M A G A Z I N ENº 2 - AUTUMN 2013

AQUALOGY - Where water lives

THE NEW WELL-BEING

#Sustainable Development

OIL AN INDUSTRY

WORRIED ABOUT THE

ENVIRONMENT

COSENTINO STONE, ELEGANCE,

QUALITY WATER AND ZERO

WASTE

> JUAN VERDE “The future belongs

to companies that innovate”

su

sta

ina

ble

de

ve

lop

me

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INTEGRATED WATERSOLUTIONS FOR SUSTAINABLEDEVELOPMENT

AQUA 33

EDITORIAL

In this edition we share refl ections and revelations by professionals, visionaries and gurus connected with water, revealing the keys to continue making a determined eff ort to build a better world. Juan Verde, a distinguished international consultant in the fi eld of economics and sustainability, highlights the importance of innovation in meeting the great challenges of the years to come, especially access to water and its proper management via the development and application of technology and knowledge. Ciril Rozman, Director General of Aqualogy in America, tells us about a project which is fascinating but also complex: accelerating the introduction of Aqualogy’s innovative solutions in new locations to meet growing demand. Sector by sector, company by company, Aqualogy, the global brand for integrated water solutions for sustainable development, pursues excellence in providing value and develops made-to-measure solutions for its customers. Cosentino, a manufacturer of quartz and natural stone surfaces, has been provided with high quality water and has reduced waste almost to zero. In the oil sector, Aqualogy has created the fi rst experimental plant using electrochemical techniques for waste treatment. And, for the detection of leaks from pipes, we see how eff ective the iDROLOC

system is, as used in various countries and under a range of diff erent conditions. We are using this edition for an in-depth examination of a fundamental concept: sustainable development. Although the expression was coined some years ago, its importance is now being widely recognised, with an emphasis on the urgent need for development which balances social, economic and environmental concerns, taking a long-term approach to these issues. New expressions, such as water footprint, zero waste and the circular economy, are becoming part of our everyday lives. Starting from the premise that sustainable development is desirable for everyone, the question we ask is: can we use our knowledge of water to enhance our commitment to balanced development? And, going further: can good practice and tools be shared so that our neighbours embrace sustainable development with the same force, commitment and energy to which we ourselves aspire? The answer is a resounding “yes”, as our support for sustainable development cannot be in isolation. We can fi nd inspiring examples of commitment in the dedication of the Vicente Ferrer Foundation, which, together with the Aqualogy team, has organised a project for irrigation in India, and Josefi na Maestu, who heads the UNO offi ce for the Water Decade.

Objective: sustainable growth

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6. 10 NEWS FLASHESUpdated news from Spain, United Kingdom, Chile, Algeria and Mo-rocco; food sector operations and the Storytelling Project.The quarter in 10 fl ashes.

10. A STORY IN FIGURESWe present the water footprint, a new concept which indicates the number of litres of water used to produce the things we consume every day.

11. SPOTLIGHT ONAn advisor to heads of state such as Barack Obama and Bill Clinton, he is an interna-tional consultant and expert on environmental and sustainable development issues. Juan Verde is a twenty-fi rst century guru.

18. VIP INTERVIEW CIRIL ROZMANWe discuss Aqualogy’s goals and how its global presence can be consolidated with the Director General for America.

28. HOW IT WORKSThe iDROLOC system allows us to detect leaks in a pipe system by injecting helium.

13. SOLUTIONSSUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT The well-being of future generations depends on one fundamental factor: ensuring that humanity continues to have access to natural resources. Achieving this without reducing levels of develop-ment and wealth is the great chal-lenge posed by sustainable growth.

CONTENTS

PUBLISHER: AQUALOGY Chairman of the Editorial Board: Angel Simón. General Coordination of the Editorial Board: Juan Antonio Guijarro. Editorial Board: Narciso Berberana, Manuel Cermerón, José Guerra, José María Paredes, Ciril Rozman, Pedro Vega. Director: José Guerra. Coordination: Josep M. Deu. Copy: Robert Lozano, Sandra Llobell. Linguistic assessment: Sandra Rubio, Richard Pike.Also participating in this edition: Aquae Foundation, Ferran Martí.www.aqualogy.net

EDITOR: LA FACTORÍ@ Prisa Revistas. Valentín Beato, 48. 28037 Madrid. Tel. 915 38 61 04. Director: Virginia Lavín. Sub-director: Javier Olivares. Head of Art Department: Andrés Vázquez. Design: José Antonio Gutiérrez. Coordination and copy: Rodolfo Chisleanschi. Head of photography: Paola Pérez. Art: Rodríguez y Cano. Collaborators: Beatriz Valdeón, Jano Remesal. Production: Asip. Printing: Monterreina. Legal deposit: M-7540-2013.

Cover Illustration: Rodriguez y Cano

AUTUMN2013

AQUA 55

34. THE IMAGEA small treatment plant, hid-den from the public, ensures that the water in the hippo-potamus pool at Barcelona Zoo is always clean.

36. PLANET SOSMangoes, coconuts and guavas grow in India’s second driest area in a joint project with the Vicente Ferrer Foundation.

38. VIEWPOINTJosefi na Maestu, United Nations Programme Coordinator.

30. CASE RESOLVEDCLEAN QUALITY FOR COSENTINOGrupo Cosentino’s brand new Dekton plant in Almería, is sup-plied with water of extremely high quality, which is reused in its production processes. Two treatment plants built by Aqualogy make this possible.

22. OUR CLIENTSOIL: A CLEAN FUTURE Aqualogy’s electro-chemical solutions are geared to improv-ing the relationship between oil refi neries and the environment.

AQUA6

1 Gold medal in Barcelona’s swimming poolsAQUALOGY COLLABORATED IN THE RECENTWORLD SWIMMING CHAMPIONSHIPS

Aqualogy was involved in the World Swimming Championships held in Barce-lona this summer. The integrated water solutions for sustainable development brand has been working alongside the organisers on managing the two new swimming pools (training and competition) built in Palau Sant Jordi, as well as the diving pool and the Picornell pools, where the water polo tournaments were played. The pools, which vary in size and capacity, ranging from 3,900 m3 in the competition pool (50 x 20 metres x 3 metres depth) to 2,250 m3 in the training pool, proved to be perfectly capable of responding to the size and demands of such a major event.

AQUA 77

10 NEWS FLASHES

Information on the beach all year round

Essential in summer, but useful right through the year, the smartphone application iBeach has grown dramatically since its pre-summer makeover this year. Now available in 11 municipal areas along the Spanish coast that subscribe to the COWAMA (Coastal Water Management) system, iBeach

provides updated information, with 3-day forecasts at 3-hour intervals. This enables users to get details of weather conditions, sea conditions (temperature, fl ag colour, jellyfi sh sightings, etc.), beach services and even shops in the surrounding area. Plus they can also book a table in a local restaurant.

