La drinking water quality in Lorca The water supply will take a significant leap forward in the coming months thanks to the implementation of an ozone treatment system at the town's water treatment plant. This measure, promoted by the Taibilla Canals Association (MCT), aims to strengthen the safety and quality of the water supply reaching homes.
With an investment of 2,5 millones de euros With a planned implementation period of one year, the new ozonation system at the Lorca Drinking Water Treatment Plant (DWTP) is envisioned as a key component for improve the removal of pollutants and reduce dependence on chlorine in the disinfection process.
A specific project to improve water quality in Lorca
The action approved by the Commonwealth of the Taibilla Canals It focuses on modernizing the treatment process at the Lorca Water Treatment Plant, a strategic facility for supplying water to the city and its surrounding area. The main objective is to introduce a process of advanced oxidation using ozone in the existing water treatment line.
To make this possible, a new technical building This building is designed to house the ozone generator system and all the equipment necessary to automate the process. It will be the heart of the new treatment phase, where the production and dosage of the gas will be controlled.
In addition to the building, the project includes the construction of a contact camera Specifically, in this process, ozone is injected directly into the raw water. At this point, the gas comes into contact with the flow arriving at the plant and the oxidation reaction with the matter present in the water begins.
The performance is completed by a series of auxiliary pipes This will allow the water to be diverted to this new chamber, circulated for the time required for ozone treatment, and, once the process is complete, returned to the main line of the water treatment plant. All of this will be integrated into the normal operation of the water treatment plant to ensure a smooth transition from a technical standpoint.
According to MCT forecasts, the The total execution period will be 12 monthsso that the new ozonation system could be fully operational in the short term, provided that the works are carried out according to the approved schedule.
Why ozone is key in water purification
The president of the MCT, Juan CascalesHe emphasized that the purpose of this investment is to incorporate a process of advanced oxidation to conventional treatment, taking advantage of the properties of ozone in the field of water purification. From a chemical point of view, ozone is one of the most powerful oxidants used in drinking water, since it has a higher oxidation potential than chlorine.
This greater oxidizing power translates into a greater effectiveness in attacking organic matter present in raw water. By reacting with organic compounds and certain contaminants, ozone helps to degrade them or transform them into substances that are easier to remove in later stages of the process.
The implementation of this technology at the Lorca water treatment plant will also allow reduce the necessary chlorine dose in the final disinfection steps. Although chlorine will remain a standard disinfectant for ensuring microbiological safety in the distribution network, its use can be optimized thanks to the prior work of ozone.
One of the most relevant effects of this chlorine reduction is the decrease in the formation of trihalomethanesThese are byproducts generated when chlorine reacts with organic matter in the water. By reducing this organic matter and adjusting the chlorine dosage, the final water will have a lower potential to produce these unwanted compounds.
Another important advantage is ozone's ability to to promote the elimination of specific pollutants, like some pesticides and herbicides that can appear in water resources. Among them is bentazone, a herbicide whose presence requires advanced treatments to reduce its concentration to safe levels.
Technical details of the ozone installation at the Lorca water treatment plant
The project approved by the MCT contemplates the development of a ozone (O3) generation and dosing installation from pure oxygen (O2). This system will continuously produce the gas needed for treatment, avoiding prolonged storage and guaranteeing immediate and controlled use.
El ozone generation process It will be integrated with automation systems that will allow the amount of gas injected to be adjusted according to the water flow rate and quality at any given time. In this way, the plant will be able to adapt the treatment to actual conditions and optimize both efficiency and energy consumption.
La contact camera It will be a central element in the design, as it ensures the proper time and mixing between the ozone and the raw water. This controlled contact is essential for the oxidation of organic matter and any potential contaminants to be as complete as possible before the water returns to the treatment line.
The auxiliary pipes The installed systems will connect the raw water inlet to the ozonation chamber and subsequently return the treated flow to the existing circuit in the water treatment plant. The hydraulic design must ensure that there are no significant pressure losses or alterations in the overall operation of the installation.
The entire process will be managed from control systems that will monitor parameters such as the in real time. water flow rate, ozone concentration applied, the contact times and, subsequently, the quality indicators of the already potable water, in order to ensure compliance with European drinking water regulations.
