As climate change and population growth exacerbate water scarcity, finding sustainable solutions to manage water resources is more critical than ever. Non-conventional water resources offer promising alternatives that support a circular economy while ensuring the conservation of freshwater.
In regions like Barcelona, California, and across the Mediterranean, including its islands and tourist coastal areas, wastewater treatment and reuse have become key components of sustainable water management. Recycled water is used for agricultural irrigation, industrial cooling, and even aquifer replenishment, reducing the demand on natural freshwater sources. This approach is also being adopted in parts of the Middle East, where treated wastewater is reused for agriculture, helping to conserve limited water supplies.
Desalination also plays a crucial role, particularly in water-scarce areas such as Australia, the Middle East, and Mediterranean islands that experience high demand due to tourism. While desalination is critical during droughts, it presents environmental challenges, such as high energy consumption and brine disposal, which can harm marine ecosystems. Advances in renewable energy are helping to mitigate these effects, but prioritizing wastewater reuse remains a more sustainable and circular solution.
Additionally, innovative methods like fog capture, already implemented in areas such as the Canary Islands and parts of South America, offer a low-energy alternative for collecting water in arid regions. These systems capture moisture from the air and convert it into usable freshwater, providing a valuable resource for regions with limited rainfall.
Adopting circular approaches in water management, like wastewater treatment, reuse, and fog capture, is essential to ensure long-term water security. The concept of degrowth offers a valuable perspective: it calls for reducing consumption, prioritizing sustainability over constant growth, and focusing on efficient use of resources. By embracing degrowth principles, we can create more resilient water systems that meet human needs while protecting the environment and promoting a sustainable future.
Coordinator of WASH (Water Hygiene and Sanitation) and Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) for sustainable development programs at the Solidarity Foundation of the University of Barcelona (FSUB), adjunct professor at the Biology, Healthcare and Environment Department, Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences of the University of Barcelona (UB) and member of HIDROSEC (Sanitary, Cooperation and Economic Hydrology) research group (UB)