner, has succeeded in generating 78,500 m³ per year of Class A reclaimed water —the highest quality standard established for this use— utilised by irrigation communities in the Region of Murcia.
To achieve this, LIFE WARRIOR has implemented a full-scale pioneering scheme that treats wastewater arriving at the Nueva Sucina wastewater treatment plant —operated by EMUASA— by combining reused ultrafiltration membranes with disinfection using ultraviolet LED lamp technology. This scheme is more sustainable and efficient than traditional reclamation methods because, firstly, it enables a second life to be given to membranes from drinking water treatment plants, and secondly, it has lower energy consumption and is chemical-free.
Eleana Mundaray, Head of the Boosting Reuse and Other Water Resources Programme and Researcher at Cetaqua – Water Technology Centre, explains that “this regeneration scheme makes it possible to minimise energy consumption and reduce the carbon footprint of wastewater treatment plants, while also producing reclaimed water of the highest quality at a lower cost.”
In order to maintain the reclaimed water quality standards established by the European Commission, the scheme has been integrated with a digital tool developed by the project team. This system features sensors and alarms to anticipate and minimise health risks associated with the production of reclaimed water, and also includes a decision support system (DSS) that enables the prediction of membrane fouling events, thereby optimising cleaning processes and extending their operational lifespan.
Furthermore, within the framework of LIFE WARRIOR — co-funded by the European Commission’s LIFE programme and led by Cetaqua –Water Technology Centre, with the participation of EMUASA (Murcia Municipal Water and Sanitation Company) and Veolia in Spain— the first public marketplace for ultrafiltration membranes, known as the Re-UF Marketplace, has been developed. This free platform connects individuals interested in buying or selling reused membranes, with the aim of fostering collaboration between water operators or public authorities managing water treatment plants and end users.
The Region of Murcia, closely linked to agricultural activity and facing recurring water scarcity issues, is one of the leading regions in Spain in water reclamation.
During the project’s final event, held in a hybrid format in Murcia and attended by more than 50 professionals from the agricultural and water management sectors, Eva Mena, Head of Innovation at EMUASA, highlighted that “the majority of reclaimed water is used for agriculture, followed by recreational and urban uses. This enables a more efficient management of an essential resource for one of the region’s main economic drivers.”
LIFE WARRIOR is a model that can be easily replicated in other regions facing similar challenges in water management, establishing itself as a benchmark in the development of sustainable solutions to address the impacts of climate change.
Further information about the project is available on the LIFE WARRIOR website.
Las opiniones y documentación aportadas en esta publicación son de exclusiva responsabilidad del autor o autores de los mismos, y no reflejan necesariamente los puntos de vista de la Unión Europea.
