water treatment

WATER TREATMENT

The solution to the world's water problem

THE IMPORTANCE OF WATER TREATMENT

Water is the basic resource for guaranteeing the life of all living beings on the planet. Access to water, sanitation and hygiene is a fundamental right and yet billions of people throughout the world are battling daily against enormous difficulties accessing the most basic services.

 

PROBLEMS ACCESSING WATER RESOURCES

Although 2.1 billion people have, since 1990, gained improved access to better water and sanitation services, the decreasing availability of quality drinking water is an important problem afflicting all continents. It is estimated that at least 1 out of every 4 people will be affected by  water scarcity by 2050.

WATER SCARCITY

Water scarcity is a problem affecting over 40% of the global population and it is predicted that this percentage could increase due in part to global warming and desertification.

POLLUTION

Human beings are the main cause of water pollution More than 80% of the waste water resulting from human activity is dumped in rivers or the sea without any kind of water treatment, producing contamination.

WATER CYCLE AND THE CAUSES AND EFFECTS OF WATER POLLUTION

The water cycle includes evaporation, condensation, and precipitation. The carbon cycle is a related cycle that involves the absorption of CO2 in the oceans. However, at high levels in the ocean, CO2 can cause acidification leading to the degradation of the marine ecosystem. This video explains the water cycle, or hydrological cycle, and global water trends.

Water is a basic resource that guarantees the life of all living beings on the planet. However, its scarcity and pollution cause millions of people to have poor access to this much-needed asset. Although there are processes such as water treatment or desalination that facilitate its treatment, use and consumption in areas with quality or supply problems, it is first necessary to avoid its contamination.

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HOW TO SOLVE THE WATER PROBLEM?

WATER TREATMENT ENSURING ACCESS TO CLEAN WATER AND AVOIDING CONTAMINATION OF RIVERS AND SEAS

Water treatment is a process involving different types of operations (physical, chemical, physicochemical and biological), the aim of which is to eliminate and/or reduce contamination or non-desirable characteristics of water.

The objective of this process is to obtain water with the right features for the use intended for it. This is why the water treatment process varies as a function of the properties of the water being supplied and its final use.

Water treatment is increasingly necessary due to drinking water shortages and the growing needs of the global population. Of the planet’s total water reserves, only 2.5% is freshwater - and of this amount only 0.4% is water fit for human consumption.

WE TAKE CARE OF THE WATER

WHAT DOES ACCIONA DO IN THE AREA OF WATER TREATMENT?

ACCIONA works to guarantee people’s access to water, from capture to purification or desalination, clean-up and return to the environment.

FIND OUT MORE ABOUT WHAT ACCIONA DO

Experience

Water as a source of development

acciona.org works to make simple changes to communities around the world for a better life. At acciona.org we facilitate access to safe drinking water and sanitation, in an affordable and sustainable way for developing communities.

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Experience

Tapping into the sea’s potential to provide islands with sustainable drinking water

Islands rank among the regions hit hardest by climate change and water stress. However, as evidenced by the success story of the Canary Islands, desalination technologies offer a promising solution to mitigate the drinking water shortage.

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