Desalination and Water Treatment
Water Treatment
What is the Integrated Water Cycle?
The complete water cycle is the sum of all the natural and human processes that enable the complete management of water resources. Unlike the natural water cycle (precipitation, infiltration, evaporation), the complete cycle incorporates the stages of human intervention necessary to ensure water supply, quality, and sustainability:
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- Capture: Extraction of water from natural sources (rivers, reservoirs, aquifers, sea).
- Treatment: Processes to make water potable or adapt it to the required uses.
- Distribution: Delivery of treated water to domestic, industrial or agricultural users.
- Use: Application of water in various activities.
- Wastewater collection: Channeling of used water.
- Purification: Treatment of wastewater to remove contaminants.
- Reuse or controlled discharge: Treated water is returned to the environment or reused.
Each of these stages represents an opportunity to implement solutions that optimize resources, reduce negative impacts, and promote sustainability.
Innovative and sustainable solutions for the entire water cycle
At Nautilus Dragados, we understand that water is an essential resource for life and human development. Therefore, we have aligned our technological solutions with the principles of the blue economy, a strategy that seeks to harmonize economic growth with the conservation of aquatic ecosystems. Through our modular, compact, and sustainable plants, we actively contribute to the complete water cycle, ensuring efficiency, environmental responsibility, and access to water in complex contexts.
This section details how our technologies participate in each phase of the entire water cycle and how we promote a productive model that protects marine and coastal resources, fostering resilient and sustainable communities.
1. Compact Desalination Plants
Mobile plants for purifying seawater and brackish water
At Nautilus Dragados, we implement compact desalination plants capable of treating seawater, brackish water, or any source requiring purification. These units are integrated into modular containers, making them easy to transport, install, and operate in virtually any environment: coastal areas, ports, arid regions, islands, industrial facilities, or emergency situations.
Thanks to their “Plug & Play” concept, these plants are ready to operate immediately once installed. Their autonomous and automated design allows the entire desalination process to be carried out continuously, efficiently, and without the need for constant operator intervention.
Each unit features remote monitoring systems, allowing for continuous operational supervision, as well as remote adjustments and maintenance. This ensures a reliable, safe service tailored to local drinking water supply needs.
Our modular desalination plants are designed to transform seawater or brackish water into drinking water using highly efficient reverse osmosis processes. They are an ideal solution for:
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- Coastal regions with freshwater shortages
- Islands, port facilities or remote bases
- Industries that require high-quality water in areas without conventional access
Key Advantages
- Low energy consumption thanks to energy recovery technologies
- Quick installation (in containers or prefabricated structures)
- Compact, robust and easy-to-maintain design
- Possibility of integration with renewable energies (solar, wind)
These plants allow the creation of new water sources without overexploiting rivers or aquifers, contributing to water balance and adaptation to climate change.
2. Compact plants for wastewater reuse
Mobile and efficient solutions for circular water use
At Nautilus Dragados, we offer compact systems for the treatment and reuse of urban or industrial wastewater. These systems convert used water into a new, useful resource for:
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- Irrigation of green areas or crops
- Urban cleaning and street watering
- Non-potable industrial processes
- Aquifer recharge and saline intrusion control
We have compact and mobile wastewater reuse plants, suitable for both small and medium-scale applications, depending on the volume required for each project.
These solutions are designed to give water a second life, reducing drinking water consumption and reducing the water footprint of industries, urban facilities, and agricultural installations. Each system is configured to offer maximum efficiency, flexibility, and sustainability.
Main benefits
- Reduction of the discharge of contaminated water into receiving bodies
- Decrease in drinking water consumption
- Compliance with local and international environmental regulations
- Economic savings for public and private users
These solutions enable a circular water economy, where every drop is maximized before being discarded.
3. Sludge Filtering with Geotextile Bags
Managing waste from water treatment or dredging is an environmental challenge. Geotextile filter bags allow for:
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- Dewater sludge and separate solids from liquids
- Safely contain contaminated sediment
- Facilitate transportation and final disposal
Common applications:
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- Wastewater treatment plants
- Dredging and maintenance works for ports and canals
- Industrial processes with high sludge generation
Advantages
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- Simple and economical operation
- Reduction in waste volume
- Improving environmental control in coastal or protected areas
With this technology, we help close the cycle cleanly and efficiently, preventing poorly managed waste from affecting the aquatic environment.
Our role in the Blue Economy
The blue economy promotes sustainable development linked to the sea, rivers, and other aquatic ecosystems. At Nautilus Dragados, we contribute to this model through:
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- Clean technologies that minimize the environmental impact of desalination, purification, and sludge management
- Water efficiency by promoting reuse and optimizing processes
- Local development by providing safe water to vulnerable or isolated communities
- Reduction of ecological footprint, thanks to the use of modular systems, renewable energies and compact designs
A global challenge, a technological response
Growing water scarcity is a critical global concern. With only 2% of the planet’s water available for drinking, the combination of persistent droughts, climate change, and growing demand for water in industrial, agricultural, and urban sectors demands immediate, practical, and sustainable solutions.
Reuse plants represent an effective alternative for recovering, treating, and reusing wastewater, reducing pressure on natural sources and ensuring a continuous supply in situations of water stress.
Replicable and adaptable technology
Thanks to the modular engineering applied to our systems, these plants can be replicated in multiple locations, even in areas with limited infrastructure. Large installations and expensive civil engineering processes are not required, significantly reducing environmental impact and implementation times.
These solutions are designed to actively contribute to sustainable development, aligning with environmental responsibility, water efficiency, and the circular economy.
Sectors that benefit from water reuse
Numerous industries and productive sectors can incorporate these systems as part of their sustainability and efficiency strategy:
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- Agri-food
- Food and beverages
- Metallurgy and automotive
- Chemical, pharmaceutical and cosmetics
- Paper industry
- Industrial laundries
- Hospitality (hotels, campsites, resorts)
- Industrial parks and remote communities
Long-term commitment
Nautilus Dragados’ vision goes beyond providing technical solutions. Our ambition is to be part of a structural change in the way water is conceived and used. We promote comprehensive, responsible, and resilient water resource management, building bridges between technology, the environment, and human development.
Want to know how our solutions can adapt to your community, project, or industry? Contact us and let’s explore together new ways to protect water and build the future from the present.
About us
Nautilus Dragados España, headquartered in Málaga, Spain, specializes in the dredging and cleanup of ports, beaches, and other aquatic environments. Originally founded in Norway, the company has accumulated extensive experience in cleanup and restoration projects there. We operate along the entire Mediterranean coast of Spain and part of the Atlantic, covering the entire coast of Spain and Portugal, as well as Morocco. Our commitment to sustainability and the environment is at the core of our mission. We utilize advanced technologies such as polymer/Geobag dewatering to ensure our operations are efficient and environmentally friendly. At Nautilus Dragados, we pride ourselves on providing innovative solutions to address marine environmental challenges.
Contact us today!
If you’re looking for effective solutions for beach and coastal protection, our team of experts is ready to advise you on comprehensive coastal management and offer advanced coastal protection techniques tailored to your needs. Contact us for more information.