The RE2AQUA project demonstrates the efficiency of water treatment for water reuse in the industrial field

In the current context of climate change and the increase in water demand, water reuse has become an essential tool to ensure the sustainability of water resources. The RE2AQUA project is a strategic initiative that promotes the reuse of water in the agri-food industry, a sector with high consumption. This reuse not only contributes to a more efficient management of resources, but also helps to mitigate the environmental impact derived from the exploitation of natural sources, improving the resilience of industries to the effects of climate change.

The main objective of RE2AQUA is to promote the reuse of water in the agri-food industry through scientific and technical evidence, ensuring that the treated water is suitable for reuse depending on the quality and complying with current regulations.

Currently, the project is completing the phase of obtaining results, focused on the application of innovative technologies for the treatment of residual effluents. Advanced systems such as ultrafiltration, reverse osmosis, electrodialysis, ozonation and UV disinfection have been used, with the aim of eliminating compounds that may pose a risk to human, animal or environmental health, such as disinfection products, resistance genes, drugs and other substances defined by the Catalan Water Agency.

Each technology has been verified through three test campaigns, using physicochemical parameters (pH, temperature, conductivity, turbidity, hardness, levels of chemical contaminants) and microbiological parameters (intestinal nematodes, E. Coli, enterococci, legionella, salmonella). The tests have been carried out in four Catalan companies: bonÀrea, La Fageda, Torrent i Fills and Cooperativa de Falset, with the aim of obtaining treated water with a quality similar to drinking water according to the parameters of Royal Decree 3/2023. This water may be reused for the recharge of aquifers, for washing and cleaning of facilities and cooling systems, always respecting the applicable regulations.

The results obtained are very positive and demonstrate the potential of advanced treatment technologies to improve the quality of wastewater and promote its safe reuse. The systems tested have made it possible to completely eliminate pathogenic microorganisms and significantly reduce organic matter, turbidity and conductivity, obtaining water of very high quality. In addition, it has been found that these technologies are efficient even in initially heavily loaded effluents, achieving clean, transparent and solids-free final water, with levels that would allow its reuse in certain industrial processes.

These results show that water reuse is a real, viable and sustainable alternative to move towards a more efficient management of water resources in the agri-food industry.

The project RE2AQUA is part of the CAP Strategic Plan 2023-2027 and is co-financed by  the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, the European Union and the Generalitat de Catalunya. The CWP (coordinator), the BETA Technology Center, bonÀrea, La Fageda, Torrent i Fills and the Falset Cooperative participate.