Challenge

Located on the Mediterranean Sea in one of the world’s most beautiful coastal regions, Estepona, Spain, attracts golf enthusiasts from around the world. In recent years, extremely dry weather conditions and the demand for golf course irrigation have created water shortages in the area. This necessitated a major upgrade to the Estepona Wastewater Reclamation Facility.

Solution

The upgrade, designed and built by Servicios Omicron, S.A., includes a six-cell Hydro-Clear pulsed bed sand filter. The filter removes suspended solids from plant effluent and produces reuse-quality water. Estepona is the first to upgrade their wastewater treatment facility to meet reuse standards.

Results

Started up in 1997, the upgraded plant can handle 37,000 m³/day (1,542 m²/hr). It is producing filtered effluent that meets Spanish standards for reuse similar to California Title 22 standards. Says Estepona plant manager Pedro Munoz, “We’re reclaiming and storing almost 100 percent of the flow for distribution.”  Twelve golf courses located on and near the coast use all of the reclaimed wastewater produced at the Estepona plant.