We are FCC Nº26

Pressing the start-up button at the demonstration plant. The Phoenix project puts Almeria ahead of the new European requirements for reclaimed water for agriculture. Last April saw the official inaugura - tion of the European innovation pro- ject Life Phoenix, led by Aqualia, at the El Toyo wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) in the capital of Al - meria, where a demonstration plant has been installed to test different low-cost technologies for the reuse of urban water from medium to large populations in agriculture. The mayor of Almería, María del Mar Vázquez, opened the event, which was also attended by the Deputy De - legate of the Spanish Government, José María Martín; the Regional Mi - nister of Agriculture, Fisheries, Wa - ter and Rural Development, Carmen Crespo; and the Spanish Director of Aqualia, Santiago Lafuente. After the various speeches by the authorities, a commemorative pla - que was unveiled, the symbolic start button of the demonstration plant was pressed and there was a guided tour of the facilities, during which the project’s team of researchers explai - ned the different technologies that are already in operation. Aqualia is leading this innovation project to test new low-cost treatments for the reuse of treated water for agriculture and the elimination of emerging pollutants and microplastics. I N N O V A T I O N 62 I N N O V A T I O N