Water is an element of nature that is essential for the survival of humans and the vast majority of organisms on the planet. 70% of the Earth is made up of water and 70% of our body is made up of this essential liquid that allows us to carry out our vital functions. For this reason, World Water Day is celebrated every March 22nd, promoted by the United Nations, with the aim of making society aware of the importance of fresh water, the global water crisis and the defence of sustainable management of resources.
The theme chosen for 2022 is “the importance of water“, which refers to a reality in which more than 2 million people do not have access to safe and quality water. The focus this time is on groundwater, such as aquifers, which are crucial for the proper functioning of ecosystems such as wetlands and rivers. It is necessary to demand the protection of these waters and their sustainable exploitation in order to meet the needs of the population and to try to reduce the negative effects of climate change.
Therefore, this day aims to make visible the need to seek measures that help to achieve SDG number 6, related to water and the promotion of transparent and democratic sanitation for all by 2030 with the objective of ensuring healthier lives and providing universal and equitable access to safe drinking water.
LIFE Ecodigestion 2.0 project and water efficiency
In this line, the LIFE Ecodigestion 2.0. project is committed to the circular economy model based on an automatic control system for the dosing of organic waste in anaerobic digesters of WWTPs, with the aim of maximizing the production of biogas, generating green energy. The process of the project’s system respects nature and maintains its balance, as sludge treatment is more efficient and sustainable. In addition, this dosing system makes the generation of sewage sludge more efficient, reducing the water pollution load and greenhouse gas emissions that can damage ecosystems and groundwater.
Thanks to the reuse of waste, a solution can be found to polluting problems such as excess pig slurry, whose nitrates and nitrites, if not managed properly, are often absorbed by the earth’s surface and end up polluting groundwater. Referring them to nearby treatment plants for proper treatment helps to respond to this environmental challenge, which has already forced livestock farms to close their businesses.
In this way, this project contributes to the promotion of several of the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations and the European Green Pact. These include water sanitation, climate action and care for the life of terrestrial ecosystems by obtaining non-polluting energy and creating green jobs, favouring sustainable economic growth and, therefore, supporting communities that are more committed to the environment in terms of energy. In short, climate action efforts are joined through transnational cooperation.
About LIFE Ecodigestion 2.0
The LIFE ECOdigestion 2.0 project presents a digital automatic control system for the dosing of organic waste in anaerobic digesters of WWTP (Waste Water Treatment Plant) to maximize the production of biogas on demand as renewable energy. This project has a budget of more than 970,000 euros. The pilot project, which has a duration of four years (2020-2024), is led by Global Omnium Medioambiente (Spain) and has as partners the Finnovaregio Foundation (Belgium) and Águas do Centro Litoral (Portugal). The production of biogas to cover energy demand and reduce the amount of waste in landfill contributes to compliance with the European Landfill Directive.