In Tiñosillos (Ávila), the GestEAUr project has launched a pioneering biomimetic reverse osmosis system that removes more than 95% of nitrates and pesticides, ensuring high-quality drinking water with lower energy consumption.
The presence of nitrates and pesticides in water intended for human consumption is an increasing challenge for water resource management, especially in agricultural areas where the intensive use of fertilizers and phytosanitary products contributes to their higher concentration in aquifers.
In 2023, 257 Spanish municipalities detected nitrate levels in drinking water above the legal limit of 50 mg/l, leaving at least 220,000 people without access to potable water. This figure represents a 50% increase compared to the previous year.
The presence of pesticides in drinking water also poses a growing threat to public health. In Salamanca and Zamora, more than 160 villages were left without access to safe water in 2023 due to excessive pesticide levels. These cases reflect a widespread problem in agricultural areas, where the intensive use of agrochemicals compromises water quality and public health.
Although this is a global issue, the situation is particularly concerning in rural areas where water supply depends on wells and where regulation and monitoring can be limited. Unlike conventional technologies that solve each of these problems individually, the GestEAUr project promotes a new generation of reverse osmosis to address both challenges in a single process.
AQUALIA has developed and implemented in Tiñosillos (Ávila) a treatment system based on biomimetic reverse osmosis technology, with the aim of ensuring drinking water quality while minimizing energy consumption.
The results obtained within GestEAUr are promising, as the technology has proven effective in removing nitrates and pesticides, achieving removal rates above 95%. Key advantages include:
- Production of high-quality water and optimization of the osmosis process, including operation and maintenance strategies.
- Reduction of energy consumption by 10–20% compared to conventional market-leading membranes.
- Reduction in membrane acquisition costs, 14–23% lower than leading commercial membranes.
This activity within the GestEAUr project aims to ensure that rural populations can benefit from the advantages of this technology. In the coming months, this demonstration site will also incorporate a renewable photovoltaic energy system with storage as the power source for the treatment facility. In addition, the University of Castilla-La Mancha will install an innovative device for the on-site production of disinfectant agents powered by renewable energy.
The Tiñosillos initiative is part of the GestEAUr project, funded by the Interreg SUDOE programme of the European Union. The project is coordinated by the University of Salamanca, with the participation of AQUALIA Spain and Portugal, the University of Castilla-La Mancha, CNRS (France), Pays de Bern (France), the Ávila Provincial Council, CIM Alto Minho (Portugal), and Águas do Tejo Atlântico (Portugal). GestEAUr promotes sustainable and efficient water management in rural areas of Southwestern Europe (SUDOE – Spain, Portugal, and Southwest France) through innovation, collaboration, and solutions adapted to climate change.