LIFE Spot comes to an end with an innovative groundwater treatment to turn it into drinking water

The final day of the LIFE Spot project, funded by the European Commission, was held last Friday, June 28, with the presence of representatives from the five project partners: IRTA (Institute of Agrifood Research and Technology), the Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research (IDAEA-CSIC), FACSAEURECAT (Technological Center of Catalonia) and Protecmed. During the event, the main conclusions and achievements obtained throughout the development of the project were presented.

Launched in 2019, the LIFE Spot project aimed to treat groundwater contaminated by agricultural and livestock activities using nature-based solutions to produce drinking water. After years of intensive work, the project has successfully demonstrated the technical, environmental, and economic viability of a new, sustainable groundwater treatment method to convert it into drinking water. This innovative treatment combines low-cost technologies and is based on a natural process that uses microalgae and a denitrifying biofilter made of wood pellets and cork, capable of removing both nitrates and other micro-contaminants present in the water.

The project partners emphasized during the event that this solution will provide essential water resources in areas vulnerable to nitrate pollution, especially in isolated rural areas, as well as in the livestock and tourism sectors. This technology addresses a significant environmental problem from a climate change adaptation perspective.

“Cork biofilters and microalgae have allowed us to remove up to 99% of nitrates and 73% of pesticides from the water in the pilot plants,” explains Víctor Matamoros, a member of the LIFE SPOT consortium. “Thanks to this technology, more than 20 million people in Europe could have access to safe drinking groundwater.”

The use of this nature-based technology was implemented in three rural areas affected by the use of fertilizers applied to the soil: Nules (Castellón), Caldes de Montbui (Barcelona), and Perpignan (France). It is worth noting that the project's success was also made possible thanks to the support of the Nules City Council, which provided a pilot plant implemented by Facsa at the reverse osmosis treatment facilities of the Municipal Drinking Water Supply Service. This collaboration was fundamental in demonstrating the effectiveness and viability of the treatment proposed by LIFE Spot. This project is a clear example of cooperation and joint effort that has shown it is possible to address complex environmental challenges through innovative and sustainable solutions.