Turning towards recycled water…
Newsletter 1
The importance of water has been recognized even from the era of the first human
societies. Its absence or abundance could indicate the ideal spot for the establishment of
a permanent settlement. Today, an era of high complexity, sensitive interrelations and
rapid changes, water is perceived as an extremely valuable resource that affects social
welfare and stability, economic development and environmental functionality. Thus, any
water related issue can generate multiple negative effects.
Water scarcity due to droughts, insufficient or ineffective supply infrastructure, high
demand, degraded water properties, or even due to lack of access in freshwater, is one
of those issues that has emerged as one of the most pressing socio-ecological problems
of the 21st century. Extended research indicates that by 2025 more than half of the
nations worldwide will face water shortages. Furthermore, climate change related
scenarios estimate that those conditions might become even worse.
The European Union, in collaboration with institutions worldwide, is funding a number
of research projects to mitigate water scarcity impacts.
In that context, the COROADO Project aims to develop the methodology and the tools in
order to solve that pressing issue via the integrated application of water recycling and
reuse technologies at selected areas in Latin America. The development of water
resources in that area is, in many cases, far from being sustainable and that leaves the
continent vulnerable to future changes.
There is a general belief that water reuse and recycling practices are of vital importance
to countries all over the world, since those may:
(a) Increase the water resource available,
(b) Reduce eutrophication, and
(c) Reduce cost and lower energy demand (subject to application).
However, the problem may be that water reuse is one of the most misunderstood water
technologies, since the general public seems rather cautious in its use. Nevertheless, in
the recent years many successful water recycling projects have demonstrated the
feasibility of water reuse and recycling on a large scale.
In this context, the project’s objectives are listed as follows:
 Assessment of various water recycling and reuse technologies – based on the latest
scientific achievements cross-linked with local knowledge.
 Quantification of the actual benefits and costs of those technologies.
 Evaluation of their social acceptance – through public participation procedures.
 Provision of affordable, efficient and effective solutions for water supply in the
context of climate change and water scarcity mitigation.
 Combating the degradation in both quality and quantity of water systems and the
loss of associated ecosystem services.
 Incorporation of the recycling and reuse technologies in an integrated management
scheme.
The case study sites are:
I.
The Metropolitan Region of São Paulo, Brazil,
II.
The Copiapó River Basin, Chile,
III.
The Lower Rio Bravo/Rio Grande, Mexico and,
IV.
The Suquia Basin, Argentina
The case studies here presented are very distinctive in character, but may also share
some similarities. The proper identification of both its distinctions and similarities is of
key significance to provide orientation for future application.
For the objectives to be achieved, the collaboration between 13 Institutes and
Universities coming from 11 countries has emerged.
The project is expected to provide an integrated approach in mitigating water scarcity
impacts through the application of water recycling and reuse technologies at local and
regional scale. The effort may develop an understanding of the needed transitions of
governance and policy systems in order to mainstream the implementation of such
technologies.
The whole process will be facilitated by providing a continuous and appropriate set of
guidelines and manuals so that policy relevant standards may be applied by the endusers – ranging from scientific community to practitioners and other interested groups –
after the project completion without any further support.
The project’s results – methodology and tools – are expected to be applied to other areas
as well, which already face water scarcity or are likely to face it in the future.
PROJECT PARTNERS
Dept. of Natural Resources Development & Agricultural Engineering, Greece
Agricultural University of Athens
Stichting Dienst Landbouwkundig Onderzoek, Alterra
Netherlands
Agencia Estatal Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientificas
Spain
Dept. of Civil Engineering, Universidade do Porto
Portugal
School of Chemical Engineering, National Technical University of AthensGreece
Dept. of Hydraulic and Sanitary Engineering, Universidade De Sao PauloBrazil
Dept. of Hydraulic and Environmental Engineering, Pontificia
Chile
Universidad Catolica de Chile
T.C. Geomatic LTD
Cyprus
Soil and Environment, Norwegian Institute for Agricultural and
Norway
Environmental Research - Bioforsk
School of Life Sciences, Fachhochschule Nordwestschweiz
Switzerland
Tecnologia de Calidad SA DE CV
Mexico
Facultad de Sciencias Exactas Fisicas y Naturales, Universidad NacionalArgentina
de Cordoba
Sistemas Especializados Para Agua SA DE CV
Mexico
Title: Technologies for Water Recycling and Reuse in Latin American Context:
Assessment, Decision Tools and Implementable Strategies under an Uncertain Future
Instrument: FP7, Funding Scheme: Collaborating Project
Total Cost: 4,584,166.00 €
EC Contribution: 3,411,507.00 €
Project Coordinator: Agricultural University of Athens (AUA), Greece
Project Web Site: http://www.coroado-project.eu/