The sector’s future goes beyond expanding the drop-by-drop sys-tem—50% of the total—to prevent the massive losses associated with spray or gravity irrigation. The main focus is on reuse as a circular alter-native, one in which good practices, according to Rancaño, reduce both pollution and the demand for natural water sources. Advanced technol-ogy such as ultrafiltration in wastewater treatment plants, for instance, “improves tertiary treatment, ensures compliance with the new limits proposed by the European Union, and allows some of the water to be used for agricultural irrigation,” he adds. RECLAIMED WATER He’s referring to the new EC Regulation on water reuse with more stringent criteria and requirements for quality and the types of crops the water can be used for. “Different levels of quality are required depending on the use in question, as are associated analytical tests, which require data monitoring and, above all, transparency and cer-tification,” says Navarro. In fact, ACCIONA has already developed its own certification method with circular economy and responsible resource use criteria. The technologies involved thus entail Agriculture 5.0: digitali-zation applied to massive collection of data, for instance the use of sensors to determine how much water is needed by each area of the crop, and analysis for automated, on-demand management. Every aspect is measured, controlled, and monitored in facilities that have more to do with industrial production than the old practice of mak-ing ridges with a hoe. ENGINEERING AND MANAGEMENT TO COMBAT WATER STRESS WATER ENGINEERING AND MANAGEMENT TO COMBAT WATER STRESS According to the UN, 70% of the water consumed globally is for agricultural use. In Spain, it’s 80%. It’s essential to optimize man-agement, reuse, and productivity to reduce water stress. How does the company contribute? • With marine desalination and wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) that use ultrafiltration technology, for example, like the one in Moratalla (Murcia). Its newer, more efficient membranes withstand variations in processes, industrial discharges, precipi-tation, etc. It serves a population equivalent to 50,000 people. • With comprehensive irrigation infrastructure management such as the Navarra Channel, the first phase of which provides water for over 22,000 hectares and for urban consumption. Automation of operations, management of water and energy efficiency, and predictive maintenance lower the final water bill. It incorporates renewable energy from the grid and from auto-consumption that allows stable prices under long-term contracts. ACCIONA has played a part in it from construction to operation, as a concession-ary company.