Non-conventional water resources in coastal areas: a review on the use of reclaimed water

In an era of increasing contest for limited water resources a wise joint management of conventional and non-conventional water resources must be considered. Water scarcity aggravates in coastal zones which are often characterised by high population density, intense economic activity and tourism meaning heavy seasonal water demands. The relationships between sea and land water can also compromise the quality of available freshwater. In this context, the use of non-conventional water increases the availability of water supplies. Non-conventional water resources of lower quality could be directed to meet several needs (like watering lawns, washing cars, flushing toilets and cooling systems, among others). Therefore, significantly more potable water would be available to meet human demand for safe water

Tools for the economic evaluation of wastewater reclamation and reuse

The economic evaluation is basic for any reclaimed water reuse project. Nevertheless, the calculation tools for this evaluation have scarcely been developed due to the lack of application of the existing models and the need to consider more circumstances that the actually used for the evaluations. The authors develop a comprehensive tool, comprising several steps, as follows: analysis of the basics of any project; socioeconomic characterization; building, operation and maintenance of the facility; and evaluation of the positive and negative externalities

Non-conventional water resources in coastal areas : a review on the use of reclaimed water

In an era of increasing contest for limited water resources a wise joint management of conventional and non-conventional water resources must be considered. Water scarcity aggravates in coastal zones which are often characterised by high population density, intense economic activity and tourism meaning heavy seasonal water demands. The relationships between sea and land water can also compromise the quality of available freshwater. In this context, the use of non-conventional water increases the availability of water supplies. Non-conventional water resources of lower quality could be directed to meet several needs (like watering lawns, washing cars, flushing toilets and cooling systems, among others). Therefore, significantly more potable water would be available to meet human demand for safe water

Contribución al estudio de la reutilización de las aguas residuales depuradas

[spa] Este trabajo ha sido una contribución al estudio de las posibilidades de reutilización de las aguas residuales depuradas. Para efectuarlo hemos trabajado con los efluentes de nueve depuradoras de aguas residuales urbanas, ubicadas en la Costa Brava, provincia de Girona. La elección fue condicionada por la facilidad de obtención de muestras, y las características casi exclusivamente urbanas de las aguas residuales, lo que eliminaba bastantes factores de incertidumbre. Las poblaciones a las que pertenecen las depuradoras cuyos efluentes hemos estudiado son Begur, Blanes, Cadaqués, Colera, L'Estartit, Llançà, Portbou, Port de la Selva y Roses. Dada la gran extensión de posibilidades de reutilización y las características de nuestro Departamento, decidimos centrar la aplicación práctica del trabajo en la reutilización en suelos y marginalmente en la recarga de acuíferos

La cooperación en materia de agua: aspectos económicos

Como consecuencia de la situación de pobreza y de falta de acceso al agua y al saneamiento en diversos lugares del mundo, numerosas organizaciones internacionales han dedicado en los últimos decenios una buena parte de sus esfuerzos, encuentros, reuniones y posibilidades de financiación a tratar este tema e intentar solucionarlo. En 2000 la Organización Mundial de la Salud aprobó la Declaración del Milenio, en la que se fijaban los Objetivos de Desarrollo del Milenio entre los cuales destacaba uno dedicado al medio ambiente, y en particular a la meta de reducir a la mitad, para el 2015, la proporción de personas sin acceso sostenible al agua potable y a servicios básicos de saneamiento. Tras los ODM en 2015 Naciones Unidas fijó la nueva agenda de desarrollo, concretada en los Objetivos de Desarrollo Sostenible, basados en los ODM y que tienen como horizonte 2030. Dada la importancia económica del cumplimiento de estos objetivos, no solo por los efectos positivos que deberían tener en el desarrollo de diversos países, sino también por la cantidad de recursos económicos que se debían invertir para cumplir con las metas, es importante analizar los resultados del estudio sobre costes y beneficios globales de las intervenciones en agua y saneamiento para alcanzar los ODM, realizado por la OMS. En este caso se analizan y se valoran los beneficios y los costes derivados de las distintas acciones en materia de agua, y si las inversiones en dichas acciones tienen como resultado ganancias económicas sustanciales o no. Una vez analizados desde las diversas perspectivas los ODM, se procede al estudio de algunas de las estrategias aplicadas para alcanzar dichos objetivos, poniendo el énfasis en alguna de las más novedosas como es el caso de la Water Operators Partnership

Design and performance of an innovative hybrid constructed wetland for sustainable pig slurry treatment in small farms

Simple and suitable treatment of swine slurry from small farms is paramount especially in sensitive areas. This paper evaluates the viability of an innovative nature-based technology hybrid system (a Vertical Flow Constructed Wetland followed by a Horizontal Flow Constructed Wetland both planted with reeds - Phragmites australis) to treat swine slurry for further land application or discharge in water bodies with reduced nitrogen impact. Physicochemical parameters, bacterial indicators, surface deposits and biomass inside the filters were monitored. The hybrid configuration offered a dual function for simultaneous solid-liquid separation and biological treatment. Removal of organic matter and suspended solids was very high (>80% for SS and >75% for COD and BOD5) while the overall nitrogen load removal was 65%, due to the combined nitrification/denitrification processes, thus effectively reducing swine slurry nitrogen content. The influence of temperature and design and operational parameters on the treatment efficiency and the hydraulic behavior were also studied. The vertical constructed wetland achieved good hydraulic performance with no clogging problems, despite high pollutant loads. Some of the pollutants were retained and mineralized in the surface deposit layer, increasing around 20 cm each year. This organic biosolid layer improved filtration efficiency. The high ammonia contents interfered with the growth of Phragmites australis, while the high concentration of suspended solids and organic matter determine the operation and design to be implemented

