This is an example of how we promote circular economy solutions, while also generating social benefits in the regions where we operate.
With a circular approach, Sacyr Agua has been promoting the reuse of desalination membranes for years, transforming the end of their useful life into a new opportunity. This practice extends the useful life of a key technical material in desalination plants, preventing its premature disposal as waste and promoting a more efficient use of resources.
Dozens of membranes from desalination plants await a second life thanks to reuse and recycling technologies.
New Applications for a Valuable Resource
Membranes that have reached the end of their useful life in the seawater desalination process can have a second life. At Sacyr, we reuse them for new applications that enhance their value:
• Treatment of reclaimed water for agricultural use, where quality requirements are less stringent. This initiative is already underway at EDAM Skikda O&M and the Honaine Desalination Plant (Algeria), Sohar Operation Services (Oman), and Southern Seawater (Australia).
• Reuse at other company facilities, where the membranes are utilized as filters for various water treatment processes. For example, membranes from IDAM Torrevieja UTE have been transferred to IDAM Alicante to continue serving in new applications.
• Wastewater treatment, where they are used as part of tertiary treatment processes or MBR (Membrane Bioreactor) systems.
• Creation of recreational spaces and landscaping features at the desalination plants themselves, transforming them into planters, as has already been done at Sohar Operation Services (Oman).
Through this initiative, at Sacyr Agua we give the membranes a second life, reducing waste and preventing their disposal in landfills. This action is part of our Zero Waste Plan and contributes to advancing the company’s circular economy objectives. It aligns with our strategies focused on preventing the generation of non-hazardous waste and fostering partnerships that avoid its disposal, while promoting sustainable solutions across all our operations.
Technical staff perform monitoring and commissioning tasks on a membrane filtration system.
More Than 10,000 Reused Membranes
Between 2023 and 2025, more than 10,000 desalination membranes have been reused.
This initiative is already being implemented in various Sacyr Agua projects, both in Spain and in other countries, promoting a more circular approach to materials management by extending their useful life and encouraging new uses before disposal. Additionally, it has a positive impact on the communities where we operate by supporting solutions related to water treatment for agricultural and productive activities.
