Rafael Mujeriego, professor of Environmental Engineering at the Polytechnic University of Catalonia (UPC)
«Droughts should be managed during wet years; effective planning and preparation are essential.»
Regarded as one of the leading international experts in water management, Mujeriego advised the World Health Organization (WHO) on water issues for over 30 years.
Today, this prominent advocate for recycled water is the president of the Water Reuse Association (ASERSA).
Do you think that in Catalonia we will increasingly rely less on rainfall for potable water? Where will we need to obtain it from?
Considering what is happening in regions with a Mediterranean climate similar to ours, it seems we will experience more frequent, longer, and more intense droughts, interspersed with episodes of heavy and even torrential rainfall. We will need to regulate future precipitation hydrologically, get used to accumulating water, and retain it during periods of abundance to use it during times of scarcity.
What is water purification? Do similar projects exist inter nationally?
A purification process like the one in Roses involves expanding the treatments applied for water purification. To remove particles, molecules, and microorganisms from the purified water, a series of advanced treatment processes is used.
What are the benefits of water purification?
The addition of purified water to the General Water Resources System provides water as safe as that from conventional sources, ensures reliable supply and at an economic cost similar to current systems. In fact, reclaiming the water that we traditionally discharge into the sea provides us with additional local resources, giving us self-sufficiency with our own local supplies.
Do similar projects exist inter nationally?
Yes, they can be found all around the world! One notable visionary and pioneering project is the one built in 1968 in Windhoek, the capital of Namibia. A purification plant has also been in operation since 2008 in Orange County, California. There, water is injected into an aquifer covering 75,000 hectares, which is seven times the size of the city of Barcelona.
In Catalonia, there are two flag ship projects: one in Camp de Tarragona, which purifies water for industrial use, and another in Baix Llobregat, where water is recycled and returned to the river.
Can the pilot project in Roses be expanded to other areas?
This project will demonstrate the viability and effectiveness of the purification process and when scaled up, it will result in greater treatment efficiency and reduced unit costs. Without a doubt, it will become a benchmark for other regions around the world experiencing irregular rainfall and water scarcity.
«Planning plays a crucial role in an infrastructure project like AIGUANEIX.»
