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| # Country: Spain                                                      |
|                                                                       |
| # Water Pollution Control in Spain 2008                               |
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| Carmen Adrada                                                         |
|                                                                       |
| Date (06/08)                                                          |
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####### Summary

Today, Spain is suffering the worst water shortage ever seen. The main
reasons are the absence of rain, and the excessive usage of water by
Spaniards. As the problem has been increased since a few years ago,
Spanish authorities have implemented various projects to meet the
country's needs but also to improve the infrastructure of the water
system in Spain. As a result, many companies have created different
procedures for the construction of new desalination plants in different
regions of Spain. These programs will generate many opportunities for
the companies awarded to construct the plant and also for Spain, as a
country.

####### Market Demand

Spain suffers of low rate of annual precipitation, and therefore, is
engaged in an ongoing effort to make the best of its limited water
resources and to explore technologies to improve its supply of fresh
water. Unofficial sectoral sources state that Spain spends €6,330
million annually on the capture, transport and extraction of underground
water, plus water distribution and sanitation. However, the industry
association AGA estimates investments by its members, which supply water
to 75% of the population, at \"more than €290 million\" annually.

Investment in conventional water infrastructure is decreasing,
counterbalanced by increases in treatment, re-use and desalination
projects as well as protection of the natural environment. Highest
priority is given to urban and agricultural uses, followed by the
ecological needs of aquatic ecosystems.

####### Market Trends

The Spanish Government efforts to treat and reuse water in order to save
this valuable resource includes the recently approved National Plan for
Water Quality. A summary of it follows below:

Summary of the National Plan for Water Quality: Sanitation and
Purification 2007-2015

The starting point for the new Plan for Water Quality (2007-2015) is, on
one hand, the need to comply with the provisions of the [Water Framework
Directive]{.underline} 91/271/EEC (both already transposed in the
Spanish legal system) and the A.G.U.A. Program (moved to Spanish law by
Royal Decree Law 11/2005, amending the Law on the National Hydrological
Plan), and, on the other hand, the diagnosis of the results obtained
with the First National Plan of Sanitation and Purification in
1995-2005; which allows to frame the present set of needs at the
beginning of 2007.

Specific Objectives:

Comply with the requirements of Directive 91/271/EEC and its
transposition.

The Directive 91/271/EEC sought to reduce the levels of pollution of
surface waters from urban wastewater. This directive applies to domestic
sewage, storm water and industrial wastewater.

Contribute to meet the environmental objectives of the Water Framework
Directive in 2015.

It's main objective is to maintain environmentally sustainable water,
promoting the use of the resources that do not risk their future quality
and quantity.

Commit to the objectives of A.G.U.A. Program to achieve a balanced
socio-economic development and a sustainable environment.

Among its objectives, A.G.U.A. Program ensures a more equitable,
efficient and sustainable use of water. It also focuses on increasing
the efficiency and public savings in infrastructure resources devoted to
water management, sanitation, and purification. The A.G.U.A. Program's
predicted costs for these interventions are 3.9 billion euros (\$5.4
billion), out of which the European Union will finance 33 percent.

The objectives are defined for the plan focus on the compliance with the
requirements that are still not satisfied with the Directive 91/271/EEC
of urban wastewater. The plan also includes the new objectives of the
[Water Framework Directive]{.underline} (Directive 60/2000/CE) and the
AGUA Program, which are defined as the basic global objectives for
water, ecosystems and the associated natural heritage:

Define and secure environmental flows.

Protect the biodiversity and public hydraulic and maritime-terrestrial
domains like territory.

Manage the public hydraulic and maritime-terrestrial domains to ensure
the quality and good state of surface and underground bodies of water,
of transition and coasts.

Ensure supply to the populations.

Encourage public participation and secure an administration of clear
water.

Enhance consultation, cooperation and administrative coordination to
improve the strength and levels of services to the population.

Protect the rights of current and future generations to high quality
water, the conservation of ecosystems, and the rich and abundant natural
Spanish heritage.

The new National Plan for Water Quality seeks to contribute and
reconcile the economic growth and development of urban agglomerations
with adequate water quality and environmental protection of aquatic
ecosystems. In particular, and more specifically, the plan seeks to
contribute to sustainable rural development, incorporating the objective
of prioritizing the areas of greatest environmental value such as
National Parks and the "La Red Natura 2000" (specified nature areas). It
also seeks to prioritize areas with lower economic capacity and in need
of external support for the implementation of water management for the
complete water cycle.

Original Spanish Document:

<http://www.mma.es/secciones/medios_comunicacion/prensa/notas_pre/2007/06/PlanNacionalCalidadAguas.pdf>

Another important regulatory effort in the Spanish water sector is the
National Irrigation Plan (PNR), in effect from 2001 to 2008. It has a
budget of 5 billion euros (\$6.9 billion) for improving water
efficiency. Irrigation accounts for 80 percent of total water
consumption in Spain, which has the largest irrigated acreage of any EU
country (33,400 Km²). Therefore, it is logical that efforts to increase
more sustainable use of water are being made. This plan addresses the
modernization of existing irrigation systems, involving 2,400 km² of
disadvantaged rural areas, infrastructure and equipment. In each
autonomous region, the regional government will decide the new location
of the irrigation land. One PNR objective is to reduce water losses by
2.7 billion m³ per year, to counteract the current total growth water
demand of 23,5 billion m³.

