Managing risks to the water supply

Droughts, floods, contamination and overexploitation of aquifers are all events that can affect the water supply. What are the risks and how can they be managed to reduce their impacts?

The water supply is an essential service to society; it is vital not only for our daily activities, but also for our economic activity. The water shortage we have experienced in recent years has brought a range of disruptions that have affected us on many different levels, thereby demonstrating just how important the water supply is. At the same time, the shortage has also forced us to consider the risks related to this essential service and how to manage them.

What do we mean by “risk”?

Firstly, it is important to understand that a “risk” is the possibility that a negative event will occur. In other words, it is a “danger”. In order to calculate the magnitude of a risk, we must take into account the likelihood of it occurring and the severity of its consequences. It is not easy to make this calculation intuitively. The perception that the general public may have of a particular risk does not always correspond to its magnitude, when this is calculated using scientific techniques.

For example, people may be worried about the quality of drinking water from taps in cities with modern treatment and control systems, and may think that the water is unsafe or unhealthy, even though it has been amply demonstrated that the risk of health problems is extremely low given that the water meets very strict health standards.

Managing the risks to water for human consumption

In this case, we must consider how to manage the risks that are posed, taking into account factors such as the type of risk, the likelihood of the event occurring, the potential severity, and the perception of the public or the people affected. Thus, in the case of water for human consumption, the main risks are microbiological and chemical in nature, and are governed by the corresponding regulations.

The microbiological risks arise from biological agents such as bacteria, viruses and parasites, which can contaminate the water and threaten human health in the short term. The chemical risks involve exposure to toxic chemical substances, which usually generate impacts over the medium- or long-term.

Although some of these substances are of natural origin and are extremely toxic, the vast majority are synthetic molecules produced by the chemical industry. These risks can be minimised thanks to the processes that take place at water-treatment facilities and the continuous quality controls that are carried out.

Spanish and European legislation recognises water as an essential product, comparable to a foodstuff in terms of the rigour of the health criteria that apply to it, and have introduced the requirement to carry out risk assessments in order to guarantee the quality of the water, from initial capture to final consumption.

Consequently, adequate risk management not only involves prior quantification and taking action once an initial impact has occurred; it is also necessary to implement protective and preventive measures before any incidents are able to occur.

Risk management in AIGUANEIX

The AIGUANEIX project, under the scientific management of the Catalan Water Research Institute (ICRA), takes into account all of the potential risks associated with the water supply and incorporates six different treatment processes, which make it possible to eliminate any potential chemical contaminants and pathogenic agents that may be present in the water.

From ultrafiltration and advanced oxidation to reverse osmosis, filtration with activated carbon and chloramination, AIGUANEIX aims to produce water that complies with the regulatory standards that guarantee its suitability for recharging aquifers. In addition to these processes, a variety of online sensors and exhaustive analytical monitoring make it possible to determine, with great precision, the quality of the water and the effectiveness of these treatment processes.

Moreover, the AIGUANEIX project specifically includes the development of a series of protocols designed to reinforce the robustness of the treatment, in line with the preventive measures stipulated by the regulations.

Through these actions, AIGUANEIX aims to bolster the resilience of the water supply for the northern Costa Brava region while meeting the most stringent requirements and ensuring maximum respect for
public health.

AIGUANEIX aims to produce water that complies with the regulatory standards that guarantee its suitability for recharging aquifers.