GWR scientist collaborates with international research network.

Dr. Ricardo Abejón, the deputy director of the GWR Project, recently had an enriching visit to the University of Cantabria in Spain. He spent more than two months there carrying out activities within the framework of the "International Collaboration Network for Research into Advanced Treatments Applicable to Gray Water for Domestic Reuse in the Context of the Global Water Crisis". The organization consists of three Chilean universities involved in the GWR Project: the University of Santiago de Chile, the Andrés Bello University, and the University of Bío-Bío. It also includes the European Membrane Institute at the University of Montpellier in France, the University of Cantabria in Santander, Spain, the Zuckerberg Institute for Water Research at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev in Israel, and the Pontifical Catholic University of Peru.

During his time in Spain, Dr. Abejón focused on perfecting his use of computer tools for life cycle analysis of processes, products, and services. He primarily worked with SimaPro software, which evaluates environmental impacts throughout the entire life cycle, enables the creation of sustainability reports, and calculates carbon and water footprints, among other features.

During his time at the University of Cantabria, the scientist joined the research group led by Dr. Rubén Aldaco and Dr. María Margallo. These experts specialize in life cycle analysis for various processes, products, and services. Ricardo Abejón explains, "This collaboration enables us to assess the environmental impacts of Techno House, a 60 m² pilot home where gray water treatment solutions developed in the GWR Project are tested. We can then compare Techno House with other housing alternatives, considering the gray water treatment systems linked to the building for subsequent reuse in irrigating green walls and roofs".

The GWR project contributes to this.

The project's development provides optimal conditions for applying the knowledge generated and shared within this collaborative network. For example, doctoral student and GWR project researcher Arael Alfonso will stay at the European Membrane Institute in Montpellier, France. There, he will join the research group led by Dr. José Sánchez-Marcano to work on modeling membrane separation processes. This experience can be applied to the membrane distillation process proposed for gray water treatment within the GWR project.

The collaborative network has extended its term

The collaboration initiative, funded by the National Agency for Research and Development (ANID), was awarded a grant to promote “international links for research institutions”. Although the initiative was scheduled to conclude at the end of this year, it has been extended until June 2026.
Beyond the project's formal duration, participants are interested in maintaining and expanding the scope of this collaborative international research network. Dr. Ricardo Abejón points out that contacts have already been made with other organizations researching topics related to gray water treatment and reuse. In the near future, it is hoped that these institutions will join the network, including the Federal University of Espírito Santo in Brazil (led by Dr. Ricardo Franci), the University of Newcastle in Australia (led by Dr. Adel Al-Gheethi), and the University of Cape Coast in Ghana (led by Dr. Michael Oteng-Peprah).
A project will also be developed to apply for future funding opportunities from the initiative. "In any case, the end of this project will not mean the dissolution of the collaborative research network that has been formed, and we hope to continue the joint work that has already begun", says the researcher.

International Seminar

On November 26, the University of Santiago will host an international seminar as part of the initiatives arising from the work of this collaborative research network. Two foreign researchers from institutions linked to the network will attend the event: Dr. Ian Vázquez-Rowe from the Pontifical Catholic University of Peru and Dr. Amit Gross from Ben-Gurion University of the Negev. Several GWR Project researchers will also present the results of their research at the event.