Currently, 3.5 billion people around the world live in places where they do not have access to safe toilets. On the occasion of World Sanitation Day – which the UN celebrates on November 19 – and in a context of climate emergency, more efficient and resilient management of water resources and the digitalization of infrastructure are presented as solutions to current wastewater treatment needs.
Agbar positions himself in this direction. The leading Spanish water treatment company, part of the Veolia group, considers that investing in resilient infrastructure, adopting digitalization and implementing early warning systems are essential to protect lives, contribute to a fairer world and move towards greater sustainability of sanitation models.
Where are we?
When we talk about sanitation, we are talking about the techniques and systems involved in the treatment of wastewater. Adequate treatment is essential for the proper functioning of urban infrastructure, to guarantee public health and the development of society.
The current figures – these 3.5 billion people who live without adequate sanitation services – are moving society further away from achieving Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) number 6 by 2030, which requires Drinking water and sanitation for all.
If we add to this the threats caused by climate change, in the form of increasingly frequent and extreme episodes of rain or drought, which affect, among other things, urban infrastructure, it is not surprising that The UN calls for better management of sanitation to contribute to a healthier and more sustainable world.
In the case of Spain, Agbar highlights that, although urban water services are constantly improving, there is still a long way to go and highlights three key aspects. First of all, the collection and treatment of wastewater. Second, regeneration for later reuse; and, finally, an investment to renew this infrastructure stock and have more resilient systems, capable of coping with weather phenomena.
At this stage, the company highlights the continued deepening of public-private collaboration as a key element to achieve these objectives, which will allow it to progress towards complete coverage of the territory and thus comply with European regulations.
Efficiency, resilience and digital transformation
By developing new infrastructure resistant to current weather phenomena, Agbar emphasizes that it is not just a question of relying on more robust installations. It is necessary that they have the ability to adapt, function in adverse situations and have a high chance of recovery after going through these situations.
It is in this search for efficiency and resilience that the digitalization of sanitation management has a lot to say. Firstly, it can contribute to the early detection of incidents and events, which can result in the reduction of the most serious consequences.
Agbar is responsible for 23% of treated water in Spain and operates 650 treatment plants that treat approximately 950 cubic hectometers of water per year, which represents more than 315,000 Olympic swimming pools. This is also part of the circular economy, according to which the proper treatment of wastewater consists of releasing it into the environment in the best possible conditions and promoting its reuse. This helps guarantee the availability of water resources in the future, an essential aspect if we take into account the context of increasing water scarcity.
In his daily life, Agbar already integrates cutting-edge technologies, such as Artificial Intelligence (AI). Thanks to it, the company is able to manage, plan and control the sewerage and drainage network more effectively. And the ability to monitor assets in real time and the use of short-term prediction algorithms provide valuable information to optimize decision-making. What can this translate into? For example, by avoiding pollutant discharges into the environment or by reducing the impact of torrential rains.
A project already underway where we see what technology can do for the management of these infrastructures and resources are ecofactories, which are traditional processing plants transformed into digital resource factories. Among those operating in Spain, two are considered international references: Baix Llobregat, operated by Aigües de Barcelona; and the BioSur of Granada, managed by Emasagra.
Its importance is such that the UN considers this eco-factory model as a key element in the fight against climate change. And, in addition to wastewater treatment, they are also responsible for the regeneration and reuse of water for cities, agriculture and industry; transform waste into new resources; produce renewable energy to self-supply the plant and generate a positive impact on the environment by helping to preserve its biodiversity.
