LIFE REMAR Project, Treated Wastewater Renaturalization using Soil-Aquifer Treatment with Reactive Barriers
Please login to view abstract download link
The Spanish Mediterranean coast has faced a dramatic increase in water demand driven mainly by the rapid expansion of agriculture and tourism, leading to groundwater overexploitation and seawater intrusion. Climate change exacerbates this situation. The LIFE REMAR project (LIFE20 ENV/ES/000284) addresses this issue through Managed Aquifer Recharge (MAR), using treated wastewater from the Cambrils Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) to replenish the Plioquaternari Detrital Aquifer of Camp de Tarragona, mitigating aquifer depletion and improving water quality. The project employs Soil-Aquifer Treatment (SAT), incorporating reactive barriers in infiltration basins to enhance contaminant removal, including nitrogen, contaminants of emerging concern, microplastics, pathogens, and antibiotic resistance genes, among others. The pilot system consists of two 400 m² basins and is designed to recharge up to 400 m³/day of treated wastewater. Groundwater conditions and water quality are continuously monitored using piezometers equipped with Aquatroll-500 probes and CTD-Diver sensors, measuring electrical conductivity, pH, temperature and nitrate levels, among others. Periodic water sampling is also carried out. Results demonstrate a significant reduction in nitrogen and Escherichia coli concentrations as water infiltrates through the unsaturated zone and flows through the aquifer, highlighting the system's effectiveness in improving groundwater quality. LIFE REMAR provides a sustainable solution to groundwater overexploitation in coastal areas. By expanding water resources through a nature-based technology, it presents a replicable model for the Mediterranean and other water-stressed regions, contributing to water security, ecosystem resilience, and the advancement of sustainable aquifer management strategies. Acknowledgments The LIFE REMAR project (LIFE20 ENV/ES/000284) has received funds from the European Union.