History of an irrigation canal: the 'Real Canal de la Infanta', Barcelona, Spain

A great agricultural development took place in the Llobregat river delta, near Barcelona, during the 19th century in order to fulfil the demand of the growing town and even to export vegetables and fruits to the north of Europe. This demand favoured the transformation of dry land agriculture into irrigated one through the construction of infrastructures for water distribution. In the lower part of the Llobregat river, a canal for supplying water to agricultural fields was built supported by the authorities and landowners. The Infanta Luisa Carlota de Borbón Canal (Infanta Canal) was 17 km long with several complementary minor canals and distribution facilities to irrigate around 3,000 hectares which allowed at least three crops per year. Apart from irrigation and industrial uses, this system was used to generate electricity. Over the years, agriculture disappeared from the area due to industrialisation and urban growth and the canal was partially transformed into a sewer. Its trace has been lost near the Mediterranean Sea, although there are still some remnants. Nowadays, several teams are trying to describe and recover this historical facility

Sustainable and Regenerative Development of Water Mills as an Example of Agricultural Technologies for Small Farms

Nowadays, the reuse of built agricultural/industrial heritage has been a common practice worldwide. These structures represent excellent symbols of the great agricultural/industrial past. These agricultural/hydro-technologies also serve as monuments of socio-cultural identities, especially in rural areas and on small farms. One example of a successful application of agricultural technologies for small farms is the water mill. By harnessing the water energy, they were used for traditional flour and other goods production (e.g., olive oil) and works requiring energy, with the main role in the evolution of the traditional/cultural landscape. Water mills have been used to drive a mechanical process of milling, hammering, and rolling and are a portion of the agricultural, cultural, and industrial heritage. For approximately two millennia, the vertical mill water wheel prepared the initial source of mechanical power in many regions of the world. Water mills were the first device that converted natural resources of energy into mechanical energy in order to operate some form of machinery. The preservation/management of water mills is challenging due to their long-term abandonment and the lack of information/knowledge about their value. The other obstacles that are faced in their retrofitting and/or preservation are the lack of sufficient economic incentives and complex authorizations/legislations. Sustainability and regeneration of water mills through the centuries are then reviewed for history and agricultural/industrial “archaeology”. The history of water-powered mills in prehistoric and historic times, including ancient Persia/Iran, ancient China, ancient India, the Islamic world, Venetian Crete, medieval Europe, America, and finally present times, is discussed. The outcome of this review allows the understanding of the importance of conservation, optimization, and development of water mills. It will help to know more and achieve sustainable/regenerative development for small farms with respect to water and energy crises at present and in the future

Sustainability of Underground Hydro-Technologies: From Ancient to Modern Times and toward the Future

An underground aqueduct is usually a canal built in the subsurface to transfer water from a starting point to a distant location. Systems of underground aqueducts have been applied by ancient civilizations to manage different aspects of water supply. This research reviews underground aqueducts from the prehistoric period to modern times to assess the potential of achieving sustainable development of water distribution in the sectors of agriculture and urban management, and provides valuable insights into various types of ancient underground systems and tunnels. The review illustrates how these old structures are a testament of ancient people’s ability to manage water resources using sustainable tools such as aqueducts, where the functionality works by using, besides gravity, only “natural” engineering tools like inverted siphons. The study sheds new light on human’s capability to collect and use water in the past. In addition, it critically analyzes numerous examples of ancient/historic/pre-industrial underground water supply systems that appear to have remained sustainable up until recent times. The sustainability of several underground structures is examined, correlated to their sound construction and regular maintenance. Moreover, several lessons can be learned from the analysis of ancient hydraulic works, particularly now, as many periodically hydrologic crises have occurred recently, overwhelmingly impacted by climate change and/or over-exploitation and degradation of available water resources

Prevenció del risc sanitari derivat de la reutilització d'aigües residuals depurades com a aigües de reg

Aigües residuals depurades; Salut ambiental; Risc sanitariAguas residuales depuradas; Salud ambiental; Riesgo sanitarioPurified waste water; Environmental health; Health riskLa publicació que ara es presenta s'ha editat en dos volums. En el primer es recullen els criteris sanitaris que cal tenir en compte per a qualsevol reutilització d'aigua residual depurada per a reg. El segon volum és una guia pràctica d'inspecció. Aquest treball va adreçat a tècnics que, pel seu exercici professional, poden tenir la necessitat de consultar l'ús d'aigua depurada per a reg. Esperem que els sigui una eina eficaç en el desenvolupament de la seva tasca diària