From waste water to RichWater, an innovative technology for combining treatment and reuse in agriculture

RichWater
Type of organisation or company
Country
Spain
City
Malaga
Language for original content
Project elaborated in partnership
Yes
Submitted by
Bioazul
Start/End date
to
Ongoing
Yes
BIOAZUL - Pilar Zapata Aranda
Description

RichWater is a EU Horizon 2020 funded project which has provided an innovative technology for wastewater reuse in agricuture. An integrated approach combining treatment and irrigation in a single system enables taking maximum advantage of nutrients.

RichWater system consists in a low-cost and energy-efficient MBR (membrane bioreactor) to produce pathogen-free and nutrient rich irrigation water.

The treatment system is connected to:

  • the mixing module (for tailor-made mixing with freshwater and additional fertilizers)
  • the fertigation unit
  • a monitoring / control module including soil sensors to guarantee demand-driven and case sensitive fertigation.

By combining these modules, a complete and turn-key system for safe wastewater reuse in agriculture is available.

It is RichWater project ambition to develop an up-scaled commercial prototype (150 m³ treatment capacity /day) in South Spain to reuse local community wastewater for irrigation purposes.

The aim is to create a win-win situation between two sectors (the wastewater treatment and the agricultural sector) by turning public wastewater into a valuable end-product.

Main results
  • Production of 150 m3/day of treated wastewater (i.e. reclaimed water)
  • Low energy consumption (ca. 1.5 kwh/m3)
  • Irrigation of 3 target crops at experimental field: tomato, mango and avocado
  • Treated water suplying 50% of main macronutrients (N,P,K) to the target crops
  • Agronomic studies to compare irrigated crops irrigated with RichWater and conventional water
  • Cost benefit analysis and feasibility study
  • Market strategy

The project's outcomes are also visualised in the diagram below: