Aragón Wastewater Treatment Plan
Environmental Contribution of the Year
What is it?
A €1.5 billion wastewater investment plan for the Aragón region of Spain. It involves building 132 wastewater treatment plants and 41 sewers to achieve the standard required by the European Wastewater Directive. It has been conceived as a public-private partnership. Initiated in 2004, 2007 has seen the best part of the implementation.
Who is involved?
Aragón Water Institute is responsible for Technical Direction, while the Aragón Environmental Development Society is tasked with execution. aqualia has been involved in the planning, and is the largest contractor on the project.
Why is it shortlisted?
- The Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive creates a challenge for communities which may be too small to finance wastewater improvements on their own, and find it difficult to coordinate projects jointly. The Aragón plan has squared the circle with a public-private partnership that has been held up as an example of best practice by both the government of Spain and the OECD.
- The plan involves a huge environmental improvement for rivers. It will result in the proportion of wastewater treated in the region rising from 65% to 90%.