Maó Installs A New Denitrification Plant

This project treats groundwater to meet health and safety standards and protect public health

What does it consist of?

The municipality of Maó now has a denitrification plant in the Malbúger area to treat groundwater and make it suitable for consumption. The project, funded entirely by sustainable tourism tax, reduces nitrate levels across the municipal network and ensures the quality of supply in terms of health.

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Data

PROJECT TITLE IN THE CALL
Denitrification station
LOCATION
Minorca (Maó)
Entity submitting the PROJECT
Consell Insular de Menorca
Entity that executes the project
Consell Insular de Menorca
Project code
ITS2017-106
Total project amount
624.916 €
ITS granted amount
624.916 €
Executed amount
624.916 €
Call year
2017
Budget implementation status
Executed
Purpose
Environment
Budget execution
Executed: 100%
Last updated
06.05.2022

The project

In Menorca, water for the urban network comes solely from groundwater. This situation is complicated by the fact that the peak consumption season coincides with the driest months, which reduces natural recharge capacity. In recent years, wells in the municipality of Maó have been registering nitrate concentrations above the legal limit of 50 mg/l, which affected the drinkability of the water.

To ensure enough supply of quality water, Menorca Island Council considered different technical, economic and environmental options for water treatment. Biological denitrification arose as the best option for tackling high nitrate levels and complying with current health regulations, without negatively affecting the environment.

The project involved the construction and installation of a denitrification plant next to the Malbúger water tanks, with an initial capacity to treat between 800 and 1,000 m³ per day. The plant primarily serves the Malbúger network, but its design means it can be connected to the rest of the municipality's networks to extend its scope and improve the quality of water distributed throughout Maó.

With an executed investment of more than €624,000, funded through sustainable tourism tax, the plant is now operational and helps to ensure a safe urban supply for residents and tourists. This work strengthens the sustainable management of water and ensures its quality for future generations.