Resources
In order to raise awareness of the AIGUANEIX project, a range of informative written and audiovisual materials have been made available in order to improve the understanding of the water purification process, the reasons why it is being carried out and the benefits it can bring to society.
FAQs
The Consorci d’Aigües (Water Consortium) defines reclaimed water as processed wastewater that has been subjected to additional treatment (known as “reclamation”), the end product of which is water that is suitable for non-drinking purposes.
Purified water, meanwhile, is water that has been subjected to intense and advanced treatments that make it suitable for drinking.
Purified water, meanwhile, is water that has been subjected to intense and advanced treatments that make it suitable for drinking.
Purification of the water produced by wastewater treatment plants means restoring it to the original quality levels it had at the start of the water cycle, and requires the use of advanced treatment to remove the impurities that the water still contains.
With the progression of climate change, this process will make it possible to obtain more water resources in coastal regions and prevent valuable fresh water from being lost through discharge into the sea. Purified water can be used to replenish aquifers, thereby helping to keep these natural groundwater reservoirs in good condition.
With the progression of climate change, this process will make it possible to obtain more water resources in coastal regions and prevent valuable fresh water from being lost through discharge into the sea. Purified water can be used to replenish aquifers, thereby helping to keep these natural groundwater reservoirs in good condition.
No. A wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) only carries out the necessary treatment to allow wastewater from human activity to be discharged into the environment.
In contrast, a drinking water treatment plant (DWTP) makes the water from reservoirs, rivers and aquifers suitable for human consumption. DWTPs usually treat the best-quality water that is available in a particular area; consequently, they do not have the capacity to convert poorer-quality water resources into drinking water.
Water purification plants (WPPs) are facilities that will be implemented in the near future and will have the capacity to use poorer-quality water resources (which are currently wasted) to produce drinking water that complies with the relevant regulations.
In contrast, a drinking water treatment plant (DWTP) makes the water from reservoirs, rivers and aquifers suitable for human consumption. DWTPs usually treat the best-quality water that is available in a particular area; consequently, they do not have the capacity to convert poorer-quality water resources into drinking water.
Water purification plants (WPPs) are facilities that will be implemented in the near future and will have the capacity to use poorer-quality water resources (which are currently wasted) to produce drinking water that complies with the relevant regulations.
The pilot plant is designed to produce 6 m 3 /h of ultrafiltered water and 4 m 3 /h of water through reverse osmosis and the rest of the treatments. Although these amounts are small, we should bear in mind that AIGUANEIX is a demonstration project and the purpose of this initial study is to assess the attainment of the quality targets for the water produced.
An assessment of the potential for purification at full scale on the Costa Brava has yet to be carried out. To this end, it will also be necessary to analyse the condition of the local aquifers; however, the usable volume accounts for a high percentage of the water that is consumed by the coastal municipalities and currently discharged into the sea.
An assessment of the potential for purification at full scale on the Costa Brava has yet to be carried out. To this end, it will also be necessary to analyse the condition of the local aquifers; however, the usable volume accounts for a high percentage of the water that is consumed by the coastal municipalities and currently discharged into the sea.
No, we will not be drinking water from the sewer system. The purification treatment, which is in addition to the biological treatment and reclamation process, ensures that there are no contaminants or organic particles in the water and that its quality is equivalent to that of rainwater (and is even higher than the quality of the water produced by DWTPs).
The main reason why this hasn’t been done before is that, until now, there was no need to. The progression of climate change and the increased episodes of drought have laid bare the need for alternative resources, and once the best- quality resources have been depleted, society has to learn how to produce a supply of high-quality water from sources that were unthinkable until now, such as treated wastewater.
The technology and the processes that are used to purify water have existed for some time and are mature and well-known; however, AIGUANEIX is a uniquely innovative project by virtue of the way in which it combines these technologies and in view of the location chosen.
The technology and the processes that are used to purify water have existed for some time and are mature and well-known; however, AIGUANEIX is a uniquely innovative project by virtue of the way in which it combines these technologies and in view of the location chosen.
No. Full-scale production of purified water will be used to help ensure a supply of water for the municipalities. Consequently, all of the people who live in and pass through the areas that are equipped with facilities of this type will benefit from them.
In the case of the pilot plant, this location was chosen partially in view of the critical water situation in the Alt Empordà region and, specifically, the municipalities near Cap de Creus; and partially in view of the technical and quality-related challenges presented by the water from the Roses WWTP.
In the case of the pilot plant, this location was chosen partially in view of the critical water situation in the Alt Empordà region and, specifically, the municipalities near Cap de Creus; and partially in view of the technical and quality-related challenges presented by the water from the Roses WWTP.
Aquifers are underground formations that accumulate water. They may be located entirely below ground or may emerge to form bodies of surface water. They are natural reservoirs that represent an extremely important source of water which must be preserved in order to ensure that this resource can be supplied to citizens.
Chloramines are chemical compounds commonly used to disinfect water (in swimming pools, for example). In the purification process, they enable the removal of certain substances and organisms, and are themselves removed during subsequent phases in the process.
Biofilms are clusters of various types of microorganism that adhere to the surface of certain structures, especially in wet or damp environments, and are covered by a protective outer matrix. When they develop on the membranes that form part of water treatment processes, they can reduce the effectiveness of the treatments or even render them ineffective.
Adsorption and absorption are two separate processes. Absorption is the process by which one gas or liquid is drawn into another, while adsorption is the process by which particles are joined together on a solid surface (like a stain on an item of clothing, for example).
In this respect, activated carbon has the capacity to adsorb organic contaminants, thereby improving the quality of the water that is circulating through it.
In this respect, activated carbon has the capacity to adsorb organic contaminants, thereby improving the quality of the water that is circulating through it.
Newsletter
The AIGUANEIX newsletter contains all kinds of information related to the project: from fascinating facts to visual information and more technical details. We invite you to take a look!
Newsletter | 01
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