The project takes place in a little mountain village in the Spanish Pyrenees. The question is formulated by a Dutch woman who lives and works in this village.

The central question is: how can an ecological and self-sustaining water system be created?

The main goal is to design such a water system, which is reliable as well as usable in practice.

This particular mountain village has been abandoned for fifty years. The association ‘Muro de Solana’ (http://murodesolana.org/) is dedicated to bring it back to life. In former days rain water was captured and water was also transported with the help of donkeys from a well, at a distance of one km at a lower altitude then the village. There never was any kind of drainage, piping or water from the tap.

This investigation includes a variety of issues. These issues can also be addressed in separate studies.

– Capturing water, from the well and of rain water

– Storage, safe and maintaining the quality of water

– Distribution

– Discharge

– Purification of the water

– Re-use of purified water

The terrain of the Pyrenees has difficult access and no electricity. Electricity provision depends on sun- and water-energy. It used to be a village for four big families with cattle breeding and farming. Now the association is looking for establishing a water system for 3-4 households and a 200 m2 vegetable garden which is ecological, self-sustaining and meets the production standards of today.

This research results could be an example for other (semi) abandoned villages in the North of Spain. There are many villages in similar situations and the lack any kind of water system is a big problem.

There is a strict deadline for the realization, but this can be negotiated with the government and local council. For the authorities the water system is of great importance for the development of the village.

Contact person: lummina.horlings@wur.nl