The Urban Water Cycle

The Urban Water Cycle 💦

Where does the water we use in our daily lives come from? Or where does it go after we wash our dishes, after we shower or even after we brush our teeth?

Great question, right? Well that's what we are going to aswer today!

The urban water cycle is a complex but essencial cycle that we couldn't live without. Let's take a look...

Before we tell you anything else... We think you should watch this video. After all, a video, is always the best way to start learning something new! ツ

The Urban Water Cycle

please click in "The Urban Water Cycle"

- video by SEH 

As you could see in the video, the water that arrives at our homes, starts for being captured in the water environment, going to Water Treatment Station where it is made suitable for comsumption. It is stored in reservatories and then, distributed to the population. After used, the water is collected and treated againto be returned to the oceans, rivers or seas in safe conditions for eveyone (humans and animals).

1. Source

The water can be captured on the surface (rivers and reservatories) or underground (water sheets), through holes or wells. It can include the lifting activity, which consists of carrying, through pumping processes, the water from low points to high ones.  

Water - the environment 💦

        Did you know that...

            - Most of the water collected by the AdP Group comes from surface abstractions.

            - In the group of water supply companies of the AdP Group, 1152 water abstractions are in operation.

            - Among the water captured in the AdP Group's infrastructures and which, after treatment, is made available for consumption, about 93% is returned to the water environment. Obviously it first receives the appropriate treatment in the wastewater treatment plants, which guarantees the return in environmentally friendly conditions. safe.

2. Treatment

Once captured, the water goes to the Water Treatment Station (ETA), where a correction of the physical, chemical and bacteriological characteristics is made, making it for consumption. The treated water is then transported from the collection and treatment (production) zone to the consumption zones, being stored in reservoirs that ensure continuity of supply. Sometimes, when in the process of transporting the water to the reservoir, it is necessary to take the water from low to high points, the lifting activity is resorted to, through pumping processes.

        Did you know that...

            - There are 150 Water Treatment Plants in the AdP Group universe.

            - In 2016, 581 million m3 of water for human consumption were produced

            - Here are some examples of ETA from the AdP Group.

3. Comsumption and collection 

In each consumption zone, the water is distributed to the consumer’s houses through a complex network of pipes and valves, ensuring that water is distributed in quantity and with the appropriate pressure and quality.

 

The wastewaters, resulting from the use of water by populations and productive activities, is collected and sent to Wastewater Treatment Plants (WWTP).

4. Treatment (WWTP) 

Residual waters, resulting from the use of water by families and productive activities, is collected and sent to Wastewater Treatment Plants (WWTP), where they are treated so that they can be returned to nature in environmentally safe conditions. According to the requirements and uses of the receiving media, wastewater is different for different types of treatment - primary, secondary and tertiary. In particular, more demanding cases, wastewater is additionally disinfected.

Go and watch our interview's resume to learn a little more about the processses.

     Did you know that...

            - There are 990 Wastewater Treatment in the universe of the AdP Group

            - In 2016, they were treated 534 million m3 of wastewater.

            - Here are some examples of WWTP from the AdP Group.

5. Return                      

After being treated at the WWTP, part of this water is reused for irrigation and washing and the rest is returned to nature in environmentally safe conditions, allowing to ensure the replacement of water in water environments without compromising public health and ecosystems, protecting nature and the environment.