Water sanitation, a key pillar for people’s health
Population growth, accelerated urbanization and the need for more resilient infrastructure in the face of climate change are global challenges that underline the importance of commemorating the World Sanitation Day, promoted by the United Nations every November 19. The lack of adequate sanitation leads to environmental pollution from wastewater, a serious threat for almost half of the world’s population, who lack access to these basic services according to 2025 data from the World Health Organization and UNICEF.
The combination of prolonged droughts and torrential rains (DANA) is a reality derived from global warming that challenges the infrastructures that intervene in the water cycle and the availability of this resource. Although Spain has high standards in urban water services, Challenges persist in three key areas of sanitation: wastewater collection and treatment, water regeneration, and investment in resilient facilities in the face of the climate emergency.
To meet these challenges, Veoliaa world leader in water, energy and waste environmental services, applies its operational capacity, expert knowledge and consolidated technology in the efficient management of water resources and sanitation networks. The company develops cutting-edge projects, based on the circular economy and public-private alliances, to promote ecological transformation.
Reuse regenerated water
In Spain, Veolia supplies water to 13.5 million people in more than 1,100 municipalitiessy leads the management of purification services, treating more than 25% of the national wastewater. The reuse of wastewater represents 14% of the total treated by the group, whose greatest exponent is ecofactories, an innovative concept that transforms traditional treatment plants into green infrastructures, optimizing operation through sustainability and technology.
Ecofactories transform traditional treatment plants into green infrastructures, optimizing operation through sustainability and technology
The ecofactory model is based on four pillars to evolve towards fully circular wastewater treatment: regenerate and reuse wastewater for new urban, agricultural or industrial uses; valorize waste to convert it into new resources; reduce energy consumption and maximize green energy production; and minimize the environmental impact of the facilities through their renaturalization.
Two notable examples stand out: Sur de Granada Ecofactory, a totally self-sufficient facility which generates more energy than it consumes (up to 140%), and reuses and valorizes almost all of its resources: water, and also sludge, sand and grease as fertilizer for agriculture or gardening. Another case is the Baix Llobregat Ecofactory, which uses regenerated water to maintain the ecological flow of the Llobregat River, irrigate municipal and agricultural parks and gardens, and inject it into wells to prevent saline intrusion and improve the quality of the aquifer’s water.
Epidemiological surveillance
Wastewater analysis is a key tool to anticipate health risks, activate preventive measures and increase the effectiveness of public health responses. Under the EU4Health programme, the European Health and Digital Executive Agency (HaDEA) has launched a European-level initiative in 2025 to optimize the monitoring of pathogens and contaminants in wastewater, a crucial advance to establish a European-wide early warning system for future pandemics.
In this project, Veoliathrough its laboratories in Spain, supervises the monitoring of contaminants of emerging concern, analyzing up to 500 wastewater samples collected in European cities. Each sample undergoes more than 500 extensive analyzes to detect, at an early stage, a wide range of contaminants, viruses, bacteria and drug residues, detecting emerging health threats.
The project, led by Veolia, is being developed in collaboration with the CSIC (Higher Council for Scientific Research), Cetaqua (Veolia Water Technology Center) and the University of Santiago de Compostela. It is based on more than a decade of the group’s experience in monitoring wastewater in cities such as Madrid, Barcelona and Seville, with a large volume of inhabitants.
Veolia is the only company in its sector that is part of this pioneering initiative, whose importance and impact at a European level lie in the possibility of dynamically monitoring public health. Although similar projects already existed in different cities and countries, this is the first time that a continental scope has been achieved, also using a unified methodology.
In a world in constant transformation, Veolia demonstrates its commitment to ecological security through tangible and effective initiatives, guaranteeing the protection of public health and the environment.
