Ruagua

One of the most concerning global consequences of climate change is the increasing severity of droughts. A Rúa, a municipality in Galicia, Spain, located in the province of Ourense, is a clear example of this, as, in the summer of 2023, MITECO included it in its drought and water scarcity report as one of the most affected municipalities in Spain.

In addition to water stress, A Rúa is a territory with a high risk of forest fires. More than 15% of its forest area – equivalent to 450 football fields – was burned between 1996 and 2015.

In this context, RUAGUA is born, an innovation project that seeks to offer the territory solutions based on the circular economy to promote a more sustainable use of water. The project consortium consists of Cetaqua, AquaOurense, and the Consorcio de Aguas de Valdeorras.

RUAGUA embraces the circular economy by integrating water, energy, and waste resources in a Galician municipality

The purpose of RUAGUA is to generate a positive impact through a circular economy demonstration project in the Galician municipality of A Rúa. This will be achieved through the valorisation of the water-energy-waste axes, establishing a replicable rural-industrial symbiosis model.

• Water axis: The use of reclaimed water is brought closer to all productive sectors and public services in a comprehensive, digital and agile way to guarantee the availability of water during times of drought and thus reduce water stress in this rural environment.
• Waste axis: The project promotes zero waste and reduces the use of fertilizers and chemicals by providing urban gardening alternatives.
• Energy axis: The production of solar energy is promoted as a renewable source, thus reducing greenhouse gas emissions.