Page 74 - Aqualia MRSC 2015

09 G4-S01
This study analysed the water footprint of
the community (considered as the volume
of freshwater consumed in human activity),
establishing the impact of using water
resources and identifying the trends. It also humidity and freely absorbed by vegetation)
sought to quantify the impact of consuming
water incorporated in the goods and servic-
es produced and traded by Cantabria, and
to determine the water footprint generated
in the area. This will help identify and
boost activity sectors with optimal social,
environmental and economic profitability.
Energy Management Systems
Aqualia has set itself an ambitious 3-year
plan to certify the whole organisation
with standard ISO 50001 on energy
efficiency. To this end, 15 contracts were
certified in 2015, another 30 are expected
to be certified in 2016 and some more in
2017. The contracts chosen were those
with a consumption higher than 1,300,000
kWh/year, which make up 80% of the
overall consumption. This project complies
with EU Directive 2012/27/EU of December
2015 on energy efficiency.
Concern for the environment and society
Part of Aqualia's business strategy is to
offer solutions that contribute to a more
sustainable use of water. To this end, it
must encourage users to utilise all means
within their reach.
We do not want to leave a footprint.
In conjunction with the United Nations
Climate Change Conference in Paris
(COP21), Aqualia has drawn up a report
with the key concepts on climate change
and the carbon footprint to raise awareness
among the general public and staff within
the company.
Furthermore, by joining the initiative "One
million commitments for the climate",
launched by the Ministry of Agriculture,
74 Environment
This activity serves as a useful tool to link Since 2007, when Aqualia
the water uses with the economic ac- began operating in Santander,
tivity and the social and geographic water supplied to the network
reality of Cantabria, and it highlights the has dropped by 23%, installed
importance of considering green water electric power by 28% and the
(rainwater stored in the soil in the form of CO2 emission to the atmosphere
by 23%.
as a crucial resource to help alleviate water
shortage.
This plan involves thoroughly monitoring ❚❚Purchasing equipment with higher energy
the energy, controlling the installed power efficiency, namely those related to RD
and the evolution of the power consump- 187/2011 on establishing the ecological
tion in the production facilities. To this end, design requirements applicable to ener-
actions have been geared towards: gy-related products.
❚❚Improving measurement by purchas- ❚❚Optimising and centralising the purchase
ing process, energy and maintenance of energy.
equipment.
❚❚Adequately maintaining infrastructures.
❚❚Calculating the energy performance of ❚❚Improving the hydraulic performance
pumps.
of the network, which will lead to less
❚❚Optimising and improving processes, consumption of water and thus power.
facilities and production equipment. ❚❚Developing innovative projects.
For this purpose, the organisation took part
in various activities throughout 2015, which
enabled the message about the importance
of sustainable resources to directly reach
clients, workers and society in general.
Food and Environment (MAGRAMA) and
the Ecology and Development Foundation
(ECODES), Aqualia has made a commitment
to log and reduce the carbon footprint
of all activities it carries out. This involves
measuring and reducing the total amount
of CO2 and other greenhouse gas (GHG)
emissions caused directly or indirectly by
the company.