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The LIFE ECOGRANULARWATER Project is a “Drinking water” project approved within the “Environment and Resource Efficiency” focus area of the 2016 Call of the LIFE Programme.

It aims to demonstrate the efficiency of technology based on biological methods for the removal of nitrates, phosphates, pesticides and other pollutants from groundwater supplies for human consumption. The project proposes a low-cost technology solution for municipalities affected by this environmental problem.

The project will be implemented by a partnership integrated by the University of Granada (Spain), Aalto University (Finland), Construcciones Otero Company (Spain), Gedar Company (Spain)), and the Provincial Council of Granada (Spain), which acts as partnership coordinator.

The proposed technology will be installed in the municipality of Torre Cardela (Granada province), where high levels of nitrate concentration have been detected in the groundwater supply. At current, a reverse osmosis system is being used in compliance with the RD 140/2003, which establishes the health criteria for the quality of water used for human consumption, as well as Drinking Water Directive 98/83/UE and Directive 2013/39/UE, (amending Directives 2000/60/UE, Water Framework Directive, and 2008/15/UE priority substances in water policy). The project will be developed between the 1st of September 2017 and the 30th of April 2021.

Water bodies pollution by nitrates and other pollutants are mainly caused by excessive or inadequate use of fertilizers and plant-protection products in agriculture. Between 2011 and 2015 two of the partners of this project (Granada University and Provincial Council of Granada), together with two local companies (Paisajes del Sur and Bonterra Ibérica) carried out the EUTROMED LIFE project. Among others actions, preventive measures aimed to the optimization of nitrogen fertilization by the farmers were developed. The objective was to avoid nitrate pollution in water bodies. In this way, the Provincial Council of Granada has been working through new projects supported by the Network of Municipalities from Granada Province towards sustainability. More info at www.eutromed.org

NEWS AND EVENTS

Installed the artificial wetland that allows a circular process in the purification of water.

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This is a small artificial wetland in which the water from the sand filter is treated.

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The LIFE ECOGRANULARWATER project presents its results at the Final Technical Workshop.

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On September 28th, the Provincial Council of Granada celebrated the Final Technical Workshop of the LIFE ECOGRANULARWATER project. Around 150 people attended the event, both in person and by videoconference.

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The Ecogranularwater plant reduces costs in the water service.

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It is possible to produce drinking water with a biological system at a lower cost than using reverse osmosis.

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Main lines of the Business Plan

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The business plan drawn up to commercialize the Ecogranularwater (EGW) technology has outlined the fundamental guidelines to be followed over a five-year time horizon, with the aim of ensuring the transfer and replicability of the project. The results have determined that it is viable from a technical, economic and financial point of view, allowing the generation of employment and obtaining an attractive profitability for the promoter company.

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The Ecogranularwater biological system has proven to have a lower carbon and environmental footprint than reverse osmosis.

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The carbon footprint of reverse osmosis is 2.5 times higher than that of the Ecogranularwater plant. The comparative environmental analysis has been developed through the Life Cycle Analysis methodology.

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Technical Seminar of the LIFE ALCHEMIA Project

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The Provincial Council of Almeria is one of the partners of this project. Date: 17th June 2021. On-line.

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