2

iDROLOC, the robot

with no limits3

4

From the United States to Morocco and Algeria, the iDROLOC system robot travels the world in search of leaks and faults by injecting helium. Its latest assignments took it to Pagosa Springs, Colorado, where it checked 480 kilometres of pipeline; to Casablanca, over 4 kilometres, and in Oran, where it is checking the city’s entire network.

ICE PIGGING MAKES PROGRESS ON CLEANING NETWORKS IN THE UNITED STATES

Ice Pigging, the Aqualogy technology solution for removing sediments by pumping semi-solid ice through supply networks, is spreading fast across various parts of the United States. The latest con-tracts were signed in New Hampshire and Massa-chusetts, but Sequoia National Park (California) and the municipal areas of Arlington (Texas), Brecken-ridge (Michigan) and Longview (Washington) are already benefi ting from the huge advantages of this cleaning method.

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Aqualogy puts the world of water onto the big screen Water, its management, its future... The threats facing it and the solutions that will enable it to continue supporting life on our planet are at the heart of Transmedia Storytelling, an origi-nal project set up by Aqualogy and featuring a series of seven short fi lms.The launch event for AQ, the fi rst fi lm in the series, was held in February this year and you can watch the teaser on www.aqualogypeople.com. The project will be using a range of chan-nels to get its message across, including viral videos, social networks, motion comics, web gamifi cation, alternative reality gaming, work-shops and the like. In fact, by any means that serve to emphasise the importance of water and the commitment, talent and knowledge needed to manage it well.

Thermal sludge drying arrives in Great Britain

The Bradford wastewater treatment plant managed by Yorkshire Water, one of the UK’s leading water and wastewater operators, is to have the first thermal sludge drying equip-ment to be installed in this country. Aqualogy will be designing, supply-ing and installing its STC system, the company’s own low tempera-

ture thermal drying technology, enabling a tonne of treatment plant sludge to be handled every hour. In this case, a container-size mono-block unit will be used, which will simplify assembly and commission-ing processes. STC equipment is already up and running in Ireland.

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6

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10 NEWS FLASHES

The 3rd International Water Sustainability Summit, one of the most high-profi le events on the calendar for this issue, was held recently in Chile. Aqualogy was there to present its wide range of technology solutions for hydrogeological modelling, artifi cial aquifer recharge, and, most importantly, its irrigation system automation and operating equipment.

LATEST ADVANCES IN THE IRRIGATION FIELD

THE ANGLO-SAXON WORLD SPEAKS THE LANGUAGE OF EFFICIENCY. BOTH THE UK AND THE USAare increasingly opting for SYSTEMSDELIVERING TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS

Aqualogy is providing technical assis-tance and advice for getting the high-est performance out of wastewater treatment facilities at the two bottling plants owned by drinks sector company Colebega in Alicante and Valencia. Aqualogy will be providing the know-how and the technology needed to improve wastewater treatment capac-ity at these two plants, plus advice on how to optimise management costs while complying with environmental standards.

Tailor-made solutions for

the drinks sector8

Aqualogy will be responsible for operating and maintaining waste-water treatment facilities at a food processing plant owned by Grupo Coren in Santa Cruz de Arrabaldo (Orense) for a three-year period. Both companies are focusing their efforts on the professional man-agement of facilities and processes to achieve optimum performance while keeping operating costs to a minimum.

Pioneering responses for the food industry

9

10

7

Aqualogy Knowledge reinforces its commitment to mobile learn-ing and 2.0 education by designing an application for tablets giving an overview of energy effi ciency in the water sector. The new app, which is free and can be downloaded from the Apple Store (and available soon from Android Market), describes the key issues, their priority on the global agenda and their importance for the urban water cycle. And all in 20 minutes.

2.0 Learning

10 AQUA

AQUALOGY. Integrated water solutions for sustainable development

WATER FOOTPRINTCONSUMPTION WE DON’T SEE

It’s hard to believe it but...

And this is not so much, if you think that a single tomato contains

180 litres; and a 300-gramme steak another

4,500.

a cup of coffee can contain up to

140 litres of water.

THIS ISN’T MAGIC, IT’S

WATER FOOTPRINTThe concept is relatively new (it dates from 2002) AND INDICATES THE TOTAL VOLUME OF FRESH WATER USED TO PROVIDE EACH ITEM OR SERVICE CONSUMED BY AN INDIVIDUAL OR A

COMMUNITY. FOR EXAMPLE:

BUT THESE CALCULATIONS DON’T JUST AFFECT WHAT WE EAT AND DRINK

Clothes also have an impact on water reserves.

Measuring this “liquid trail” is very complex and depends on many variables, one being the place where the item is produced. However, if we calculate an average, we can see that in the period 1996-2005 the world’s water footprint was

1,385,000 litres,

more or less half the capacity

of an Olympic swimming pool

If we multiply this by a population of 7 billion people,

HOW MANY OLYMPIC SWIMMING POOLS DOES

THAT GIVE US?

A man’s shirt made from synthetic fi bre accounts for

1,000 litres;a cotton T-shirt, 1,200;

a woman’s woollen skirt suit, 4,000.

1,385 M3/PERSON/YEAR

OF COURSE, the average varies from country to country and levels of development make a signifi cant difference.

This does not mean that each country is responsible for all of its footprint. According to their levels of trade, some are larger

“INVOLUNTARY IMPORTERS” than others. In China, barely 7% of the footprint comes from abroad. In Japan the fi gure is 65% and in Spain 42.9%.HOWEVER,

THE WATER FOOTPRINT IS HERE TO STAY AND ITS SIZE DEPENDS ON ALL OF US.

+

-

EQUIVALENT TO

A STORY IN FIGURES

1,500LITRES

70LITRES

120LITRES

50LITRES

200LITRES

half a

kilo of

cheese

ach

icken

’seg

g

a glass of winea kilo of sugar

an applean

orange

2,500LITRES

HIGH CONSUMPTION

LOW CONSUMPTION

m3 /p

erso

n/ye

ar

3,775MON

GOLIA

3,468BOLIVIA

1,414FINLAN

D

2,461 SPAIN

1,071CHINA

AQUA 1111

“A modern, developed society is a society which is economically and ecologically sustainable”. These are the words of a man who knows what he’s talking about. He has worked as an advisor to President Barack Obama on issues concerning sus-tainability, the international economy and the Hispanic community. He is President of the Biosphere Founda-tion and has worked with Al Gore on the Project to Combat Climate Change. Full details of his CV would fi ll several pages but above all he is passionately concerned about these issues and communicates his conviction that something is changing on a world scale in every word and every gesture.”Looking to the future, I’m delighted to see that increasing numbers of businesses are realising that using technology to be more energy efficient can lead to a 40% or 50% reduction in power and water con-sumption. This will make them more competitive and, at the end of the day, generate bigger profi ts. But it’s also ethical, as they will profit while contributing directly to making the world a better place,” says Juan Verde (Telde, Gran Canaria, 1971). He speaks with astonishing clarity and does not use euphemisms to express what he thinks. For example, he says that “a sustainable economy is one which is managed with future genera-tions in mind, not just short-term results

or shareholders’ returns. It has to do with the ability to generate wealth over time, making it possible for our children and our children’s children to make money too.” Juan Verde has been living in the United States since he was 15 and, for him, water is one of the most important of the wide range of topics he has dealt with. “Few things have such a great direct impact on our quality of life and the model for our economy. Agriculture, industry, people, health and many other things depend on it. So I fi nd it incredi-ble that people don’t understand

that it’s a resource we should all be concerned about!” And, of course, he argues for the responsible use of water: “We need to apply technology and proper management so that it is consumed reasonably and to ensure that we have water in 15, 20, 100 or 200 years.” The same line of reason-ing governs his view on energy con-sumption: “Nobody is suggesting that people should not consume. I don’t think we need to change the model or the philosophy of our economy but we need a very diff erent approach to the use of resources. Are we going

