Wastewater Treatment Plants in Mediterranean Spain: An Exploration of Relations between Water Treatments, Water Reuse, and Governance

Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) are fundamental to enable the transition towards principles of a circular economy in water supply. In Mediterranean Spain, an area with recurrent episodes stress, treated wastewater may become critical resource for future. However, its incorporation into array potential options opens up questions regarding different qualities obtained each treatment, extent existing reuse practices, or governance regime plants. this paper, state WWTPs Spain is analyzed, focus on plant sizes, technologies, use, and regimes. The latter shows strong presence private lesser public–private WWTPs, while number public small. Regarding most sophisticated systems found that also largest size. Reclaimed very significant agricultural golf course irrigation some areas (Valencia, Murcia, Andalusia), but still relatively incipient other uses.