The Public Water Sanitation Authority, EPSAR, showcases the ZERO DRAIN, 100% REUSE initiative at the Health in the Mediterranean, the future conference in Alicante. This program funds new investments to use treated Alicante water for full irrigation. Currently, 28.9 hm3 is treated annually, with 8.2 hm3 already reused. The objective is to repurpose the 19.5 hm3 of treated water that is now discharged into the sea so farmers in L’Alacantí and Baix Vinalopó can access it in the years ahead.
The event featured Teodoro Estrela, the Director General of Water at the Ministry of Ecological Transition, along with deputies and ministers including Aitana Mas, Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development, Climate Emergency and Ecological Transition, Isaura Navarro, and EPSAR manager Juan Ángel Conca.
The ZERO DRAIN, 100% REUSE project includes remodeling the Rincón de León and Monte Orgegia treatment plants, as well as facilities in Sant Vicente del Raspeig, Cabo de las Huerta and Condomina. The plan envisions a 40 million euro investment to reorganize water flows among these plants and interconnected networks. This is complemented by an additional 110 million euros from the Ministry of Ecological Transition for more actions in Alicante Province. These actions include a substantial expansion of IDAM in Torrevieja to raise production capacity from 80 hm3/year to 120 hm3/year, with more than 60 million euros allocated to photovoltaic projects in Torrevieja and 69 million for related solar initiatives elsewhere in the region, including Júcar-Vinalopó. In total, the two administrations plan a 370 million euro commitment to ensure water sustainability and sovereignty in the province and to pioneer European solutions in irrigation and reuse.
The vice president of the Generalitat, Aitana Mas, emphasized that water reuse is central to climate resilience and the ecological transition. She noted that Alicante has become a model for water reuse in Europe, contrasting its approach with regions that face stricter water restrictions. She underscored that the province receives about 70 hm3 of water from transfers and that the study aims to reuse around 20 hm3, marking an important milestone toward water sovereignty and sustainable development for the local population. This vision aligns with the region’s broader goals of securing reliable water supplies for agriculture and environment.
Isabel Navarro, Minister of Agriculture and Climate Emergency, highlighted the ambition behind the Vertido Cero initiative: making the water returned to the sea available in tandem with economic, agricultural, and environmental needs. She stressed that sanitary and reuse projects are a centerpiece of policy, especially in Alicante and southern areas, ensuring food sovereignty and continued agricultural growth while preserving ecological health. The governance team reaffirmed commitment to advancing water reuse as a core objective for the province.
The largest volume of reclaimed water for irrigation is planned for the Rincón de León and Monte Orgegia wastewater treatment plants. Key improvements include upgrading water lines and tertiary treatment at both facilities, plus the construction of diversions to prevent overloads and ensure a steady flow from Sant Vicente del Raspeig to Monte Orgegia. A dedicated budget of 25 million euros supports these upgrades, with 12.5 million euros allocated to each site. This upgrade network is designed to boost reliability and water quality for agricultural use in the Alacantí Nord region.
Other components of the program include building a stormwater tank in San Gabriel to prevent flooding and the discharge of untreated water during heavy rains, at a cost of 6.4 million euros. The plan also covers rehabilitation and expansion of the El River Campello collector system to move wastewater from residential areas toward the Alacantí Nord WWTP, with a budget of 8.6 million euros. After the water is purified, conductivity is addressed through reverse osmosis, which removes dissolved salts and enables the future construction of desalination facilities. Solar-powered pumps will raise the water, followed by gravity-driven distribution, while regulation ponds will ensure a steady flow of up to 1.5 hm3 for irrigation. A solar park will be installed on an existing floating surface to support energy sustainability.
The Valencian Community operates 487 treatment plants, accounting for about 24% of Spain’s total. It is also the region that reuses the most water in Europe, with reuse rates around 60% of treated water. In Spain, the average reuse rate ranges from 7% to 13%. Alicante province leads in reuse, with about 72% of treated water redirected to agricultural or environmental uses, and specific areas like Vega Baja already achieving 100% reuse for irrigation. In line with these efforts, EPSAR is conducting several studies to improve recovered water quality for agricultural use in Alicante. This includes projects in Altea, La Vila Joiosa, and the Vega Baja del Segura, aimed at consolidating tertiary treatment capacity and expanding reuse across multiple treatment plants. [Source: EPSAR attribution]”