Juan Verde

“FOR US TO HAVE WATER IN 200 YEARS’ TIME WE NEED TO APPLY TECHNOLOGY AND GOOD MANAGEMENT”

> A 21ST CENTURY GURU From the ranks of the Democrat Party, Juan Verde has taken part in several US election campaigns.

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AND THE NEW ECONOMY ANALYSED BY AN EXPERT WHO KNOWS NO FRONTIERS

SPOTLIGHT ON

INTERNATIONAL CONSULTANT

@ L

UIS

SEV

ILLA

NO

AQUA12

SPOTLIGHT ON

to go on consuming fossil fuels that pollute the environment, prioritising short-term profi ts, even if we destroy the planet? Might it not be better to promote renewableenergy and energy effi ciency?” And, although he knows how difficult it would be to bring about this change, he also knows the root of the pro-blem: “We need political leadership to break the vicious circle of thinking

that resources are unlimited, when they definitely aren’t!” Juan Verdeexpresses his conviction in every-thing he says and backs up his state-ments with arguments. He provides data to support the use of cleanenergy: “Look at electric cars. They are now faster and more reliable than cars with combustion engines.People still believe that a more sustain-able world involves going back to our parents’ time and losing the advantages we have today. This is not the case.Sustainability means consuming the same or more, but doing it better and more responsibly; it means greater well-being and a better quality of life, with a smaller carbon footprint and a smaller water footprint. For this expert in the international growth of companies, population growth, climate change and water are the great challenges of the 21st century. “Since 1945, in a single generation, the world’s population has

quadrupled. But economic indices, GDP and per capita income have also risen. There are more and more of us, we earn more money and, as a result, we want to consume more. To this we have to add climate change, which is now fully accepted by the scientific com-munity, and the scarcity of water. Find-ing solutions to these issues will be absolutely essential and companies that provide technology and innovation to tackle them will be the world’s next Google, Apple or Facebook”.This includes companies that offer solutions for the delays in developing water infrastructures and provide energy and management skills in his adoptive country: “The experts anticipate a de-cade of great investment in these areas in the United States. It’s a fantastic moment for companies like Aqualogy, which have a lot to contribute.” The words of Juan Verde, a thinker of our time.

“COMPANIES THAT PROVIDE INNOVATION TO TACKLE THE GREAT CHALLENGES OF THE 21ST CENTURY WILL BE THE NEXT GOOGLE, APPLE OR FACEBOOK”

> A RESPECTED VOICE Barack Obama is one of the US leaders who has placed his trust in Juan Verde’s vision and expertise regarding sustainability and relations with Europe. To the left, Juan Verde, with Juan Antonio Guijarro and Narciso Berberana, Directors of Aqualogy, during a visit to the Agbar Tower.

AQUA 1313

THE NEWWELL-BEING

CHANGE IS ON THE WAY. TO ENSURE LEVELS OF WELL-BEING, HUMANITY MUST MODIFY ITS HABITS OF PRODUCTION AND ITS RELATIONSHIP WITH THE ENVIRONMENT AND THE WORLD IN WHICH IT LIVES. THE CHALLENGE IS SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AND THE

PROPOSAL IS TO CHANGE AN ECONOMY WHICH IS LINEAR INTO ONE WHICH IS CIRCULAR. IT IS A COMMITMENT TO FUTURE GENERATIONS BUT ALSO AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THOSE

COMPANIES THAT SUPPORT THE IDEA TO GROW.

WW LL B

SOLUCIONES

NHHH

Sustainable Development

ILLUSTRATION: RODRIGUEZ Y CANO

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The ancient Greeks had two ways of measuring time, and two gods responsible for controlling them. On the one hand, Chronos, the best known and the most tyranni-cal. Linear and implacable, his time advanced in a straight line, and there was no way of stopping it. On the other hand, there was Kairos, a circular time, with no exact duration, a perpetual present, an opportune moment with no limitations.This relationship between circular and linear, transient and permanent, has marked the development of human-ity. Kairos has inspired reflection and philosophy, even a closer approach to God, by whatever name and in what-ever form. Chronos advances uncon-trollably, devouring the present and obliging us to think about the future. One reflects a cycle of events and milestones with no clear beginning or end; the other points to an eternity which never really arrives.

TECHNOLOGY AND CHANGEAs humanity developed over the centuries it maintained this dual-ity in a sense. Lacking methods to transform elements much beyond their original forms and uses, life was in tune with the delicate bal-ance between the production of goods to make it more comfortable and an approach to natural resour-ces that was of necessity rational and responsible. For many centuries water, soil, flora, fauna and climate cycles were not subjected to exces-sive pressure or attempts to force their domestication. The vital pulse

of the planet was led by Chronos, towards the horizon, while human-ity also followed the laws of Kairos, looking after day-to-day events.Unti l the Industrial Revolution changed the rules of the game in the eighteenth century. Technology was born and, moving at an ever-increasing rate, men took over the territory previously belonging to the elements. Levels of well-being rose, the population increased, people lived longer and more comfortably. As in the Olympic ideal we strove to go higher and further and be strong-er. But, without realising it, we altered the balance known to the ancient Greeks. From an economic perspec-tive the circular was losing ground and we became linear: we produced, sold, bought, consumed and pro-duced waste. From the point of view of time, we focused on the present and lost sight of the distance. Thanks to this model, we have arrived where we are today, enjoying levels of well-being which were unthinkable for an inhabitant of the middle ages, but

“Meeting the needs of the

present without

compromis-ing the

ability of future

generations to meet

their own needs”

THE SD CONCEPTIN A SINGLE SENTENCE

ECONOMIC

ENVIRON-MENTAL

SD

SOCIAL

EquitableViable

Des

irabl

e

SOLUTIONS

AQUA 1515

between social and economic growth and the use of natural resources. It also emphasised the need to think of future generations and their right to go on growing and make use of those resources.

