European project UIA03-338 · 2019-2022
GUARDIAN has turned treated wastewater from the Camp de Túria II WWTP into an active defence against forest fires in the wildland-urban interface of the Parc Natural del Túria, between Riba-roja de Túria and Paterna.
What GUARDIAN is
GUARDIAN (Green Urban Actions for Resilient fire Defence of the Interface Area) is a European project to increase the fire resilience of the residential estates and the forest of the Parc Natural del Túria, in the La Vallesa area, between Riba-roja de Túria and Paterna.
It was selected in the European Union’s 3rd Urban Innovative Actions (UIA) call, which funded 80% of its budget. It was developed by the town councils of Riba-roja de Túria and Paterna together with Hidraqua, Cetaqua, Medi XXI, the Universitat Politècnica de València and the Universitat de València, in collaboration with the Parc Natural del Túria (Generalitat Valenciana).
The infrastructure was inaugurated in April 2022: it is the largest in Europe, and the second largest in the world, to use reclaimed water from a wastewater treatment plant to prevent forest fires.
Key figures
How it works
A compact advanced treatment plant next to the Camp de Túria II WWTP removes emerging micropollutants from the treated water so that it can be reused in the natural environment.
Five tanks and kilometres of pipes carry the reclaimed water through the Natural Park. The pumping stations run on solar photovoltaic power.
40 fixed towers with water cannons keep the vegetation of the green firebreaks separating the forest from the houses moist.
A wireless sensor network measures the state of the soil, vegetation and atmosphere in real time, helping to decide when and how much to irrigate.
More than 37 strategic hectares have been managed and more than 2,000 native, less flammable plants have been planted.
Training in prevention and self-protection for residents of the housing estates, and an analysis of the project’s economic and social impact.
Project area
The residential estates of Riba-roja de Túria and Paterna are surrounded by the Natural Park, the great green lung of the Valencia metropolitan area, where the fire risk is high. Riba-roja de Túria has suffered 40 forest fires and Paterna 19.
Latest
A UV Water Economics Group study estimates that failing to act on fire prevention in the Parc Natural del Túria would have cost close to 31 million euros.
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GUARDIAN, Europe’s largest fire defence infrastructure, is inaugurated: reclaimed water to protect 2,000 hectares and 15,000 residents.
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The Secretary of State for the Environment, Hugo Morán, visits GUARDIAN in Paterna, Europe’s largest infrastructure against forest fires.
Read moreOn video
Partners
Riba-roja de Túria Town Council
Paterna Town Council
Hidraqua
Cetaqua
Medi XXI GSA
Universitat Politècnica de València (IIAMA)
Universitat de València (Water Economics Group)
Parc Natural del Túria (Generalitat Valenciana)GUARDIAN shows that reclaimed water can protect the wildland-urban interface. Let us know if you would like to apply it in your municipality.