Non Conventional

Water Resources Management

in the Mediterranean

Athens 14-15.09.2011

Reuse of regenerated waters and

water desalination.

Brief reference to Spain

Juan Cánovas Cuenca

Department of Natural Resources.

Murcia Research Institute Agricultural

Development and Food.

(Murcia, Spain)

Water Mediterranean Institute (IME)

The irrigated area of the world increased dramatically during the early and middleparts of the twentieth century, driven by rapidpopulation growth and the resulting demand for food. Irrigation

provides approximately 40 percent of the world’s food,including most of its horticultural output, from an estimated 20percent of agricultural land, or about 300 million ha worldwide

Source: FAO WATER REPORTS 36

Tipe of agriculture Temporal periode

1961 2009 Net increase

Rainfed 1,229 1,226 - 0,2 %

Irrigated 139 301 117,00 %

Total cultivated land 1,368 1,527 12,00 %

World net changes in major land use (million ha)

Source: FAO.2010.AQUASTAT database

It is necessary to increase water

availability

Availability: Water reuse and waste water

regeneration programs

More than 10 % of world population consumes food irrigated with waste waters

Patogens in waste waters is one of the main questions affecting its reuse for agriculture

Effects on human and animal health

Effects on the crops

Effects on soils (environment)

Factors to be considered in agricultural reuse of regenerated urban waste waters:

- Water quality as content of patogens, solids and salts

- Crops

- Irrigation systems

Regenerated waters: Waste waters treated with conventional processes of depuration plus others treatments in order to adecuate its quality to final use(Spain, RD 1620/2007, art. 2,

def. c)

Actors involving in water reuse:

- Consumers of domestic water

- Minicipalities

-Wastewater treatment agents

-Water regeneration agents

-(Irrigator communities)

- Final users

Irrigation with regenerated waters of urban origin provides water and nutrients to the crops

Population: 25.000 habitantsRegenerated waters: 1,46 hm3/año

Irrigated land associated: 292 ha

Dotation: 5.000 m3/ha

125 UF N/ha230 UF P/ha360 UF K/ha

Regenerated waters can provide more than 50 % of nitrogen needs of the crops and 100 % of phosphorus

and potassium needs

Source: Water reuse system. Aquarec. Manual. UE. 2006.

Hydrological basinHydrological basin Water available Water available

(hm3/a)(hm3/a)Water reused Water reused

(hm3/a)(hm3/a)% reused% reused

CH NORTECH NORTE 353,89353,89 0,000,00 0,000,00

CH DUEROCH DUERO 170,18170,18 0,000,00 0,000,00

CH TAJOCH TAJO 688,37688,37 7,327,32 1,061,06

CH GUADIANACH GUADIANA 103,57103,57 3,633,63 3,513,51

CH GUADALQUIVIRCH GUADALQUIVIR 272,04272,04 6,576,57 2,422,42

CH SEGURACH SEGURA 139,20139,20 139,20139,20 100,00100,00

CH JCH JÚÚCAR CAR 480,99480,99 135,89135,89 28,2528,25

CH EBROCH EBRO 259,18259,18 14,1814,18 5,595,59

GALICIA COSTA GALICIA COSTA 84,4284,42 0,000,00 0,000,00

ANDALUCANDALUCÍÍA ATLA ATLÁÁNTICA NTICA 88,1088,10 9,389,38 10,6510,65

ANDALUCANDALUCÍÍA MEDITARRA MEDITARRÁÁNEA NEA 155,02155,02 27,3527,35 17,6417,64

C. INTERNAS CATALUC. INTERNAS CATALUÑÑAA 393,70393,70 28,7528,75 7,307,30

BALEARESBALEARES 94,5694,56 28,6628,66 30,3030,30

CANARIASCANARIAS 91,9191,91 44.4344.43 48,3448,34

TOTAL TOTAL 3.375,163.375,16 447,34447,34 13,2513,25

Source: Ministery of Environment, Spain,

2008.

Aproximation to water reuse in Spain

Since 2007, in Spain, water reuse is regulated by Royal Decree 620/2007

This norm order water rights around reclamed wastewaters and qualitative

limits for each use.

Region of Murcia: Distribution of residual water treatment plants

Source: Esamur, 2009

In the Region of Murcia are there 100 plants to depurate waste waters.

103,5 hm3/year

Availability: Water desalination

Estimed water desalination capacity: 2,703,280 m3/day. This means 0.88 % of the renewables resources of this country

Total water desalination capacity in Spain is applied as: 2,069,192 m3/day (76.54 %) to

municipalities; 34,463 m3/day (1.27 %) to power; 109,491 m3/day (4.05 %) to industry; 60,395

m3/day (2.23 %) to tourism; 422,578 m3/day (15.63 %) to irrigation; 500 m3/day (0.01 %) to military;

497 m3/day (0.01 %) to discharge; 400 m3/day (0,01 %) to demonstration

Thanks