WATER, A KEY ELEMENTInitially, and for many years, the con-cept seemed exclusively concerned with taking a different approach to environmental issues. Indeed, even today, a great majority of the popu-lation understand sustainable devel-opment as a sub-division of ecology, yet another initiative within a pack-age intended to protect nature in the broadest sense of the word.However, in the quarter century since the expression was first used, sustain-able development has evolved and become something much bigger and more complex. Because it also encompasses the economic and so-cial factors governing human life. It is not merely a matter of preserving eco-systems and using the water (no one doubts that water is the key

with all the alarm bells ringing. Be-cause resources are becoming scarce, every aspect of the environment is suffering the effects of human pres-sure and we are having an undeniable influence on climate change. A new approach has become indispensable; if homo sapiens is to be perpetuated, a new line has to be taken. “Today one must assume a com-mitment to guaranteeing the viabil-ity of a business by ensuring that its decision-making processes include social, environmental, ethical and la-bour considerations, beyond strictly economic factors”, according to An-gel Simón, Chairman of Aqualogy, to explain his company’s support for sustainable development, a concept which is steadily becoming less ab-stract and more definite.It is not, of course, a new discovery. It is not even a twenty-first century phenomenon. In 1987 the Bruntland Report, presented by the UN World Commission on Environment and De-velopment, stated the need to re-es-tablish the balance in the relationship

R&D&I FOR A BETTER

WORLD

BIOCELLAssessment of the technical, economic and environmental viability of using batteries charged by biogas in sewage treatment plants. Two pilot plants have been built, in Murcia and Catalonia.www.life-biocell.eu

AQUAENVECThe aim is to increase

relationship between the environmental impact and the cost) of the urban water

cases being studied. www.life-aquaenvec.eu

AQUAVALENSThe objective is to improve methods to detect pathogens in drinking water and in water used in the food industry, to protect public health. aquavalens.org/

CORFUA space to share knowledge, with a view to improving

in urban areas. www.corfu7.eu/

AWAREA project designed to deal with the problems of wastewater. www.life-aware.eu

AQUA16

SOLUTIONS

element for any kind of development proposed) and energy resources available to us more effi ciently, but to ensure that they are used to allow in-creasing numbers of people on Earth to live more comfortably so that eco-nomic development can continue and generate profits that will bring about this new, diff erent and better distributed well-being.

A BETTER DISTRIBUTION OF WEALTHThe challenge is to make the whole of society (institutions, businesses, indi-viduals) aware that the convergence of ecological prudence, economic viability and people’s aspirations is not only possible but guarantees the future. And for this examples are needed. As far as the environment is concerned, we only need to look at nature to find an example. In na-ture nothing is wasted, everything is recycled and reused. There is no waste or pollution. We only need to copy it and look for production sys-tems with zero waste, recovering the water and residues they generate to treat them and use them again, either in the same production cycle or for some other purpose (cleaning, en-ergy production, fertiliser, etc.). In the social sphere, the Green Economy

Initiative, drawn up in 2008 by the United Nations Environment Pro-gramme, possibly puts forward the best arguments. Defi ning the sustain-able economy as an economy “whose growth in income and employment is driven by public and private invest-ments that reduce carbon emissions and pollution, enhance energy and resource effi ciency, and prevent the loss of biodiversity and ecosystem services”, the initiative states, with conclusive data, that millions of jobs could be created by investing barely 2% of world GDP (about €150 bn) in the development of sustainable practices. In the part of the developed world that is suffering the effects of the economic recession, this would be a vital step in changing the vicious cir-cle of recession into a virtuous circle of growth, as the reduction in unem-ployment would reduce the burden for national economies and stimulate consumption. And in the planet’s less developed areas it would also be easy to ap-preciate the eff ects of this changed paradigm. Universal access to safe drinking water and proper water treatment services would reduce the cost of diseases caused by con-taminated water and the time people

FIGURES CALLING FOR CHANGE

IN 20 YEARS DEMAND FOR WATER WILL

BE 40% HIGHER

THAN SUPPLY.2.6

BILLION PEOPLE IN THE

WORLD DO NOT HAVE ACCESS TO SANITATION.15-35%

OF THE AGRI-CULTURAL

IRRIGATION IN THE WORLD IS CONSIDERED

UNSUSTAIN-ABLE

1717

spent obtaining water. And this would allow people to make better use of their time, especially women, who are usually responsible for such tasks in areas where water is still a luxury.And in the economy? This is perhaps where the greatest challenge lies. Changing the business culture from linear to circular, from brown to green, from short to long-term involves raising awareness that sustainability and the creation of wealth are com-patible and even complementary. But the ideas of the Circular Economy, developed and promoted by the El-len McArthur Foundation, also mean innovating, applying and passing on knowledge, and a commitment to the community where the business is located. They encompass all sectors, both agricultural and industrial, and all areas, both rural and urban.

A COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGEIn this sense Aqualogy is a pioneer: “Our philosophy and our activity are based on sustainable development as a strategy to deal with today’s economy and the challenges of the future”, says Angel Simón. The Company’s support for this approach can be seen in each of the products and services it off ers, and in its own buildings and processes. They range from the treatment of sea water in the mining industry to the use of ol-factometry in environmental impact studies of emissions from an aromatic product factory and another making

A NEW MODEL

dairy products and include the en-vironmental monitoring of water in harbours and the regenerated water supply used for irrigation on golf courses. And this is only a small se-lection of examples. Above all, it is a matter of turning sus-tainable development into an added value, a part of the business. “The challenge is to make this concept part of the brand’s portfolio of solu-tions and services to make it one of the company’s distinguishing features. Aqualogy contributes to the sustain-able development of its industrial cus-tomers”, stresses Narciso Berberana, Director General of the Company. It is clear that, as more companies establish sustainable production mechanisms, there are gains for us all, because of the ethical and social values this implies. And there are benefi ts for the compa-nies themselves, because the reduction in their carbon and water footprints and their respect for the environment and common resources are a compe-titive advantage which is increasingly valuable in the global market. The aim, in short, is none other than to reconcile ourselves with the old Greek gods. Incorporating effi ciency and the optimum use of resources into the circular movement of Kairos. And tak-ing a long view for lasting success, as dictated by Chronos. Because this is good for the economy, the environ-ment and society. Because it is the only way to light our path and ensure our future welfare.

AQUA

LINEAR ECONOMY

Water and food

INPUT WASTE

Energy and fuel

Manufactured goods

Wood, fi llers, metal and

plastic

Waste water

Atmospheric emissions

Waste from tools and packaging

Solid waste

CIRCULAR ECONOMY

Sustainable water and

food

INPUT WASTE

Renewable energy

Sustainable services and

productsWood and fi llers

made with sustainable fi bre

Recycling of nutrients

Very low or zero emissionsReuse and recycling

Fertiliser and biogas systems

CONSUMER/USER

Materials re-enter

manufacturing process

Recycling

Maintenance

Process to be eliminated or

minimised

Reuse/redistribution

Extraction of biochemical raw

materials

Biological nutrients

Biosphere

Fertilisers/biogas

Agriculture,hunting and

fi shing

BIOLOGICAL CYCLE

INDUSTRIALCYCLE

Water and energy resources

Miscellaneous services

Waste in landfi ll sites

The above diagram shows how the circular economy works. Below,

we compare it with the existing linear economy.

