In a society marked by demographic growth and extreme climate phenomena, sanitation stands as a fundamental defense barrier for people’s health. Nearly 3.4 billion people lack access to clean water, according to data from the World Health Organization, something that the United Nations reminds us of every November 19 with World Sanitation Day.
Faced with this scenario, Veolia is committed to solutions based on the circular economy and technological innovation. The company, which manages the water supply to 13.5 million people in more than 1,100 municipalities and treats more than 25% of the country’s wastewater, has developed the ecofactory concept, which transforms traditional treatment plants into comprehensive facilities based on four pillars: regenerate and reuse wastewater, valorize waste, reduce energy consumption and produce green energy and minimize environmental impact. Facilities such as the BioSur ecofactory in Granada, or the Baix Llobregat in Barcelona are two paradigmatic examples.
Veolia draws on its more than ten years of experience in wastewater monitoring in Spain to also lead an innovative project together with the CSIC, Cetaqua and the University of Santiago de Compostela, which will implement an early warning system on a European scale through wastewater analysis. This program, part of the EU4Health initiative, will analyze up to 500 samples from European cities to detect emerging pathogens and contaminants, establishing an epidemiological surveillance network.
