Direct drinking reuse is put to the test as an innovative solution for the water resilience of the metropolitan territory

In a context of climate emergency and growing water deficit, the DECIDEIX project was born  with the aim of developing planning tools for the use of water reuse models in a safe way. Thus, in this project, the safety and feasibility of implementing a pilot based on Direct Potable Reuse (DPR) will be validated. This model consists of applying additional treatments to the treated water so that it is suitable for drinking use, without having to pass through rivers or aquifers. This is a practice that is already regulated or in the process of being regulated in territories such as California, Singapore, Australia, South Africa or Chile and is not yet contemplated in European legislation.

DECIDEIX is an innovation project, a pioneer in Europe, led by the Eurecat technology centre with the collaboration of Aigües de Barcelona, the Catalan Water Partnership (CWP), the Catalan Institute for Water Research (ICRA), the Polytechnic University of Catalonia (UPC) and Cetaqua.

Eurecat’s headquarters in Manresa hosted the launch meeting of the project, which is co-financed by the Catalan Water Agency (ACA) within the line of R+D+I subsidies dedicated to the circular economy and reuse.

Soon, the construction of the pilot at the Gavà wastewater treatment plant will begin, as well as the expansion of the Decision Support System (SAD) developed in the SUGEREIX project, funded by the ACA in the 2018 call for R+D+I grants, to include direct and indirect drinking uses and thus support Catalonia’s reuse strategies and the creation of a network of international experts from the world of reuse.

The metropolitan water deficit could reach 130 cubic hectometres by 2027 if urgent action is not taken. During the recent drought episode, the reclaimed water from the Baix Llobregat Water Regeneration Station was pushed upstream of the Llobregat River to a point where it was added to the flow of the river as safe drinking water for the Sant Joan Despí water treatment plant to capture downstream. This has been the first case in Europe of Indirect Drinking Reuse (RPI) and has become a viable and sustainable solution to guarantee the water resilience of the metropolitan area of Barcelona.

DECIDEIX, which will last 31 months, is a step forward compared to the previous experience of the SUGGEREIX project, carried out with the same partners. The initiative arose with the aim of facilitating access to information on reclaimed water resources in Catalonia and helping decision-making related to the treatment of reclaimed water. The conclusions of the pilot will provide scientific and methodological evidence to be able to assess, in the future, the regulation of direct drinking reuse at regional or state level, and will contribute to promoting the security and sustainability of water resources in the metropolitan territory.

Participation of representatives of the collaborating entities in the launch meeting of the DECIDEIX project at the Eurecat headquarters in Manresa.