Desalination has become an essential tool to ensure a stable drinking water supply in regions affected by water scarcity. In southeastern Spain, where water demand is high and natural resources are limited, the Mancomunidad de los Canales del Taibilla plays a key role in supplying drinking water to millions of people. In this context, Ingeteam contributes its technical know‑how through INDAR submersible pumping systems designed for demanding marine environments, such as the Alicante I and San Pedro del Pinatar I plants.
Ingeteam solutions for desalination
Desalination has become one of the most effective technological solutions to ensure a reliable water supply in regions affected by water scarcity. In this context, the reliability of equipment, energy efficiency, and environmental responsibility have become key factors in the design and operation of drinking water production facilities.
With more than 85 years of experience in the development of electromechanical solutions, Ingeteam brings extensive expertise to the water sector in the design and manufacture of pumping systems for highly demanding applications. Through its INDAR products, the company develops equipment designed to operate in complex environments, where service continuity and system robustness are essential for the performance of hydraulic infrastructure.
Desalination has become a strategic infrastructure to ensure a reliable water supply in regions with limited natural resources
In the field of desalination, Ingeteam’s innovative strategy is based on three main pillars: robustness, high power, and environmental sustainability. This approach responds to the needs of an increasingly demanding industry, where facilities must operate continuously, even under the particularly harsh conditions of marine environments.
One of the most critical elements in the operation of a desalination plant is the seawater intake system. Traditionally, many plants have relied on VTP (Vertical Turbine Pumps) with motors located on the surface. This configuration requires visible structures, additional auxiliary systems, and periodic maintenance operations associated with mechanical components exposed to the marine environment.
Ingeteam develops submersible pumping solutions capable of operating reliably and efficiently in highly demanding marine environments
As an alternative to this conventional approach, Ingeteam offers a solution based on fully submersible pumping units, in which the pump and motor form a single assembly that operates directly underwater. This design significantly simplifies the system configuration, reduces the number of external components, and improves the overall reliability of the installation.
INDAR submersible motors are specifically designed to operate in marine environments and use water as a cooling medium, eliminating the need for oils or lubricants that could cause environmental risks. This feature enhances the sustainability of the plants and reduces their potential impact on the natural environment.
In addition, as these units are fully submersible, there is no need for surface support structures or external cooling systems. This design enables installation times to be reduced by up to 85%, while simplifying assembly and maintenance tasks. The result is a more compact, low-noise, and visually integrated solution within the coastal environment.
Ingeteam’s proposal for the desalination sector is based on a portfolio of solutions designed for seawater intake and transfer applications involving large volumes of water.
Among these solutions are the INDAR submersible motors, developed to operate directly underwater under high pressure and salinity conditions. These are complemented by seawater intake and transfer pumps, designed to transport large flows within the hydraulic infrastructure of desalination plants.
INDAR submersible motors use water as a cooling medium, eliminating oils or lubricants and reducing environmental impact
The portfolio is completed with surface electric motors, used in specific stages of the process, and INGEDRIVE frequency converters, which optimise the operation of pumping systems, improve energy efficiency, and adapt plant performance to real demand conditions.
Thanks to this combination of technologies, Ingeteam offers robust and high-performance solutions capable of meeting the operational challenges of modern desalination plants.
This technological approach is exemplified in reference desalination projects along the Spanish Mediterranean coast, where Ingeteam’s experience has been key to ensuring a reliable drinking water supply.
Desalination in practice: two key projects in the Spanish Mediterranean
The Levante region, located on Spain’s southeastern coast, is one of the areas where water management is particularly complex. The scarcity of natural resources and the high demand for drinking water, especially during the summer months, make it essential to implement solutions that ensure a stable and sustainable supply.
The fully submersible design reduces installation times by up to 85% compared to conventional systems, simplifying assembly and maintenance
In this context, the Mancomunidad de los Canales del Taibilla (MCT) plays a key role in supplying drinking water to more than 2.4 million people across the provinces of Murcia, Alicante, and Albacete. To guarantee this service, the organisation combines different water sources, such as rivers, inter-basin transfers, and desalination plants, the latter being a strategic component of the overall supply system.
