Technology can become a great ally to save water, even more so in the period of drought that we are currently experiencing. This is what different startups supported by the Minerva Program are doing, which have developed various solutions focused on achieving efficient use of water, especially in agriculture, one of the most important sectors in the region, and in the home.
Saving water in homes, detection of humidity levels or wastewater treatment systems are some of the projects launched by entrepreneurs who have gone through this ICT promotion program of the Ministry of Economic Transformation, Industry, Knowledge and Universities and Vodafone.
Sustainable consumption
In order to achieve a more sustainable consumption in the home, Waisense, a system from Malaga that saves the water we waste waiting for it to come out at the temperature we want. This solution makes it possible that when we open the hot water tap it comes out instantly at the desired temperature, which makes it possible to save up to 25 liters each time we open the hot water tap and also reduce the cost of the bill.
The Granada startup Graniot, for its part, has developed a web application that allows agronomists and farmers to make better decisions regarding the irrigation and fertilization of their crops, thanks to satellite technology and agroclimatic information. This solution facilitates the control of crops through weekly monitoring in terms of vigor, chlorophyll and water stress, information that, integrated with meteorological information, enables agricultural technicians to prevent high-risk situations in crops and save up to 15% of the water expense.
Another tool that improves the water use in the field, in this case for the cultivation of strawberries, fruit trees and avocado, is Sensculturative. This device is placed on the agricultural land to know in real time the health status of your crop from the Smartphone, and know when and how much to irrigate or fertilize a plot, which allows saving up to 25% in water and fertilizer consumption. .
SensaCultivo is compatible with all types of irrigated crops, in soil or hydroponics (without soil), in greenhouses or outdoors. It is currently implanted in many farms in Huelva and Seville, in crops of red fruits, avocados, citrus, etc.
For its part, the Sevillian Aquatica has created a sensor system to automate irrigation and phytosanitary treatments. This solution allows farmers to be guided to irrigate efficiently through an application for tablets and mobile phones, which means savings in water use and the possibility of controlling the irrigation area without having to constantly travel to the plantations.
water regeneration
Lastly, and focused on the regeneration of water rather than the efficiency of its consumption, is the biotechnological G2G Algae. This Sevillian startup applies technology to the cultivation of microalgae to recover and conserve the planet’s natural resources and biodiversity. Its device allows a concentrate to be produced on an industrial scale to, among other benefits, solve water pollution problems. This microalgae cultivation also acts as an ecological fertilizer that regenerates the soil and allows CO2 emissions to be reduced.
Agriculture currently consumes between 60 and 70% of fresh water, a figure that may increase to 19% in 2050, according to UNESCO. In Spain it is estimated that agricultural activities are, without a doubt, the ones that consume the most water, around 70%.
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