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Drinking water treatment

Drinking water treatment plant of Emasagra (Granada) Drinking water treatment plant of Emasagra (Granada)

Technology to ensure the water quality throughout the distribution phase

Highlighted Projects

Agbar is a specialist in the management of all the processes of the complete water cycle. As a result of this experience of more than 140 years, the company uses highly sophisticated water treatment techniques, ensuring the quality demanded by the health authorities of all the countries in which it operates, the European Union and the World Health Organization. 

Agbar is in charge of:

  • Planning, design and operation of drinking water treatment plants
  • Control of drinking water: health parameters, discharge alert systems, etc.
  • Contribution of water for industrial, leisure or agricultural uses

Agbar manages nearly 300 drinking water treatment plants in Spain, Chile, the United Kingdom, Colombia, Algeria and China.

Highlighted Projects

  • Vizcachas complex in Santiago de Chile (Chile)
    • Operated by AGBAR since 1999
    • Complex formed by 3 treatment plants 
    • Maximum capacity: 1.38 hm3/day
    • Water treated: 380.1 hm3/year
    • Energy consumption 2.47 Gwh /year >> 0.0065 kwh/m3
    • Sources: Surface River Maipo 100%

    Technologies

    • Conventional Water Line
    • Coagulation / Flocculation / Sedimentation
    • Sand and activated and non-activated carbon filtration
    • Final disinfection: Chlorine
    • Sludge line: Thickening / Centrifuging
  • Llobregat desalination plant (Barcelona, Spain)

     

    • €181M investment. Surface area: 51,000m2
    • Drinking water treatment 60 hm3/year (28% of Barcelona’s needs in 2008)
    • Pressure exchangers: 50% saving in energy consumption.
    • 16,800 reverse osmosis membranes. Pressure 70 bars on intake
    • Construction and improvement years: 2009 (Investment: €220M)
    • Operated by AGBAR since July-2009
    • Maximum capacity: 200,000 m3/day (60 hm3/year)
    • Energy consumption 180 Gwh /year >> 3 kwh/m3
    • Sources: Seawater >> 45% reverse osmosis water

    References

    • Catchment 2,200m from the coast at a depth of 31m
    • Pump suction capacity: 4,170 m3/h
    • Energy: 17% saving in energy consumed using 23
    • Pressure exchangers (ERI)
    • Sand filtration pre-treatment
    • Reverse Osmosis: pressure 71 kg/cm2, 16,100 membranes
    • Post-treatment

     

  • Aquifer management of Aigües de Barcelona

    20 wells in operation in Cornellà (Barcelona, Spain)

    Actions aimed at preserving the aquifer:

    • Protection of the quality and availability of ground water resources
      • On the surface: scarifying the bed of the River Llobregat using a tractor
      • At depth: infiltration of surplus water from the Sant Joan Despí drinking water treatment plant
    • 1.93 hm3 recharged at depth and on the surface
    • 40 years’ experience recharging the River Llobregat aquifer