Reus has completed the recovery of three water wells located within the grounds of Reus Airport, marking a key step in diversifying the city’s water supply. The project, carried out by Aigües de Reus, involved electrical system repairs, pump replacements, and new machinery to connect the wells to the municipal network. The work took nearly two years and cost €467,810.46, excluding VAT.
Collaboration with AENA, the Spanish airport authority, was essential due to operational restrictions at the airport site. The airport’s existing electrical infrastructure has been used to support the new water extraction systems. Despite the physical connection to the network being finished, the wells cannot yet supply drinking water.
PFAS Treatment Still to Be Finalised
The groundwater from the wells contains per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), persistent chemicals found in everyday products such as non-stick cookware, fire-fighting foams, and cosmetics. These compounds are difficult to remove using conventional water treatment methods.
The presence of PFAS in water sources poses a long-term environmental and health challenge, given their persistence and ability to accumulate.
Spanish regulations have required monitoring and compliance with PFAS limits since December 2023, with stricter requirements coming into force by 2 January 2026. Aigües de Reus must now determine the most effective type of activated carbon treatment to remove these substances before the water can be distributed.
Research Project to Address Contamination
To tackle the issue, Aigües de Reus is part of PFAS-CLEARWATER, a research initiative launching in late 2025 and running for three years. The project, with a budget of €786,000 and €407,981 in public funding from the State Research Plan 2024–2027, is led by a consortium including EMATSA, Eurecat, and the Universitat Rovira i Virgili (URV).
It will test advanced treatment technologies such as modified activated carbon, ion-exchange resins, nanofiltration, reverse osmosis, and chemical, electrochemical and photochemical oxidation processes. The EMATSA laboratory will conduct water sampling and analysis, while Eurecat and URV will research removal methods. Based on results, a pilot treatment plant may be installed at a suitable location.
Residents are not currently affected, as the wells remain offline. Aigües de Reus expects to finalise the treatment solution in the coming weeks.
Primary sources: aena.es. Reported by reusdigital.cat, tarragonadigital.com, ACN, Redacció, diarimes.com, aiguesdereus.cat.
