Project for the Use of Woody Resources and Regenerated Water from l’Ametlla de Mar

This project aims to optimize the use of underutilized natural resources, such as pruning waste to convert them into usable biomass, and regenerated water for crop irrigation and aquifer recharge.

Location

Terrassa, Vallès Occidental, Catalonia (Spain)

Year of Start

2024

Promoter

City Council of l’Ametlla de Mar

Beneficiaries

Local farmers, plant waste managers, the biomass sector, and the municipality of l’Ametlla de Mar as a whole.

Objective

The project aims to maximize the use of local natural resources—woody waste and regenerated water—to promote a circular, resilient, and sustainable economy in the municipality of l’Ametlla de Mar.

The initiative combines the valorization of biomass from pruning remains and plant waste with the reuse of regenerated water from the municipal treatment plant, currently discharged into the sea, to improve agricultural productivity, reduce environmental risks, and strengthen local economic activity.

Project description

Valorization of woody waste

The creation of a structured system for collecting pruning remains from gardens, urban areas, and agricultural areas is proposed, destined for a biomass logistics center. In this center, the waste will be:

Shredded
Screened
Dried
Transformed into value-added biomass products such as:
- Mulching
- Compost
- Biochar

This system will reduce uncontrolled waste burning, decrease the risk of forest fires, and improve the health of agricultural soils through the application of organic products.

Diagram of the regenerated water cycle in l’Ametlla de Mar, showing the route from the treatment plant and the Consorci d’Aigües de Tarragona to the pumping station powered by photovoltaic energy, the irrigation pond for irrigation communities, and the infiltration pond for aquifer recharge.

Use of regenerated water

The project contemplates the reuse of regenerated water from the municipal treatment plant to create a supporting irrigation infrastructure intended for approximately 1,500 hectares of olive groves.
The system includes:

Pipeline network to agricultural areas
Pumping station powered by solar energy
Regulation and storage pond

This model will allow:

Increase agricultural productivity in a context of water stress
Reduce pressure on external water resources
Contribute to aquifer recharge and prevent saline intrusion

For its proper management, the creation of a new irrigation community is promoted, fostering collaboration between farmers and ensuring efficient use of the resource.

Map of the municipality of l’Ametlla de Mar showing the olive grove area and the areas susceptible to irrigation and aquifer recharge, including the location of the treatment plant, the impulsion pipeline, the head tank, and the infiltration pond associated with the regenerated water use system.

Results obtained

Biomass valorization logistics center for the processing of plant remains.
Integrated system for the reuse of regenerated water for agricultural irrigation and aquifer recharge.
Reduction of plant waste and improvement of forest and agricultural management.
Increase in agricultural productivity in olive crops.
Generation of local employment linked to the management of biomass, waste, and irrigation systems.

To highlight

Comprehensive model that combines biomass + regenerated water in a single territorial strategy.
Reduction of the risk of forest fires through the valorization of pruning remains.
Improvement of water resilience in a territory affected by climate change.
Creation of local economic value from underutilized resources.
Project aligned with the objectives of circular economy, bioeconomy, and ecological transition.
Contribution to the economic revitalization of a territory affected by the closure of nuclear power plants.

Want to know more?

Download Case Study