Spain’s water sector faces major challenges due to uneven water distribution, increasing demand, and climate change. To address these issues, utilities are adopting new technologies that enhance efficiency and sustainability in water treatment.
At the Llobregat Drinking Water Treatment Plant near Barcelona, managed by the public utility ATL, Filtralite® filter media replaced traditional sand filters. The result was longer filtration cycles and a 66% reduction in backwashing operations, resulting in significant energy and water savings.
According to Plant Manager Santiago González Avellana, “With the Filtralite solution, we can work with higher filtration velocities and save around 60% in energy and 65% in washing water. The return on investment is approximately 2.3 years.”
The test confirmed that Filtralite filter media provides a durable and efficient alternative to sand, maintaining high water quality while improving operational performance.
Spain continues to invest in sustainable water management, and projects like this show how advanced filter media can support a more efficient and resilient water sector.