Systems Analysis of Zaragoza Urban Water - SWITCH - Managing ...
Systems Analysis of Zaragoza Urban Water - SWITCH - Managing ...
Systems Analysis of Zaragoza Urban Water - SWITCH - Managing ...
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<strong>Systems</strong> <strong>Analysis</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Zaragoza</strong> UWS<br />
Guillermo Penagos<br />
6 Conclusions<br />
6.1 The present work evaluated the sustainability aspects <strong>of</strong> water extraction,<br />
resource consumption and pollution impacts by means <strong>of</strong> LCA, which showed to<br />
be a useful methodology even when the impact assessment phase is not applied.<br />
However, complementary information such as surface water withdrawal, water<br />
consumption, ground water extraction, water leakages in distribution network, etc<br />
should also be included for a more comprehensive approach.<br />
6.2 <strong>Zaragoza</strong> has been successfully reducing fresh water withdrawal by means <strong>of</strong><br />
integral strategies involving infrastructure upgrading and promotion <strong>of</strong> public<br />
awareness. The success <strong>of</strong> these projects shows a good potential to improve the<br />
overall environmental performance <strong>of</strong> this UWS.<br />
6.3 <strong>Zaragoza</strong> will still reduce its fresh water withdrawal via infrastructure<br />
upgrading. However, further reduction requires additional measures. The ongoing<br />
strategy <strong>of</strong> optimizing water for landscaping won’t be very significant. Presently<br />
domestic consumption is already low, therefore Industrial water recycling is<br />
proposed as a suitable alternative. From this strategy also a slightly positive<br />
effect is expected on energy consumption, CO 2 emissions. No effect is expected<br />
on pollution loads to the Ebro River neither to agriculture soil.<br />
6.4 Ground water is a major component <strong>of</strong> <strong>Zaragoza</strong> urban water cycle. Due to its<br />
origin on agriculture irrigation and also due to industrial pollution <strong>of</strong> soil in the<br />
past, groundwater is subjected to important threats <strong>of</strong> both quantity and quality.<br />
<strong>Zaragoza</strong> municipality and catchment authority should plan together the<br />
adequate use <strong>of</strong> this resource.<br />
6.5 During the time period <strong>of</strong> the present study (last six years) the consumption <strong>of</strong><br />
energy and chemical products, as well as the pollution loads to the Ebro River<br />
and the atmospheric emissions have remained more or less constant. Optimizing<br />
the urban water system to reduce such environmental impacts should be<br />
expressively included within the goals for water management.<br />
6.6 <strong>Zaragoza</strong> has committed to the Aalborg summit for sustainable European<br />
cities, and it has set a sustainability vision. However it still requires adjusting such<br />
goals to be Specific, Measurable, Acceptable, Realistic and Time bound.<br />
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