Regional Conference on Advancing Non Conventional Water Resources Management in the Mediterranean, 14-15 September 2011, Athens, Greece

1. 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)

2. The irrigated area of the world increased dramatically during the
early and middleparts of the twentieth century, driven by rapid
population 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 20
percent of agricultural land, or about 300 million ha worldwide
Source: FAO WATER REPORTS 36

3. World net changes in major land use (million ha)
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 %
Source: FAO.2010.AQUASTAT database

4. It is necessary to increase water
availability

5. Availability: Water reuse and waste water
regeneration programs

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

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

8. Effects on human and animal health
Effects on the crops
Effects on soils (environment)

9. Factors to be considered in agricultural reuse of
regenerated urban waste waters:
- Water quality as content of patogens, solids and salts
- Crops
- Irrigation systems

10. 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)

11. Actors involving in water reuse:
- Consumers of domestic water
- Minicipalities
- Wastewater treatment agents
- Water regeneration agents
-(Irrigator communities)
- Final users

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

13. Population: 25.000 habitants
Regenerated waters: 1,46 hm3/año
Irrigated land associated: 292 ha
Dotation: 5.000 m3/ha
125 UF N/ha
230 UF P/ha
360 UF K/ha

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

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

17. Aproximation to water reuse in Spain
Hydrological basin Water available Water reused % reused
(hm3/a) (hm3/a)
CH NORTE 353,89 0,00 0,00
CH DUERO 170,18 0,00 0,00
CH TAJO 688,37 7,32 1,06
CH GUADIANA 103,57 3,63 3,51
CH GUADALQUIVIR 272,04 6,57 2,42
CH SEGURA 139,20 139,20 100,00
CH JÚCAR
JÚ 480,99 135,89 28,25
CH EBRO 259,18 14,18 5,59
GALICIA COSTA 84,42 0,00 0,00
ANDALUCÍA ATLÁNTICA
ANDALUCÍ ATLÁ 88,10 9,38 10,65
ANDALUCÍA MEDITARRÁNEA
ANDALUCÍ MEDITARRÁ 155,02 27,35 17,64
C. INTERNAS CATALUÑA
CATALUÑ 393,70 28,75 7,30
BALEARES 94,56 28,66 30,30
CANARIAS 91,91 44.43 48,34
TOTAL 3.375,16 447,34 13,25
Source: Ministery of Environment, Spain,
2008.

18. 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.

19. Region of Murcia: Distribution of residual water treatment plants
Source: Esamur, 2009

20. In the Region of Murcia are there 100 plants to depurate waste waters.
103,5 hm3/year

21. Availability: Water desalination

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

23. 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

25. Thanks