Water Cycle: An Efficient and Sustainable Model

Water is an essential resource for any tourist destination, and in Benidorm, it is managed efficiently and sustainably, ensuring supply and optimising its use.

The city has developed a water management model with 95% efficiency, far exceeding the Spanish average (70%), making it a benchmark in the sector.

Benidorm’s success lies in an integrated water cycle management system, which includes:
✅ Efficient water collection and distribution
✅ Wastewater treatment and reuse
✅ Innovation and real-time monitoring
✅ Minimisation of water waste

📍 Water Management in Benidorm: Efficient Supply

Benidorm sources water from various supplies, combining reservoirs, aquifers, and, in times of drought, desalination as a backup measure. The potable water supply is managed by Hidraqua, a concessionary company that has optimised distribution to reduce losses and improve efficiency.

🔍 Key Figures:

✔ The potable water network has a 95% efficiency rate, minimising leaks and wastage.
✔ Less consumption, more visitors: Over the past 25 years, Benidorm has reduced its water consumption by 18%, despite a 40% increase in population and a 26% rise in overnight hotel stays.
✔ Smart sensors monitor water flow in real time to detect leaks and optimise network pressure.

📍 Wastewater Treatment and Reuse: Circular Economy in Action

Benidorm not only uses water efficiently but has also developed a wastewater reuse system, preventing waste and promoting a circular economy.

💦 36% of treated water is reused for irrigation in parks, gardens, and street cleaning.
🚜 Agricultural use: Treated water is also used for crop irrigation, supporting local farming.
🔋 Biogas generation: During the purification process, biogas is produced and used to generate electricity and power a fleet of six municipal vehicles.
🚰 Separate stormwater and wastewater networks: While not covering 100% of the municipality, Benidorm has advanced in separating these networks to improve treatment efficiency.

📍 Innovation and Technology: The Dinapsis Control Centre

Benidorm has taken a step further in intelligent water management with Dinapsis Operation & Lab, a pioneering centre that enables:

🔹 Real-time monitoring of consumption, water quality, and incident detection.
🔹 Leak prevention system: AI algorithms predict and prevent water losses before they occur.
🔹 Use of cameras in the sewage system to detect problems such as blockages and waste build-up.
🔹 Vulnerability predictions: Regular reports assess the risk of pipe breakages before they cause issues.
🔹 Drought and extreme weather prevention plans, in collaboration with the City Council.

📊 Results of Technological Innovation in Water Management:

✔ 700% reduction in peak demand surges during the high season, thanks to efficient pressure and supply management.
✔ Reduced energy consumption, thanks to improved pumping control and efficient water distribution.

Both Hidraqua and Dinapsis play a key role in ensuring the efficient functioning of Benidorm’s water management system. If you would like to learn more about how this resource is optimised in the city, you can visit their websites: Hidraqua and Dinapsis.

Benidorm is not only ensuring water availability for the present but is also actively working on conservation and responsible use of this essential resource for the future.