Manufacturing

AQUA18

I s A q u a l o g y ’s c o m m i t m e n t t o g l o b a l i s a -t ion and growth a response to the cr is is in Spain and in Europe in general? In our case, this is clearly not a reactive strategy to the crisis.We know better than anyone in the sector that our know-how is exportable. Consequently, we now oper-ate in 15 countries across four continents. We were also amongst the fi rst to focus on Research and Develop-ment in order to strengthen our industrial base, while others were growing on the back of the boom. Aqualogy today is not just a response to current circumstances, but a real global company, providing integrated water solutions that bring the most advanced technology and management techniques to a wide range of companies, and one which has grown signifi cantly in all the markets and regions where it operates. Our organisation’s com-mitted, critical and realistic approach has always enabled us to keep ahead of the competition, and we must make sure that this remains the case.

Why did Aqualogy choose to target the American market? As in the rest of the world, demand for wa-ter is growing in the Americas, as is pressure on the environment. Better water management is therefore

CIRIL ROZMAN, DIRECTOR GENERAL FOR AMERICA, AQUALOGY’S FASTEST-GROWING INTERNATIONAL AREA, TALKS ABOUT THE CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES OF GLOBALISATION.

“Aqualogy’s expansion into the United States establishes our position as a sector leader”

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VIP INTERVIEW

@ K

END

RICK

BRI

NSO

N /

GET

TY IM

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just as necessary here. For example, in Latin America, the region where cities are growing fastest and where over 80% of the population live in cities, the problems associated with water supplies and managing the urban water cycle are growing. The United States is also facing chal-lenges as a result of shortages of resources, ageing infrastructures and stricter environmental require-ments. There are also new prob-lems appearing, such as the treat-ment of water associated with the developing natural gas extraction industry using “fracking” technol-ogy. Aqualogy has the skills to be part of the solution to these and many other challenges.

What opportunities are there for Aqualogy in the manage-ment of the urban water cycle? The governments of countr ies such as Mexico, Brazil and Peru are currently announcing large-scale infrastructure investment plans, mainly in response to intense and growing demand from society for improved living standards. Our commercial cycle solutions allow operating companies to relate to customers with greater transpar-ency while optimising their cash flows, enabling them to finance new investments. Meanwhile, our effective asset management tools make it possible to extend the use-ful life of those assets and manage them in a more sustainable and efficient manner. In these times of often empty rhetoric, our commit-ment to sustainability means build-ing practical technology into pro-cesses on a large scale in order to rationalise the use of inputs such as energy and water. Our tools work on an industrial scale in our municipal customers’ water supply systems, delivering water to mil-lions of people every day.

”IN THE LAST YEAR WE HAVE EXPANDED IN EVERY REGION. OUR NEXT CHALLENGE IS TO EXPAND EVEN MORE RAPIDLY, TO GROW EVEN FASTER”

ETHICAL COMMITMENT“We have an ethical commitment to future generations. And that commitment drives us, I would almost say obliges us, to invest in sustainable development. For

example, in the reuse of water, which has become a fundamental concept in ensuring the balance that must exist between the resour-ces available and the use we make of them.”

TECHNOLOGY AND COMMON SENSE“Today and in the future it is fundamental to develop a more intelligent management of all our resources,

whether water, energy or economic resources. To achieve this we need to apply not only the best technology but also common sense. In other words, we need to combine improvements in quality with competitiveness.”

NETWORKS“In Aqualogy’s business model it is essential to share knowledge and manage it e ciently. Both inside and

outside the company we work in a network, in a process of constant innovation whose aim is to meet the challenges posed by our custo-mers and fi nd e ective solutions.”

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FOOD FOR THOUGHT

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CIRIL ROZMAN Born in Barcelona in 1965. He holds a degree in Law and a Master’s in Business Administration and

Management. EXPERIENCEHe joined the

Company in 1995 and, a er overseeing its expansion in Latin

America, has been General Manager of Finance, Business

in Andalusia, Aguas de Barcelona and

Concessions in Spain. CURRENT POSITION In June 2013 he was appointed Director

General for America

BIOPIC

VIP INTERVIEW

focusing our eff orts on targeting large local operators, incursions into the urban water cycle in Colombia, and advances in the mining industry in Peru and Chile. As I already said, our business has been greatly strength-ened during this year. This is not down to luck, it is thanks to the recruitment of top class professionals in all these regions, who have done a magnifi cent job. Our next challenge is to expand even more rapidly, we have to be able to exceed our forecasts and grow fast-er. I believe we can do this.

the automobile industry and chemi-cals, i.e. any industry where water is a factor in their competitiveness.

What achievements stand out in the last year? What are the challenges for the future? Our key achievements in the last year are the signifi cant ad-vances we have made in every region. These include the successful roll-out of our services in the United States, the great interest shown by the Mexican oil industry in our products, successes in the Brazilian market, where we are

This interview is taking place in Atlanta, Aqualogy headquarters in the United States. How much does Aqualogy work with private cus-tomers in America? We know from experience that our solutions are ideal for fl ourishing industries. Economies in the Americas are doing well, with advantages that include young pop-ulations, a wealth of natural resources and political stability. The challenge for us in this market is, therefore, to expand even further. There is clear scope for growth in mining, oil, paper,

> THE AMERICAN DREAMThe Director General for America, in Aqualogy’s offi ce in Atlanta.

AQUA22

OIL WITH NO STAINS ON ITS CONSCIENCEWATER AND PETROLEUM GO HAND IN HAND FROM THE EXTRACTION OF CRUDE OIL THROUGH TO THE MANY CHANGES IT UNDERGOES TO MAKE A RANGE OF BY-PRODUCTS. THE FUTURE LIES IN TURNING THIS RELATIONSHIP INTO AN ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY PARTNERSHIP.

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OUR CLIENTS

The reasons that lead a couple to take the step of getting married are varied. In most cases they are driven by love, but there are also marriages that make business sense, or that are arranged by the parents, marriages of convenience and so on. In this case, it might be risky to try to define exactly why petroleum is managing to get on so well with water, to the extent that it has formed an almost marital bond. But, what-ever the reason, it’s good news. Two facts mark the start of this story: the first is that, of every 10 litres of crude oil obtained from deep within the Earth, about 7 l itres are of “produced water”, in other words, contaminated. The second is that in the phase of refining this “original” oil, a medi-um-sized refinery uses an average of 80 million cubic metres of water a year, the equivalent of filling 32,000

AQUA24

Olympic-sized swimming pools. And, as always, a pressing need has been a huge obstacle to this couple having a balanced rela-tionship: this water, also known as “congenital”, needs to be dumped in rivers, seas or dried up wells once the production process is complete, and to do this it requires carefu l pur i f icat ion t reatment beforehand. This task has proved to be a real headache for oil com-panies up to a few years ago; but in recent times, electrochemical wastewater treatment techniques, which have provided Aqualogy with a route into this industry sec-tor, have turned the problem into a much faster and, above all, a much cleaner procedure. To continue the love affair analogy, it could be said that its creation was the first romantic date between black gold waste products and the water con-taining them.

