But do we really know how groundwater behaves?
Groundwater is found underground, in aquifers, geological formations of rocks and sands that contain significant amounts of water. Their role in ecosystems is fundamental since they feed springs, rivers, lakes and wetlands. Its main source of recharge is rain and snow that infiltrate the ground. In the driest areas of the planet, they can be the only source of water and although we cannot see them, we must pay attention and care to them.
Human activity, climate change, and population growth are impacts that pose a great challenge in the exploitation of these water resources, so it is urgent to act to accentuate their preservation, promoting a balance between withdrawals and the capacity for renewal and improvement of its ecological status.
Although groundwater has always been of enormous importance, its importance has not been fully recognized. We must protect groundwater from pollution and use it sustainably, trying to strike a balance between the needs of people and the planet. Groundwater plays a vital role in water and sanitation systems, agriculture, industry, ecosystems and climate change adaptation strategies, and this needs to be made clear in the formulation of sustainable development policies.
commitment to water
Aguas de Murcia’s commitment to the sustainable management of all water sources, including groundwater, is always carried out within a context of structural drought and climate change.
The climate change, whose consequences have intensified in recent years, we know directly affects water resources and in Murcia, one of the areas of Spain most exposed to water stress, they know it well. Talking about extreme risk is not an exaggeration.
The drought it is typical of our Mediterranean climate, but climate change aggravates episodes such as the one currently experienced by Spain in general and Murcia in particular.
The lack of rain intensifies the need for groundwater extraction, and counting with a diversified management of water resourcesthrough knowledge, technology and innovation, is essential to be able to guarantee the availability of water for the population, as well as for industry and agriculture -with an increasing demand due to population growth.
But the commitment is not minor as far as groundwater is concerned, and thus, Aguas de Murcia is committed to the advanced management of groundwater, based on the resource extraction optimizationand promoting aquifer rechargewhich allows to alleviate the pressure on water ecosystems.
speaking with facts
A large part of Europe’s aquifers are in poor condition due to a high concentration of nitrates, caused mainly by the use of fertilizers and phytosanitary products in agricultural and livestock activities that affect the quality of groundwater. In addition, the technologies currently used to reverse this situation usually have a great environmental impact, due to the energy consumed and the large amount of waste generated.
Aguas de Murcia wants to speak with facts, with facts based on knowledge and technology. Thus, the municipal company, in collaboration with Cetaqua and Aquatec, leads the LIFE Nirvana project, which throughout 2021 has completed the preparation of the pilot, located in the Zarandona aquifer, and started the first evaluations of an innovative solution to reduce, in a sustainable way, the concentration of nitrate in groundwater. This technology consists of the injection of iron nanoparticles that have the ability to enhance the transformation of nitrate into gaseous nitrogen, as well as convert pesticides into more biodegradable compounds.
The main advantages of the project will be to produce quality water on site, at a lower economic cost with a minimum environmental impact, since energy consumption is reduced and, therefore, CO2 emissions, but also no waste will be generated.
Key technologies to always ensure the sustainability of the resource over time.
// March 22, 2022 – World Water Day //
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