At CETIM, we are researching and developing innovative technologies for the regeneration of wastewater from the secondary treatment of the ‘El Toyo’ water treatment plant, in Almeria, adapting to current european regulations.

Pilot plant indoors developed at LIFE PHOENIX.

Global water scarcity has been increasing annually over the last decades, with more acute and long-lasting droughts becoming more common in affected areas, especially in southern European countries. In this context, obtaining new sources of high-quality, low-cost water is essential to meet the demand of different economic activities, such as agriculture.

To address the problems of scarcity and drought, water reuse is becoming increasingly common. The publication of Regulation (EU) 2020/741 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25th May 2020 concerning minimum requirements for water reuse in agriculture was an important milestone in the sector, but it also increased the demands on the quality of reclaimed water.

In the LIFE PHOENIX project, led by Aqualia and with the participation of CETIM, together with Aguas de Portugal, Confederación Hidrográfica del Guadalquivir, Diputación Provincial de Almería, Newland Entech Europe, University of Almería-CIESOL and Microlan BV, we are researching the regeneration of wastewater from the secondary treatment of WWTPs in order to adapt to current demands.

In conventional wastewater treatment, only the reduction of the pollutant load of the wastewater is considered in order to return the water to the natural environment. However, if we want to reuse this water, for example in agriculture, it is generally necessary to apply other technologies that increase the quality of the water and achieve the standards set by European regulations for the safe and sustainable reuse of water.

For this reason, in the LIFE PHOENIX project we are developing different solutions, applicable as tertiary treatment, to reduce the current cost of this process, achieve the required degree of disinfection, recover nutrients, create a decision support system and a sustainability tool, as well as minimise the negative effects on the environment and health by reducing ecotoxicity, emerging contaminants, antibiotic resistant bacteria, microplastics and carbon footprint.

CETIM research and innovation for LIFE PHOENIX

Firstly, at CETIM we have implemented a treatment train that combines the recovery of nutrients by adsorption and disinfection using UV-LED lamps. The latter have been designed and built by the Digital Industry area of CETIM in collaboration with the Water and Air Treatment line.

After the application of this treatment train, we evaluate that the water obtained complies with the European water reuse regulations. Similarly, at CETIM we are also monitoring the efficiency of the reduction of ecotoxicity, antibiotic-resistant bacteria and microplastics and carrying out the environmental, economic and social analysis of the technologies developed in the project.

First results

Currently, the solution implemented by CETIM is being validated at the ‘El Toyo’ WWTP in Almeria, and to date it has managed to reduce between 60% and 80% of the nitrogen and phosphorus present in the secondary effluent.

We are also implementing the disinfection process to achieve class A water quality, the main objective of the project. According to Regulation (EU) 2020/741, this is the most restrictive label, as the water obtained is the purest and could be reused in food crops that are consumed raw, but also in those where the edible part is in contact with reclaimed water.

Soon, our technologies will be validated at the ‘Fonte Quente’ WWTP (Portugal) to study different climatological characteristics and types of wastewater.