Water Reuse in Spain: Drivers and Barriers in Murcia and Almeria Region

Reclaimed water is a promising and attractive alternative water source that would be preferable for a wide range of activities and end usages, but it is not a common practice in the different Member States in Europe though it is widely extended in other areas in the world such as Israel or California. In this chapter, it is presented a summary of the status of the treated urban wastewater reuse in Europe as well as in Spain. In particular, the interest is in the comparison of two close areas from the Southeast of Spain (Murcia Region and the Province of Almería), both suffering the similar water scarcity and quality issues and with their economic activity highly based in agriculture (highly water demanding). The main objective is exploring the challenges and barriers responsible for the big difference in water management and water reclamation that can be found between both regions, even though they have similar surface, population, rainfall, and water needs. Technology commercially available to tackle the regeneration of wastewater is well-known and within reach of the administrations in both areas. Barriers coming from water governance, management models, and perception of farmers and society, among others, have driven to this situation. Drivers that manage to boost the interest and commitment of public administrations and related companies towards the regeneration of wastewater, are also analysed in this chapter. Finally, an update of the last decree-laws related to the new actions that will be carried out in the different wastewater treatment plants in the province of Almería to increase the percentage of regenerated wastewater, as well as some examples including the technologies implemented are shown.