Aquara and Suez Spain develop the City Sentinel in Calatayud, a monitoring tool that detects and quantifies the presence of the SARS-CoV-2 virus in wastewater

World Sanitation Day (or World Toilet Day), which is celebrated today, November 19, has been promoted by the United Nations since 2013. This year its motto is "Sustainable sanitation and climate change" and seeks to raise awareness about the new reality to the one we face. Floods, droughts, and rising sea levels can damage any part of a public sanitation system and lead to wastewater discharges, which can create a public health emergency, as well as deteriorate the environment. For this reason, it is urgent to strengthen sanitation systems to withstand inclement weather and be sustainable.
The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the vital importance of water and sanitation services to prevent and contain infectious diseases, including cholera and typhoid fever. Public-private partnerships, point 17 of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, are basic to universalize them.

Circular economy and innovation to overcome challenges
Aquara, committed to the quality of life of people, applies the basic principles of the circular economy in the sanitation and management of wastewater treatment plants, valuing 100% of the sludge produced in its treatment plants for later use in the agricultural sector.
The new challenge in the face of climate change is to ensure that cities and municipalities evacuate with the least ecological impact an increasing flow of water (wastewater and rainwater). Therefore, a revolution in management is necessary, hand in hand with digitization and new technologies. It involves introducing sensors throughout the network, treating the data globally, developing sewer cleaning programs and comprehensively managing tanks and reservoirs.

Technological innovation related to sanitation is also essential in the fight against the pandemic, in which anticipation is essential. To this end, Aquara, hand in hand with SUEZ Spain, the business group to which it belongs, has developed City Sentinel, a monitoring tool that detects and quantifies the presence of the SARS-CoV-2 virus in wastewater, which allows monitoring the evolution of viruses and predict possible outbreaks. This early warning tool has recently been implemented in Calatayud in collaboration with its City Council.

Responsible sanitation: everyone's action is essential
In addition, given the exceptional situation of more hours spent in homes created by the pandemic, the company recalls the importance of not flushing cigarette butts, oil, personal care products (masks, wipes, tampons and swabs) down the toilet and sink. among others) and medications. These wastes are responsible for important clogs in the downspouts of neighboring communities and public sewers, with an increase in the cost of between 10 and 15% in the cost of maintaining the networks, that is, an additional 230 million euros per year in Spain according to the Spanish Association of Water Supply and Sanitation (AEAS).