Impact on water quality and security of supply
With the implementation of ozonation, the Lorca water treatment plant will have a An additional tool to improve health safety of the water that reaches the public. This reinforcement of treatment is especially relevant in a context of complex water resources, in which water from different sources often converges.
The greatest capacity to eliminate organic matter This will result in a reduction of disinfection byproduct precursors, as well as an overall improvement in organoleptic parameters, such as the water's odor and taste. Although these characteristics are already under strict control, the addition of ozone can help stabilize them even during periods of higher contaminant loads.
From the point of view of chemical pollutants, the use of this technology will facilitate the reduction of certain pesticides and herbicides present in raw water, improving the safety margin with respect to the limits set by regulations. This aspect is especially valued in agricultural areas, where the use of plant protection products can influence the quality of surface and groundwater resources.
The reduction in the chlorine dosage This does not imply a relaxation of hygiene and sanitation standards, but rather improved management of the overall treatment process. Chlorine will remain essential in the final stage to ensure that the water remains disinfected throughout its journey through the distribution network, but starting with water already treated with ozone allows for more precise dosages.
Overall, the new ozonation plant represents a step forward in the modernization of the water treatment cycle from Lorca, aligning the plant with advanced technologies already used in other infrastructures in Spain and the European Union to respond to current challenges in water quality.
The investment in Lorca is part of a broader package of actions
The allocation for the ozonation of the Lorca water treatment plant This falls within a broader set of contracts approved by the Taibilla Canals Association. In total, actions have been authorized for an amount of 25,4 millones de euros in works, services and supplies in the Region of Murcia and in the provinces of Alicante and Albacete.
Within this package, one investment stands out in terms of economic volume: 16,1 millones de euros for the construction of a New regulating reservoir in Jacarilla (Alicante)This infrastructure will significantly increase the water storage capacity in the area.
The planned reservoir in Jacarilla will have a capacity of 65.000 cubic meters and will be added to the existing one, bringing the total capacity of the Vistabella Distribution Center to 130.000 cubic meters, ranking as the second largest in the province of Alicante.
This increase in volume will allow improve flow regulation coming from the desalination plants of San Pedro del Pinatar and Torreviejaas well as the La Pedrera water treatment plant. This strengthens the system's flexibility to adapt to variations in demand and resource availability.
The combination of investments in advanced treatments, such as the ozonation of Lorca, and in storage and distribution infrastructure, such as the Jacarilla reservoir, demonstrates the MCT's strategy to reinforce both the quality and the guarantee and stability of supply in the southeast of the peninsula.
Water context and water production in the Taibilla basin
During the same session in which these investments were approved, the situation of the water resources in the Taibilla basinRecent data point to a wetter hydrological year than the previous one in the area.
At the dam of Taibilla reservoirThe rainfall recorded in February was 83 liters per square meter, which raises the total for the current hydrological year to 226,7 l/m²This figure contrasts with the 121,8 l/m² that had been recorded in the same period of the previous hydrological year.
With regards to water productionDuring February, the following were generated 15,78 cubic hectometres, while since the beginning of the hydrological year in October, total production has reached 88,8 cubic hectometresThis volume represents a slight decrease, on the order of 0,78%, compared to the previous hydrological year.
These data show that, although the Rainfall has been more favorableResource management remains a critical aspect, especially in an area where urban, agricultural, and industrial demand coexists with a limited and highly variable water availability over time.
In this scenario, actions such as the Improved treatment in Lorca Using ozone and reinforcing the regulatory capacity at key points in the network are essential to maintain a stable supply and with the quality levels required by European and Spanish legislation.
The commitment of the Taibilla Canals Association to the ozonation of the Lorca water treatment plant This places it at the intersection of two priorities: guaranteeing higher-quality drinking water and strengthening a supply system that depends on diverse and changing resources. With the new facility, the municipality will have more robust treatment against organic matter and certain contaminants, while optimizing chlorine use and reducing unwanted byproducts, thus consolidating a more modern water management model adapted to current challenges.