The water treatment phase is a critical part of the integrated water management cycle, which aims to ensure that water is safe and suitable for human use. Treatment involves several processes to remove impurities, harmful substances and pollutants from water. It can be treated for different purposes, such as human consumption, industrial use, or crop irrigation.
The water treatment process may involve several stages, depending on the quality of the source water and the intended end use. Typical stages of water treatment include simple physical pre-treatments, physical-chemical treatments, refining treatments and disinfection.
Water treatment is essential to ensure that the water we consume or use for other purposes is safe and meets established water quality standards. It also helps protect the environment by reducing the amount of pollutants released into the atmosphere.
In this stage of the integral water cycle, Sando Agua carries out activities such as drinking water treatment (DWTP) and desalination (SWDP). The desalination process consists of removing salt and other dissolved minerals from salt or brackish water to obtain drinking water or water suitable for various uses. Due to the problem of freshwater scarcity in many places, this technique is becoming increasingly crucial in integrated water management.
This technique has several benefits, such as drinking water in areas with freshwater scarcity, reducing pressure on existing water resources, and improving food security in coastal areas. However, it also presents challenges, such as high energy demand, high investment and maintenance costs for desalination equipment, and environmental effects due to the return of water with higher salt concentrations to the environment.
The methods used by the company to desalinate water include:
- Distillation. It is based on the evaporation of water and subsequent condensation of the vapour on a cold surface. It is an energy-intensive method, mainly used in coastal areas with access to large amounts of energy.
- Reverse osmosis. It uses a semi-permeable membrane to separate salt and other minerals from water. The technique involves pressing water through the membrane, leaving dissolved contaminants behind.
- Electrodialysis. It uses a series of electrically charged membranes to separate dissolved ions from water. This method is rarely used today due to its high complexity and cost.
management of water treatment plants
Sando Agua has a staff specialising in various disciplines that participate in the different phases of projects related to the treatment phase of the integral water cycle.. Thus, it has professionals in the areas of: chemical engineering; civil engineering; biology; analytical chemistry; laboratory technicians; plant operation technicians; health and safety specialists; technology experts; and those responsible for the physical and logical security of the plants. Contracts include the construction and operation of the Campo de Dalías desalination plant in Almería and the Colmenar Viejo and Majadahonda DWTPs in Madrid, among others.