However, as is the case with many couples, the early days of their relationship have not been smooth

sailing, as these techniques, despite being novel and innovative, need adjustments and improvements. The responses put forward by the market to resolve the issue did not take into account that plant and animal life along each coastline is different, as is environmental leg-islation in each country. Over time it became increasingly clear that, in the same way as we don’t wash white and coloured laundry with the same detergent, and we don’t use the same wash programme for silk as for cotton, every batch of congenital water needs special care. And every area of ocean needs to be preserved using a dif-ferent technique.

THE FUNDAMENTAL STEPBased on these certainties, Aqualogy set up the first Electrochemical Techniques Experimental Plant with the idea of obtaining the optimum design parameters for real facilities that have to treat large volumes of water. This is certainly a fundamen-tal step forward for the future of the

EACH MILLION TONNESOF REFINED CRUDE OIL GENERATES 0.5-1 MILLION

tonnes of wastewater and between 10 AND 2,000 TONNESOF SOLID WASTE. REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS ALONE PRODUCE 3.5 TO5 M3

OF WASTEWATER FOR EVERY TONNE.

> ESSENTIAL MODERNISATIONLike any other mar-ket, the fuel energy market undergoes a process of con-stant change and renewal. Updating water treatment systems is part of that process.

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OUR CLIENTS

AQUALOGY

JOSÉ LUIS BRAÑA DOMÍNGUEZDirector of the Mexico Private Market and the Oil and Petrochemical Sector

What is the greatest challenge facing you at the moment?Obtaining recognition of our technology from the Mexican Institute of Petroleum and being approved as Technology Provider to the petroleum sector in Mexico. And all this while we are trying to expand into other geographical areas. Colombia, Brazil and Peru are oil-producing countries, as is the southern United States, markets in which Aqualogy o ers specifi c solutions. In the meantime, we continue to assess projects on the Iberian Peninsula for large operating companies such as Repsol, Cepsa, BP and Galp.

What future plans are opening up in the oil sector?We’re in the middle of a process of expansion, at the pre-cise moment of publicising our high value strategy. Our idea is to target individuals who are key to the operation of oil refineries in a series of countries and show them the benefits and competitive advantages of non-conven-tional procedures such as the ones we implement. We want to demonstrate that our know-how provides highly effective solutions for their day-to-day operations.

Does the future of oil lie in being more environmentally friendly?Undoubtedly. Oil companies are seen as being invasive and having a huge impact on the environment, but then so are all industries that work with natural resources... Attitudes and approaches in this sector have come along in leaps and bounds, and today they are the companies experiencing the most signifi cant and consistent development to address these issues. They improve by not only applying new tech-niques, but also by changing their refi ning process and even adapting various crude oil recipes. All this has enabled the industry to produce new types of e uent, which is where Aqualogy comes in to provide solutions.IL

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water/petroleum partnership. The key lies in studying the exact cir-cumstances of the facilities already managed by the client. It also lies in asking in each case what is needed to ensure that producing the energy that drives most of our daily lives does not damage the environment it comes from. The aim is to make sure that electrochemical wastewa-ter treatment techniques act on a specifi c problem, follow a concrete process and provide a tailor-made solution in each case, for each par-

ticular situation, according to the geography of the place, the type of company, type of facility and the aim of the treatment. By doing this, reducing the various contaminants and thereby complying with cur-rent regulations and respecting the environment becomes an achiev-able goal at last. To sum up, agree-ing a time for taking the rubbish out is essential to avoid upsetting the neighbours. In our experience so far, the treat-ment of congenita l water and

its drainage out to sea bear the Aqualogy hallmark thanks to two pi lot treatment schemes. One of them consists of treating only contaminated water received in the terminal from different types of crude oil. The other, more com-plex one, works with the effluent that flows into the marine diffuser sump, which is a bit like a waste tank that collects the material from workshops, drainage from contain-ers, rainwater and all sorts of other threats to the environment.

AQUA 2727

OUR CLIENTS

PLANNING ANDEXECUTIONBut, of course, the Electrochemical Techniques Experimental Plant doesn’t only deal with assessing the problems facing the industry, it also puts the solutions in place. It’s all about adding execution to planning and studying. This aspect, putting an action plan in place and making it happen, means that Aqualogy’s role in the oil industry, which is also a pio-neer in contracting out activities that are not part of its core business, is dif-ferent and original. This is certainly true in its dealings with congenital water, but also in the areas of Refi ning and Gas, for prior treatment of par-ticular liquid effl uents resulting from the processes involved in improving petrol and other by-products; plus in water used for refrigeration and boiler feed systems, which needs to be treated before it can be used.Of course, th is is the point at which the relationship between an oil company and a provider of integrated water solutions finds common ground and embarks upon a happy marriage, a relation-ship as essential as the one that has existed between water and oil from time immemorial.

IN THE EU, REFINERIES COVER 42% of energy demand and provide 95% of the fuel required for transport. ONE DRUM OF CRUDE OIL yields 21% OF PETROL, 22% OF DIESEL, 8% OF KEROSENE, 48% OF HEAVY PRODUCTS and between 1 and 3% of liquid gas

> A BRIGHTER FUTUREA refi nery stands outlined against the sky at dusk. Banishing the shadow of contam-ination from the skyline is one of the great challenges currently facing the oil industry.

AQUA28

The way we think about the elements depends on our age. What makes a child happy (and possibly sad shortly afterwards) may simply be intriguing for an adult. At least, until a practical application is found for that element. Take the case of helium. Children are only aware of its existence when some-one buys them a balloon filled with a gas that is lighter than air. At first, the child is delighted when the balloon doesn’t fall to the ground but keeps pulling up towards the sky. Afterwards, unfortunately, there are usually tears, when the balloon escapes, flies away and disappears.A curious adult, on the other hand, looks for ways to use helium, taking advantage of its ability to float in the atmosphere. And these efforts have borne fruit in industry, science, research and many other areas. One of the latest applications to be discovered is related to the detection of leaks and malfunc-tions in water pipes. The iDROLOC system, designed by Aqualogy techni-cians, exploits some of the properties of this innocuous gas to analyse the state of any type of pipe, without negative effects on the water or on users, and without needing large-scale technical operations. It uses an ingenious robot that can work continuously, taking sam-ples every three metres to detect even the smallest leak. A robot that every child would love!

iDROLOCTHE INFALLIBLE DETECTIVEUSING HELIUM, A ROBOT DETECTS EVEN

THE SMALLEST LEAK IN A PIPE

COMPONENTS

AQUALOGY

ALBERTO JIMÉNEZProduct Manager

What makes iDROLOC an exceptional system?The change in the method for detecting leaks. iDROLOC takes advantage of the properties of helium, a noble gas, instead of using the physical properties of sound propagation.