The MCT chose Ingeteam for its ability to provide reliable and efficient solutions, tailored to the most demanding marine conditions.
The Alicante I and San Pedro del Pinatar I desalination plants are two representative examples of how technology can transform seawater into a vital resource for human consumption.
Alicante I desalination plant
The Alicante I desalination plant, located in the Aguamarga area within the municipality of Alicante, is part of the Nuevo Canal de Alicante supply system, a key infrastructure that ensures water delivery to the city and a significant part of the province.
With a maximum production capacity of 57,000 m³ per day, this facility plays a decisive role in strengthening water security in the region, particularly during periods of drought or high demand.
The Alicante I and San Pedro del Pinatar I plants are key pieces of infrastructure for the drinking water supply in southeastern Spain
For this project, Ingeteam supplied two seawater intake groups consisting of INDAR UGP pumps and INDAR ML submersible motors, featuring duplex stainless-steel hydraulics and super duplex motors, designed to operate at 400 V. Each unit, with a power rating of 75 kW, operates in coastal vertical wells characterised by significant water level variability due to tides and the hydrogeological conditions of the area.
The nominal operating point for each group is Q = 450 m³/h and H = 40 m, operating through variable frequency drives (VFDs) that allow performance to be adjusted to real operating conditions. Their design and high corrosion resistance ensure resilient performance even in the most demanding marine environments.
San Pedro del Pinatar I desalination plant
The San Pedro del Pinatar I desalination plant, located in the Mojón area near the Regional Park of Salinas and Arenales of San Pedro del Pinatar in the Region of Murcia, supplies the Nuevo Canal de Cartagena, forming another key infrastructure within the system managed by the Mancomunidad de los Canales del Taibilla.
This facility has a production capacity of up to 65,000 m³ of drinking water per day, making it one of the most important desalination plants in the region.
Ingeteam offers fully submersible pumping units where pump and motor operate underwater, simplifying system configuration
As part of this modernization, Ingeteam supplied four seawater intake groups consisting of INDAR BF pumps and INDAR MF submersible motors, both made of super duplex stainless steel and designed to operate at 400 V. Each unit has a power rating of 110 kW and an operating point of Q = 800 l/s and H = 10 m, ensuring effective and a stable performance even under high salinity conditions.
The new equipment was installed in the intake chamber, replacing the original units supplied in 2003. This upgrade has improved the energy efficiency of the system and increased the operational reliability of the facility, consolidating its role as a key infrastructure for the drinking water supply in the Region of Murcia.
A shared commitment to sustainable water supply
Both desalination plants operate under the same principle based on the reverse osmosis process, through which seawater undergoes pretreatment to ensure quality before passing through the desalination membranes. Subsequently, a post-treatment process adapts the produced water to the standards required for human consumption.
The design of these facilities also prioritises the protection of the marine environment. The brine is returned to the sea through submarine outfalls specifically designed to minimise environmental impact and protect sensitive ecosystems such as the Posidonia oceanica seagrass meadows, one of the most valuable habitats in the Mediterranean.
Both the Mancomunidad de los Canales del Taibilla and Ingeteam share the same goal: to guarantee the supply of drinking water through reliable and environmentally responsible solutions. The selection of Ingeteam for these projects reflects the company’s proven ability to deliver robust and high technical performance systems adapted to the most demanding marine conditions.
Seawater intake systems are critical elements in desalination plants, ensuring the continuous supply of water required for the process
These projects also represent a collective achievement that reflects the commitment, expertise, and dedication of the entire Ingeteam team. Thanks to the shared effort and excellent coordination among the different areas of the organisation, the company continues to move forward with a steadfast commitment to quality, innovation, and environmental responsibility, contributing to the success of key infrastructure for the sustainable supply of water in southeastern Spain.
With each new project, Ingeteam reaffirms its commitment to the responsible management of water resources and to the development of technologies that contribute to a more sustainable future. These initiatives are fully aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), reinforcing the company’s mission to make access to safe water a reality for millions of people.
