Agriculture plays a crucial role in global water consumption, being the sector with the highe demand, creating the real challenge of water scarcity in agriculture; According to estimates, about 70% of the conventional water resources available worldwide are used for agriculture, while 11% is used for municipal use and supply, and 19% is used for industrial purposes.
In addition, over the last fifty years, agricultural production worldwide has experienced a remarkable growth, tripling. According to the FAO, more than 40% of this increase in food production has come from irrigated areas, which have seen a doubling of the net area under cultivation globally.
Water desalination used to be used only in cases where no other alternative was available. However, with the development of reverse osmosis desalination, which has considerably reduced the costs associated with the production of desalinated water, in recent decades desalination is also becoming in some cases an insurance of supply, something that is inevitably affecting a wider range of uses.
How to fight with the challenge of water scarcity in agriculture
For several decades, Spain has demonstrated a firm commitment to water desalination. Initially, this technique was implemented in the Canary Islands, particularly in the far eastern islands, during the 1960s and 1970s. However, it was in the 1980s and 1990s, thanks to the advancement of reverse osmosis technology, that desalination expanded to other regions where water scarcity was a problem during periods of drought.
Since then, Spain has been committed to both water desalination and the reuse of treated water, as a complement to the limited water resources in certain areas of the peninsula and the islands.
At present, approximately 20% of the desalinated water produced in the country is used for agriculture. This resource is used mainly on some of the islands of the Canary Islands, as well as in the provinces of Alicante, Murcia and Almería.
These regions are characterized by water scarcity, and agriculture plays a key role in their local economy.
The importance of choosing a quality filter media
To ensure quality filtration in desalination processes, it is important to have a high efficiency filter media that enhances the water treatment process. Zeomedia is the only zeolite-based media that has been chemically cleaned to optimize its quality and performance.
It generates 60% less water and energy wasted in backwashes per year and up to 50% better filtration quality.
It can increase the production capacity of an existing plant by at least 30% or halve the number and size of filters required per project.
Do you want to know more about the benefits of Zeomedia in water treatment?
We are waiting for you at the XIII International Congress of the Spanish Association of Desalination and Reuse, which will take place in Granada, Spain from June 13 to 15, 2023, where our CEO Leonardo Courtade will give the technical session: “Zeolite – filtration engineering for low carbon footprint treatment, comparative models and analysis of alternatives”.
It is an honor for us to be part of this edition and collaborate with KEIKEN Engineering, while presenting the latest innovations, research, and advancements in desalination, reuse, and water treatment.
Let’s talk ..
Email: sales@zeomediafilter.com
Phone: (81) 3849 5959
