Carriòn de los Céspedes, Seville (Spain)
Indice degli argomenti
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In the frame of the MENAWARA project, the Spanish intervention site is located at the AMAYA (Agencia de Medio Ambiente y Agua)´s Experimental Centre, in the small village of “Carrión de los Céspedes”, Southwest Spain in the province of Seville and at the near plot of olives trees, owned by local farmers.
Although it has traditionnaly being a rainfed crop, in recent decades, an increase of irrigated olive groves in the area, due to the intensification of the crop and the improvement of productive yealds thanks to water use, contributed to enhancing the economic value of the sector. In fact, the olive grove represents the most established crop in Andalusia (511,593 hectares occupied by irrigated olive groves), becoming the backbone of the socio-economic development in rural areas, with a strong positive impact on agricultural, industrial and distribution companies. At the environment level, the higher water demand (864 hm3 of water per year consumed by olive groves in Andalusia, 22% of the total demands in the region) has raised different problems such as the overexploitation of the aquifers. The use of treated wastewater constitutes a real and practical source of supply for the irrigation of the olive grove in Andalusia providing a local source of water.
The Experimental Centre of Carriòn de los Céspede, with more than 41,000 m2, is working as a Living-lab for the co-creation, experimentation and evaluation for wastewater treatment and reuse, with a particular focus on low-cost technologies in Operation & Management (O&M), as well as on so-called Nature based Solutions. This model of Living-lab has been successfully implemented in other countries like Costa Rica, Bolivia, Uruguay and Morocco. A user-centered, open innovation eco-system, operating in a territorial context, integrating concurrent research and innovation processes and involving the stakeholders of the quintuple helix.In this context, it was the ideal place for the implementation of the Spanish pilot.
👉The project aims at looking for technological solutions that allow reconciling the requirements of low cost and simplicity in the O&M, while guaranteeing safe water quality for public health and the environment and giving priority to aspects related to sustainable development and the circular economy.
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Aiming at improving the wastewater treatment processes according to the "fit for purpose" principle, the previously installed treatment train has been completed with additional or complementary treatment processes that could diminish the residual pollutant load to admissible values for the intended use. It was important to remove some pathogenic microorganisms that have survived the purification treatments (bacteria and parasitic-helminth) as well as reducing the level of suspended solids, and other pollutant species, to ensure the adequate sanitary and environmental quality of the water, according to established standards (EU Regulation 2020/741 on minimum requirements for water reuse).
The post-treatment train is then fed from the already existing treatment based on anaerobic primary treatment (Imhoff tank) and different kind of constructed wetlands (vertical and horizontal subsurface flow, free water surface flow and floating macrophytes) working as primary, secondary and tertiary treatments. The treated wastewater is diverted to an accumulation pond used for irrigation of olive groves by surface drip irrigation, where an ultrasound treatment is implemented for the microalgae and E. coli removal. The outlet of this pond is treated by the projected filtration unit- pressure sand filter followed by mesh filter.
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In the MENAWARA project, an innovative approach has been used for the Constructed Wetlands (CW) to:
- Increase outlet performances: by designing hybrid configurations (subsurface vertical with horizontal and vertical with surface);
- Ensure effective areas of the sub-surface vertical CW: by laying the feed pipes above the substrate to avoid burying them.
In synergie with another European project (LIFE INTEXT), two innovative wetlands have been used:
- Intermittent and aerated vertical-horizontal CW. The CW is innovative not only for its configuration and intensification of the process, but also because it works as a primary treatment, receiving pre-treated water;
- Floating macrophytes, with the possibility of operating with aeration and recirculation, with several aerated and non-aerated zones.
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The water quality along the irrigation network at the level plot according to the quality criteria established for Class C in the new EU Regulation on minimum requirements for water reuse (2020/741), has been carried out during one complete irrigation campaign.
The olive harvest has been completed, enabling the production of 9,000 Kg/ha. 18 rural women have been involved in the entire irrigation campaign and harvesting, contributing to the achievement of one of MENAWARA's main challenges: building women's resilience in rural agriculture by promoting the appropriate reuse of better quality treated water.
As women constitute an important agricultural labour force in the Mediterranean Basin, empowering them and boosting their skills is advantageous for families, rural communities and, more generally, for national agricultural and economic production.The farmer owning the olive grove was involved in the entire process, not only in the operation and maintenance of the plot but also in the operation of the reclaimed treatment, gaining skills on filtering system, pressure groups and so on.
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One of the mission of AMAYA's living lab is to enhance the capacity of stakeholders, including administration and decision-makers, companies, academia, farmers and society in general by providing technical visits covering topics such as the history of the Experimental Centre, sanitation, wastewater depuration, intensive and extensive technologies, and water reuse. MENAWARA technical innovations have been part of the program that, since 2019, has trained more than 700 participants.
Providing education and training on the use of Nature-based Solutions for wastewater re-use in agriculture is an essential step towards addressing water scarcity and promoting sustainable development in rural areas. By increasing awareness and knowledge about the importance of water and sustainable solutions, the project is contributing to the long-term viability of agriculture and the livelihoods of rural communities.
