Date: 14 January 2015
Place: Edificio Etopía, Avda. Ciudad de Soria, 8 - acceso por Avda. Autonomía, 7 y Calle Soria. Zaragoza.
Organization: IMDEA Water Institute, University of Alcalá, Consolider Tragua Network (TRAGUANET)
Contact for registration: eventos.agua@imdea.org

Studies regarding global risks in economic, geopolitical, technological or environmental aspects, like the one elaborated each year by the World Economic Forum, place a growing emphasis on environmental risks like climate change or the so called "water crisis". According to this report, both risks are among the top four in greatest probability and greatest impact. The global risk of "water crisis" is determined by very different factors, some related to climate change and all related to world population increase. Water is necessary for this growing population, and attention should be given to how the population is distributed. Half of humanity lives in cities, and within two decades, almost 60% of the world population (5 billion people) will live in urban areas. The explosive growth of urban population poses unprecedented challenges.

Keeping the depletion of conventional resources in mind, new water supply sources are desalination (with over 100% growth in the last decade), reuse (with close to 200% growth during the same period), and savings. Right now, 0.18% of water demand in the world is covered by reused water, and the possibilities of expansion are enormous. Although examples of reusing treated wastewater are growing (Namibia; Singapore, California, etc.) except for some social resistance, urban wastewater can have very different uses.

>> Side event. New sources: Wastewater reuse in the framework of sustainable management

The objectives of the side event are 1) To give a panoramic view of the possibilities that reuse has as a tool for water management; 2) Review the different usage options that regenerated water offers; and 3) Reflect on the possible barriers against reuse.

The side event will provide a global view of the possibilities for wastewater as a resource. During the seminar, different practical examples of reuse will be presented and other possibilities to recover contaminated substances (organic material, phosphorus, nitrogen) will be examined. Successful projects to reuse water will be set as practical examples in entertainment, industry, aquifer recharge, etc.

Agenda