Grants for connecting the WWTP with the facilities of the Irrigator Communities.
Published on 16 May 2020
Spain
This is the good practice's implementation level. It can be national, regional or local.
About this good practice
Murcia Region has a deficit in water resources and the 1st measure of the offset of the under resourced for the crops is to increase the exploitation of the rest of the sources, for example, the groundwater (which is usually overexploited in areas with high demand) or desalination plants with a high energy consumption.
The practice is carried out in Irrigator Communities (IICC) with a water concession, but under-resourced, this way, with the addition of this water reclaimed the irrigation is steadier in the time and the depopulation is reduced because in rural municipalities, the agricultural activity is usually the base of their economy.
In the case of Murcia, almost the whole water resources are from the river Segura basin, which in turn, usually have more demands than theoretical water resources available. That is why, most of the users cannot cover their needs despite having an enough water concession.
In all those cases, the difference is offset with the indirect reusing, which means that the water is discharged into the river, and the agricultural activity takes an equivalent amount of the water treated in the WWTP, until it reaches the limit of the ecologic flow of the river.
The main reason for the measure is that the users cannot afford the necessary investment to connect the WWTPs to the IICC facilities.
This practice is addressed to the traditional irrigation, without a guarantee of supply, since the water reclaimed has a higher stability than other sources
The practice is carried out in Irrigator Communities (IICC) with a water concession, but under-resourced, this way, with the addition of this water reclaimed the irrigation is steadier in the time and the depopulation is reduced because in rural municipalities, the agricultural activity is usually the base of their economy.
In the case of Murcia, almost the whole water resources are from the river Segura basin, which in turn, usually have more demands than theoretical water resources available. That is why, most of the users cannot cover their needs despite having an enough water concession.
In all those cases, the difference is offset with the indirect reusing, which means that the water is discharged into the river, and the agricultural activity takes an equivalent amount of the water treated in the WWTP, until it reaches the limit of the ecologic flow of the river.
The main reason for the measure is that the users cannot afford the necessary investment to connect the WWTPs to the IICC facilities.
This practice is addressed to the traditional irrigation, without a guarantee of supply, since the water reclaimed has a higher stability than other sources
Resources needed
An administrative water concession.
WWTP with tertiary treatment (required for the most of the uses)
The cost depends on: profile, distance and flow. Our average cost: 1 €/m3 (during its lifetime, maintenance cost excluded).
Range 4 €/km (4 km, 100 m3/h & solar panels) - 0,5 €/m3 (2 km, 60 m3/h)
WWTP with tertiary treatment (required for the most of the uses)
The cost depends on: profile, distance and flow. Our average cost: 1 €/m3 (during its lifetime, maintenance cost excluded).
Range 4 €/km (4 km, 100 m3/h & solar panels) - 0,5 €/m3 (2 km, 60 m3/h)
Evidence of success
Increasing of the water resources.
Decreasing of the water discharges into the water bodies.
Rate of depopulation of rural areas lower than others regions.
Increasing of the agricultural activity in such areas.
Reduction of the pressure of the aquifers of the area of influence.
Reduction of the energy consumption in areas in which the alternative water source is the desalinization.
Need to improve the quality of the discharged from the WWTPs.
Decreasing of the water discharges into the water bodies.
Rate of depopulation of rural areas lower than others regions.
Increasing of the agricultural activity in such areas.
Reduction of the pressure of the aquifers of the area of influence.
Reduction of the energy consumption in areas in which the alternative water source is the desalinization.
Need to improve the quality of the discharged from the WWTPs.
Potential for learning or transfer
I think this practice can be applied in countries an region with the same problem of lack of water resources, and besides, could show the difficulties faced to come closer to the point of reuse to the WWTP.
Further information
Website
Good practice owner
You can contact the good practice owner below for more detailed information.
Organisation
Regional Government of Murcia
Spain
Región de Murcia
Contact
AGRICULTURAL ENGINEER