Experts endorse the benefit of reclaimed water in the field

During the meeting they valued the importance of reclaimed water not only to guarantee the supply of agricultural irrigation given the current water uncertainty, but also to boost crop productivity and improve soil quality.

The presentation ceremony was attended by the Councilor for Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries of the Cabildo de Tenerife in office, Javier Parrilla; the vice-rector for Sustainability and Infrastructures of the ULL, Candela Díaz; and the president of the State Mercantile Society of Agrarian Infrastructures (SEIASA), Francisco Rodríguez Mulero. Also attended by the General Director of Land and Water Planning of the Government of the Canary IslandsVíctor Navarro, and the manager of Balten, Ana Sánchez Espadas.

The water crisis that the country is currently experiencing due to its geographical situation, aggravated by climate change, make these conferences an ideal space in which to publicize the research and innovation work that various groups of the ULL have developed in around wastewater treatment. The tenured professor of the Department of Chemical Engineering and Pharmaceutical Technology, Luisa Vera, advocated this effort since, as she pointed out, “every drop counts” in addition to the fact that Tenerife cannot afford to waste water resources.

For three decades. Minister Javier Parrilla recalled: “30 years have passed since the use of reclaimed water in Tenerife, a necessary alternative that already accounts for 55 percent of the overall supply for agriculture on the Island.” Parrilla added that “thanks to the development of technology, this resource allows us to offer a stable supply with magnificent quality.” The island manager stressed that “in Tenerife there are crops that need plenty of water, such as bananas or avocados, so regenerated water is a profitable solution that offers stability.” He stressed that “it is essential that producers know that agriculture on this island has a future.”

“An opportunity”. The vice-rector for Sustainability and Infrastructures of the University of La Laguna, Candela Díaz, assured that “these conferences represent an opportunity to share knowledge, perspectives and experiences focused on advancing integrated water management that promotes conservation, equity as premises and resilience”.

Marisa Tejedor. The workshops were attended by a dozen experts. Among them María Luisa Tejedor, professor of Edaphology and Agricultural Chemistry and ex-rector of the ULL. During her presentation, Tejedor, also head of the research group on Soil and Water Resources (RESUA) at the ULL, defended that “the development of Canary Islands, especially in arid zones, necessarily involves the use of reclaimed water.” He stressed: “Although we are talking about responsible use and with proper quality and handling.” He explained that “reclaimed water is subject to very strict regulations, both at the microbiological and physical-chemical level; it is essential that farmers know that it is good to use them because they help boost crop productivity.”

Water for recovery. He highlighted the presentation by Francisco Rodríguez Mulero on the use of non-conventional water for irrigation within the framework of the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan of the Government of Spain. He explained that “it represents the largest investment in history in irrigation modernization works that will allow the use of reclaimed water for irrigation.” In the case of the Canary Islands, Mulero recalled that he will receive “more than 65 million euros to carry out six actions to modernize their irrigation systems.” He highlighted the commitment of the Archipelago: “When we started talking about reuse on the peninsula, they had been doing it here for a long time.”

Reuse. The conference, a meeting point for agents of the insular public sector, companies and water professionals, also addressed the new European regulation for the reuse of reclaimed water and its impact on the Spanish legal system; the systems that make it possible in Tenerife and Murcia, or the next actions to be developed in this matter on the Island.

The history. The experience in the reuse of wastewater in Tenerife began in 1984. The first system to come into operation was that of Santa Cruz – Valle de San Lorenzo, which continues to be essential to guarantee irrigation to the south. Balten works to increase the number of pipes, as well as to improve their efficiency and sustainability.