Why helium and not another gas?Because it can be used without interrupting the supply, it doesn’t alter the taste or colour of water, and its release continues for 5 or 6 days. Hydrogen, for example, has to be mixed with nitrogen, it is released in 24 hours, and can only be used in empty pipes.

How do passers-by react when they see the robot at work?They’re very curious and ask us what we’re doing, especially when we work in small towns.IL

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Specially designed and made of stainless steel, it ensures that helium is correctly dissolved in water.

Includes an automatic drill to drill through the ground, air extraction suckers and an

automatically controlled advance system.

Measures the concentration of helium (it can also be programmed for the use of hydrogen as a tracer gas) and indicates its presence with audible and visual alarms.

Consists of a vacuum

an air/liquid separator to prepare the sample. It also includes a vacuum switch, which tells the user whether there is a vacuum.

This can run continuously for over 8 hours. Low noise and vibration levels.

AQUA 2929

HOW IT WORKS

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INJECTIONLiquid helium is injected upstream of the section to be inspected. The injection system calculates the amount of gas needed, depending on the water volume and pressure. The helium is absorbed by the water, which transports it at a uniform concentration

pipes without causing contamination. The smell and taste of the water are not affected at all.

1

ASPIRATIONThe detector robot automatically drills a hole in the area selected and a series of suction cups extract air from the sub-soil. The gas analyser examines this air, looking for the presence of helium. It is released naturally from the water as a gas and rises because it is light, making it easy to detect in the subsoil. As the concentration of helium in the atmosphere is stable, any increase indicates an anomaly. If there is a leak, the helium will be released from the water which soaks through the soil. It will then be detected by iDROLOC, which will pinpoint the problem area.

2

ADVANTAGES

It is not affected by interference from sounds or vibrations, which can impede the detection of leaks using traditional acoustic systems.Pipelines can remain in operation while it is working and there is no need to modify water volumes or pressure. It also functions in pipes which are not in use.Leaks can be detected in pipes of any size and material, from large pipes, where conventional acoustic methods cannot be applied, to individual mains connection pipes.The equipment can be used by a single operator. It can work at a rate of 1 km of piping/operator/day.It has no effect on public health or on the quality of water.The helium is retained in the soil

and analysis and detection can be carried out at any time in this period.The inspection and analysis equipment is fully portable.

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AQUA30

Almería: efficiency flourishes in the desert

AQUA 3131

CASE RESOLVED

VERY HIGH QUALITY WATER AND MINIMAL WASTE AT COSENTINO’S NEW DEKTON PLANT

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27MUNICIPALITIES LIE IN THE COUNTYWHEREGRUPOCOSENTINOHAS ITS HEADQUARTERS.THE RIVER ALMANZORAPROVIDES WATERfor a population of 150,000

The plane comes in over the blue Mediterranean and starts to fly over a brown landscape where the splashes of green are thinly scattered and there are clear signs that rain is a rare event. The traveller, familiar with the region’s climate, is not surprised, aware that the south-eastern corner of the Iberian Peninsula is almost an extension of the desert lands cover-ing large areas to the south of the Mediterranean. But something else catches their eye. Down there, de-spite the dryness and apparently arid landscape, crops and industrial sites can be seen. The impressive size of some of the plants makes one won-der how they achieve this, where the water which is indispensable to set up any production process comes from.

WATER, A BASIC RESOURCE The plane’s information screen shows that the area we can see belongs to the province of Almería, whose climate is characterised by rainfall of barely 300 mm a year. Yet there is water there, even if it’s diffi cult to see it. It is found in some small rivers and, especially, under the ground in pools and aqui-fers which meet the needs of industry and the public. Even so, the people of Almería are more aware than anyone of the need to treat water carefully. Grupo Cosentino, a world leader in the manufacture of quartz and natural stone surfaces for building and deco-ration, has its headquarters in Canto-ria, in the north of the province. And its managers are only too well aware of the limitations that arise when access to water is restricted. It is not surpris-ing, therefore, that they have always emphasised the importance of car-ing for it: “All the plants in the Group have the best technology, although each one has its own characteristics, in line with its need for water treatment. You won’t fi nd one that’s the same as another, each one has to be the best for its own case,” says María Dolores

Fernández Martos, the Company’s Production Engineer.This long-lasting concern has been highlighted in Cosentino’s latest plant, responsible for making Dek-ton, a new ultra-compact surface which has just appeared on the market. “The launch of this prod-uct”, explains Ms Fernández Martos, “is the result of an investment of € 128 m illion and 22,000 hours of re-

search and development. It involves using the best raw materials and technology as well as maintaining our principles of sustainability and environmental responsibility.”It was precisely here that the chal-lenge had to be met: as an essential basic resource for the manufacturing process, the water had to be of the highest quality, far better than the wa-ter that is naturally available from the

AQUA 3333

CASE RESOLVED

as lowering alkalinity and hardness, the system reduces levels of calcium, iron, manganese and sulphates, to meet the requirements of Dekton, a very delicate product. After sev-eral separation stages, the amount that has to be managed as waste is brought down to about 1.25-1.50 m3.

SMALLER WATER FOOTPRINT But the mechanism would not be complete without the second treat-ment unit. “Zero waste” is a basic principle for Cosentino,” engineer Fernández Martos reminds us. For this reason, the Water Reuse Line processes a volume of up to 100 m3

a day, eliminating up to 98% of the solid residues left by operations such as enamelling, grinding, stone spray-ing, and the preparation of colours for ultra-compact surfaces. From the plane, travellers cannot appreci-ate how much technology there is in the large brown area they see below them but the Almanzora aquifer with its limited water resources and the Cantoria region are very grateful to it. As are Dekton users, who will be us-ing a product whose water footprint will be significantly reduced, thanks to an intelligent, integrated solution, which enables effi ciency to fl ourish, even in the middle of the desert.

> KEEPING AN EYE ON QUALITYConstant monitoring

of all stages in the wa-ter treatment process guarantees its quality. Above, a general view

of the 70,000 m2 Dekton factory.

