[español] @rodrigodelao | @vigilantecosta
The Nace Project (Water/Energy/Food) began to take shape in 2019, with the technical assistance of the water and agriculture table of the Embassy of Israel in Chile. In alliance with professionals and national and foreign private companies, converging on the challenge of non-pollution or zero emission and supporting the trend of being a true agent of change from the capture of emissions, revaluing and eliminating waste in a virtuous chain that meets one of the transversal objectives that give rise to the project: supply the demand for water in areas of high scarcity for human and agricultural consumption.
Our organization, together with the project management team and its collaborators and partners, begin by identifying the problem that affects us by asking ourselves: what is the solution to the planet's water crisis in a context of global warming and climate change? And, although the question and its possible answers may sound dystopian, the solution to the planet's water crisis is multidimensional and requires a combination of measures at the local, regional and global levels.
Some proposed solutions include:
- Conservation and sustainable management of water: this includes measures to reduce water waste, improve the efficiency of water use and protect water resources.
- Infrastructure: Improve the infrastructure for the storage, transport and distribution of water, as well as the construction of dams and dikes to regulate the water supply.
- Technologies: Develop technologies to treat and reuse water, including desalination and purification.
- Climate change: Take measures to mitigate and adapt to climate change, since variations in the climate can affect the availability of water.
- Education: Increase awareness about the value of water and the importance of its conservation, and promote sustainable practices in the use of water.
- International Cooperation: Work in collaboration with other countries and international organizations to address global problems related to water.
In this context, our project addresses existing technology as an ally and proposes reverse osmosis; nanofiltration and water purification, as an additional source of drinking water in areas where fresh water is scarce or unavailable. This can help meet the needs of human consumption, agriculture, industry and, in a virtuous circle, for the generation of clean energy. The entire process is properly managed, it has no direct connection to the sea, so there is no impact on marine, aerial or terrestrial life.
To avoid negative impacts, measures are taken such as:
- Renewable energy is used to operate RO (Reverse Osmosis) plants, which lowers energy costs and reduces greenhouse gas emissions.
- Treatment techniques are used to remove minerals and residues before the water is released into the environment.
- Implement solid waste management practices to handle salt and other mineral waste safely and sustainably.
- Carry out environmental impact studies to assess the effects of desalination, its use and final disposal, before building a desalination plant in a specific area. In this sense, residues are considered treatable inputs, or raw materials.
As the NACE Project, in 2023 we began to develop the execution phase of our first project in Chile, in the Maule Region. In this context, we remain open to collaborators, partners and investors who believe in our solution and help us break with the current market paradigm. We believe that local projects with a vision from the territory can contribute to a more diverse, comprehensive and healthy economy. Our approach is to solve problems related to water and food scarcity in an open and inclusive way, where the social and environmental (positive) impact is transversal in our line of work.
Los Medanos, Chanco. Maule Region [NACE 1]
The community of Los Médanos in the Maule region of Chile has been facing an unprecedented water crisis since 2010. The area is predominantly agricultural, but the approximately 35 families in the community lack access to potable water for both human consumption and agricultural use. Instead, they receive water through tanker trucks that deliver about 500 liters of water of dubious origin every one or two weeks. Along with this, it is important to point out that the Los Médanos area is made up of sandy soil, which requires special care to nourish and strengthen it. This is where the NACE Project comes into play, which aims to provide solutions for access to water and food in communities such as Los Médanos. By providing clean water and supporting agriculture in the area, the project helps improve community living conditions and nourish soils for a more sustainable future and communities.
The NACE Project is an open negative carbon circular economy project, which combines conservation, research and development of applied technology, with the production of clean water and energy (Campus). In addition, it is a waste2energy project, which means that it uses waste as an energy source, contributing to the creation of a more sustainable production and consumption cycle.
The production of water by reverse osmosis is one of the keys to the project. Reverse osmosis and water purification are processes that work to ensure communities have access to safe drinking water. With reverse osmosis technology, the NACE Project can provide high-quality water for people and our environment.
In addition, the project focuses on the generation of clean energy through the use of green hydrogen. This not only provides sustainable energy for communities, but also helps reduce waste and capture carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere. With this unique combination of technologies, the NACE Project is a model for a more sustainable and fair future for all.
In short, the NACE Project is an ambitious and necessary project for today's world. With its focus on conservation, research and development, and the production of clean water and energy, NACE is a project that addresses the most pressing challenges of our time in a truly forward-thinking and innovative way.
As an independent environmental organization, member and part of the international Waterkeeper alliance and other organizations, companies and the state, we have a shared challenge to consider conservation as a form of investment for good development, in balance, harmony and respect for local and cultural qualities and virtues; is that we keep the NACE project permanently open to collaborators who believe in our solution and help us break with the current market paradigm. We believe that local and territorial projects can contribute to a more diverse, comprehensive and healthy economy. Our approach is to solve problems related to water and food scarcity in an open and inclusive way, where the social and environmental impact is transversal in our line of work.
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- @rodrigodelao director @vigilantecosta ong @waterkeeper Chile COO #ProyectoNace -
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