Eurecat leads the development of tools to systematize water reuse

The SUGGEREIX project aims to integrate the information related to water quality management in wastewater recycling processes and to generate new knowledge that will encourage the development of standardised reuse criteria.

A group of researchers, led by the Eurecat Technology Centre (Catalonia, Spain), will develop a set of new tools to facilitate the systematization of wastewater recycling and reuse, currently accounting for 5% of the wastewater treated in Catalonia, and guarantee its quality.

According to Xavier Martínez-Lladó, Director of the Water, Air and Soil Unit at Eurecat, the SUGGEREIX project “aims to integrate the information related to water quality management in wastewater recycling processes and generate new knowledge that will facilitate decision-making when planning, managing and maintaining these processes”.The R&D project, with a budget of 321,727 Euros financed by the Catalan Water Agency, “will help further strengthening the use of recycled water as a water supply source in Catalonia” adds Xavier Martínez-Lladó.

During the project, a database including key information on relevant reuse initiatives that have been carried out in Catalonia and internationally will be compiled. A Decision Support System will also be developed to recommend treatment systems and monitoring strategies for a variety of end uses, considering for instance their environmental and economic impact, as well as the most appropriate quality management strategies for each use. Besides, a practical guide will be prepared for its correct implementation.

The developed methodologies will be validated at three real-scale case study sites located in the Barcelona metropolitan area, in Tossa de Mar and Lloret de Mar, where different wastewater recycling schemes and water uses will be investigated

The project consortium involves the Eurecat Technology Center, the Catalan Institute for Water Research (ICRA), the Cetaqua Technology Center, the Catalan Water Partnership and the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC).

Author:
Xavi Martinez Llado
Director of the Water, Air and Soil Unit, Eurecat (Spain).