Researchers of the Chair of Transformation of the Economic Model: Circular Economy in the Water Sector (GVA-UV) present their research on the role of technologies in water reuse at an international symposium in Greece.
Taking into account the challenges of water reuse and sustainability, members of the Chair of Transformation of the Economic Model: Circular Economy in the Water Sector of the Valencian Government and the Universitat de València (GVA-UV), headed by Francesc Hernández, presented their recent research on this subject in the framework of the 4th International Congress on Circular Economy and Sustainability, which gathered numerous international experts from 19 to 21 June in Heraklion (Greece).
According to professor Francesc Hernández, who is also the coordinator of the Water Economics Group at the Universitat de València (GEA-UV), an important part of the work of the team of Valencian researchers is to promote their intense work by providing knowledge and proposals allowing progress towards an economic model based on the circular economy and also contributing to the awareness of society.
In this regard, researcher-doctor Lledó Castellet presented her paper entitled ‘A sustainable wastewater treatment management in the textile industry: economic feasibility within the circular economy framework.’ Based on the European TRUST project, the researcher-doctor emphasised the need for textile companies to adopt new technologies based on a sustainable approach as a result of the enormous quantities of wastewater generated by this industry, which, on average, requires between 2,500 and 3,000 litres of water to manufacture a cotton T-shirt.
Castellet also presented ‘Biofactories and Circular Economy Models: Wastewater Treatment Plant 4.0,’ a study in which she is the principal researcher. In this paper, she highlights the importance of a symbiosis between digital technologies and the circular economy in wastewater treatment plants to achieve more efficient and sustainable management.
Researcher-doctor Águeda Bellver presented to the symposium attendees the paper ‘Constructed wetlands to ensure the effluent quality management: An approach based on water ecosystems restoration.’ This research, based on the European Life Renaturwat project, looks at the constructed wetlands as the technology of the future for tertiary wastewater treatment in small urban areas that need to improve the quality of their effluent. The objective is to revalorise the effluent and achieve an appropriate management that meets the needs of the population and the environment.
Bellver is also the main researcher of ‘Anaerobic digestion under economic, environmental and social point of view: The influence of circular economy and biogas upgrading.’ In this paper, the expert focused on identifying the social and environmental benefits of generating renewable gases from the sludge produced in wastewater treatment, with the of helping decision-makers to implement new technologies that generate more energy-efficient gases, such as biomethane.
Researcher-doctor Vicent Hernández is the main researcher of the paper 'Conventional technologies and natural solutions in wastewater treatment: economic analysis.’ In this research work, he makes an exhaustive analysis of the different elements involved in the treatment of wastewater and aims to define an investment and planning policy in this treatment. The objective is to develop a reference procedure in the sector through an approach that includes the influence of aspects framed in the circular economy in addition to the technical and economic aspects of the different solutions.