####### Best Prospect

Demand for equipment, technology and services are high from both the
government and private sector. To meet growing water demand, the Spanish
Government is undertaking a large public works program that will change
its national water system, significantly increasing the number of
desalination plants. This multi-billion euro program will be partly
funded by the European Union. Opportunities exist for U.S. engineering
and water treatment equipment and service firms.

Fines are imposed on contaminating industries through the central,
regional and local governments. These penalties force Spanish industries
to look for environmentally safer technologies and pollution control
equipment to treat emissions and industrial waste. As a result,
opportunities exist for U.S. environmental companies in this market.

######## 

####### Trade Events

TECMA 2008 (6/10-13/2008)

(Biennial)

Feria de Madrid (IFEMA)

Parque Ferial Juan Carlos I

Madrid, 28067 Spain

Tel.: (34-91) 722-3000

Fax: (34-91) 722-5801

E-mail: tecma@ifema.es

Internet: http://www.ifema.es

SMAGUA 2010

(Dates TBC)

Feria de Zaragoza

Carretera Nacional II, km 311

Zaragoza, 50012 Spain

Tel.: (34-97) 653-4420

Fax: (34 97) 633-0649

E-mail: info@feriazaragoza.com

Internet: http://www.feriazaragoza.com

####### Resources and Key Contact

Spanish Government and Public entities:

Spanish Ministry of the Environment: [www.mma.es](http://www.mma.es/)

Spanish environmental foundation:
[www.empresasostenible.info](http://www.empresasostenible.info/)

[Center for Hydrographic Studies:]()

[www.cedex.es/hidrograficos/presentacion.html]()

[Spanish Water Information System (HISPAGUA):]()

[www.hispagua.cedex.es]()

EU:

Gateway to the European Union:
[www.europa.eu.int](http://www.europa.eu.int/)

EU on-line news bulletin:
[www.aquieuropa.com](http://www.aquieuropa.com/)

On-line publications:

Ambientum (on-line environmental B2B portal)
[www.ambientum.com](http://www.ambientum.com/)

Environmental on-line publication:
[www.infoambiente.com/](http://www.infoambiente.com/)

On-line environmental consultations: www.lineaambiental.com

Institute for Energy Saving and Diversification: [www.idae.es]()

Fundación Entorno:
[www.fundacionentorno.org](http://www.fundacionentorno.org/)

Spanish Association of Urban and Environment Equipment (AMEC URBIS):
[www.urbis.amec.es]()

Spanish Desalination and Water Reuse Association (AEDYR):
[www.aedyr.com]()

Main Spanish Water Associations:

AQUAESPANA (Asociacion Espanola de Empresas de Tratamiento y Control de
Aguas)

Spanish Association of Water Control and Treatment Companies

Founded in 1983, it groups 81 water control and treatment companies in
Spain.

Address:

c/ Viladomat 174, 4th floor

08015 Barcelona (Spain)

Tel: +34 93 496 4500

Fax: + 93 496 4532

Contact: Mr. Sergi Marti, President

Email: asociacion@aquaespana.org

ATTA (Asociacion Tecnologica para el Tratamiento del Agua)

Water Treatment Spanish Technological Association

This is a very active water treatment association in Spain. Among other
objectives, it promotes the latest technology and services for water
treatment. It counts with eight of the most important water treatment
companies in Spain as its members.

Address:

Avda. Manoteras 38, D509

28050 Madrid (Spain)

Tel: +34 91768 0487

Contact: Mr. Angel Cajigas Delgado, Executive Director General

E-mail: acajigas@attagua.com

AGA (Asociacion Espanola de Empresas Gestoras de los Servicios de Agua a
Poblaciones)

Spanish Association of Potable Water Services Management Companies

Founded in 1995, it groups 65 Spanish potable water services public and
private sector firms.

Address:

c/ Sor Angela de la Cruz 2, 13th floor

28020 Madrid (Spain)

Tel: + 34 91 570 0001

Fax: + 34 91 579 4508

E-mail: aga@asoaga.com

Web: www.asoaga.com

AEAS (Asociacion Espanola de Abastecimiento de Agua y Saneamiento)

Water Sanitation and Supply Spanish Association

It counts with 368 members.

Address:

c/ Sor Angela de la Cruz 2, 13th floor

28020 Madrid (Spain)

Tel: + 34 91 449 0910

Fax: + 34 91 571 3523

E-mail: aeas@aeas.es

Web: www.aeas.es

Contact: Mr. Gaspar Cienfuegos-Jovellanos, President

####### 

####### For More Information

For more information on the Spanish water treatment market, please
contact U.S. Commercial Service Senior International Trade Specialist
Carmen Adrada, via e-mail at: Carmen.Adrada@mail.doc.gov; Phone: 34 91
308 1542; Fax: 34 91 563 0859or visit our website:
www.buyusa.gov/your_office

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