A CHALLENGE IN NUMBERS

TECHNOLOGICAL WATER LINE

Volume of water treated daily

420 m3

Volume per hour

18.5-19 m3

Volume entering production process

14-14.5 m3/hour

Volume of wastewater

10% of input

WATER REUSE LINE

Volume of water treated daily

100 m3

Elimination of solid sediment

98%Volume collected

in reuse tank

300 m3 /day

underground layers of the Almanzora basin, which supplies the area of Can-toria. Moreover, most of the 420 m3/day needed to produce Dekton had to be reused, with a view to moving towards “zero waste” and in order to minimise the amount of water drawn externally and ensure the survival of the aquifer in the long term. Although the north of the province is the least dry area of Almería, it was clear that the solution would not fall from the heavens, but would necessarily be the outcome of expertise. After studying the case, Aqualogy proposed the construction of two treatment plants, which now form part of the Dekton complex. One is for technological water and its purpose is to improve the quality of water before it enters the production process. The other is for water reuse, returning the water for a new production cycle as well as helping to minimise the fi nal volume of sludge and residue.The complex system of micro- and nano-filters, membranes and la-mella filters which constitutes the Technological Water Line allows the Company to make a substantial qualitative improvement to the water extracted from the reservoir that sup-plies the factory. Every hour 18.5-19 m3 of water enter the system. As well

AQUA34

A natural water supplyfor the Zoo’s hippos

Sink, float, wallow in the mud until you’re covered in it, sink again... A hippo’s life in the Zoo follows more or less the same pattern every day, which can pose a problem for its keepers, as the constant comings and goings of these animals from lake to mud bath makes a mess and contaminates both areas.At Barcelona Zoo, the solution has been provided by Aqualogy. Since late 2012, the area occupied by these powerful mam-mals has been fitted with its own miniature wastewater treatment plant to treat the 300 m3 of water in the hippo lake. The treat-

ment plant is not an eyesore, as it is kept out of sight and visitors are not aware of it.The two-storey building housing the treatment plant stands at one end of the lake. The lower floor is at the same level as the lake bed. But the upper floor, at ground level, is camouflaged by an outer cladding of artificial stone, vegetation and it even has its own waterfall. The mini treatment plant improves the appearance and cleanliness of the water, enabling us to maintain the natural environment in pristine condition and save natural resources.

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AQUA 3535

THE IMAGE

AQUA36

The most exciting challenges are not the ones you fi nd in the scripts of popular reality shows and they do not appear on television either, they tend to be anonymous. The main characters in this story live in the second most arid area in India, specifi -cally in the southern district of Anan-tapur. Most of the population depend on farming to survive and peanuts are the only crop they grow. The irrigation system they use consists of taking wa-ter drawn from aquifers to each plan-tation in containers carried on their shoulders, as the power supply is inter-mittent and the water pumps cannot be relied upon to work properly.

24 PANELS, 55 FAMILIESImproving the development of crop farming in Anantapur is one of the objectives set by the Vicente Ferrer Foundation. To do this, the work being done in partnership with the Aqual-ogy team is turning out to be crucial. As Javier Borso, Aqualogy’s Irrigation Market Director says: “We’re delighted

to be able to help out with this project by applying our knowledge of irriga-tion”. The key to solving the problem lies in solar power. In July 2012, work started on installing 24 photovoltaic panels linked to drip irrigation systems, safeguarding the fruit and vegetable harvest in 16 villages. “But the action plan is far-reaching. The overall aim is to diversify crops, which leads to a much better diet and reduces the risk of crop failure and fl uctuating market prices” explains Ana Redon-do, Coordinator for the Business and Foundations Relations Unit at the Vi-cente Ferrer Foundation.The 55 small families who own the land

Water and sunshine for developmentSUSTAINABLE FARMING IMPROVES QUALITY OF LIFE FOR VILLAGES IN SOUTHERN INDIA

© JUAN ALONSO

are being trained in new farming tech-niques, photovoltaic power, harvesting and marketing their crops, and they are fully involved in the decision-making process. “The local team of people can join forces to make sure they achieve the results that have been forecast” says Josep Maria Callis, an Aqualogy representative who spent several days on a placement in the area. Coinciding with the International Year of Water Cooperation, this vital work is prov-ing that sustainable rural development can help to improve social, economic and environmental condition in vil-lages where these initiatives are being put into practice.

> A HAPPIER FUTUREThe Vicente Ferrer Foundation Ecol-ogy Programme has already been set up in 1,432 villages in Anantapur.

AQUA 3737

PLANET SOS

FROM JUST A FEW DROPS TO A CASCADE OF BENEFITS

WATER SAVED

The solar powered drip irrigation system being implemented in 157.48 hectares of land in the regions of Uravakonda, Kadiri, Bathalapalli, Madakasira and B. K. Samudra (State of Andhra Pradesh), is saving water for produce such as tomatoes, aubergines, chillies, oranges, mangoes and bananas, plus other vegeta-ble and fruit crops. It is encouraging crop

footprint. Solar powered drip irrigation means that plant roots get the amount of water they need plus the right quantity of nutrients, leading to improved produc-tivity and resulting in bigger, better qual-ity harvests at lower cost. The immediate

-ing the poorest people from emigrating to large cities and stopping villages from becoming neglected.

43% 19% 44% 34% 50%35% 61% 45% 68%Medlar Guava Pomegranate Grape CoconutMango Sweet Orange Banana Papaya

16% 38% 95% 50% 80%80% 50% 52% 77%

© FUNDACIÓN VICENTE FERRER

AQUA38

VIEWPOINT

“WATER IS QUALITY OF LIFE”

Josefina Maestu Director of the UN-Water Decade Programme of Advocacy and Communication (UNW-DPAC)

As if they were welling up from a natural spring, Josefina Maestu’s replies show a clarity of vision that highlights her intimate relationship with water.

What made you specialise in this subject? My pro-fession, Economics, is rather abstract and I was look-ing for a more practical way of applying it. But I also saw that there was work to be done in Spain, because of the country’s lack of water-related economic policy and management.

You mean you had no previous contact with the world of water? Relatively little. I remember going on trips with my parents. We used to go to places where wa-ter was important, because it resulted in special environ-ments and the impression of a good quality of life. And I never forgot the impact that water had on me as a social activity at natural springs or public washhouses.

How does someone who knows so much about water actually experience it? I like swimming, I always spend my summers at the beach, but I have a different view of it now. For example, I can’t avoid noticing that sewage used to be pumped out to sea untreated, but not anymore.

I would imagine that the Director of UN-Water never wastes a single drop of water. I try to be coher-ent, even though it’s difficult sometimes. I think collective effort comes from individual actions, and I also believe in the power of persuasion rather than in coercion or fines.

Has there been a general change in attitude to water management? There was, about 5 or 6 years ago. Now, with all the bad news around, the issue seems to have been neglected. But we professionals know that there has to be a medium and a long-term perspective, that the water issue cannot be tackled by only thinking about the next four years.

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WWW.QUEPUEDESHACERTU.ORG

Aqualogy, integrated water solutions for sustainable development

www.aqualogy.net

Aqualogy offers integrated solutions for efficient water management, making all of its knowledge available for sustainable development.

Optimised water and energy use, applying Aqualogy’s experience and technology, helps reduce costs and the water footprint of industries and our environment

INTEGRATED WATER SOLUTIONS FORSUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

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More than water