On Monday, 9 February 2026, students from IESO Tomás Bretón (Villamayor, Salamanca) participated in an educational visit to the Salamanca Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP), gaining first-hand insight into wastewater treatment and the role this infrastructure plays in environmental sustainability.

Guided by the Aqualia team, students toured the facilities and learned about the different stages of wastewater treatment. The visit provided a practical understanding of how water is purified, the technologies involved, and the importance of wastewater treatment plants in ensuring efficient water management and protecting natural ecosystems.

Following the technical tour, the students attended an informative session dedicated to the European project United Circles, delivered by representatives from MIRAT, Fundación Patrimonio Natural de Castilla y León, and Aqualia.

The session began with an introduction to key concepts, including Circular Economy, Industrial-Urban Symbiosis, and Hubs for Circularity. Students were then presented with an overview of the United Circles project, with particular focus on the Salamanca Hub. They learned about the hub’s objectives, the demonstrator that forms part of the project, and the organisations involved.

Special attention was given to the value chains addressed within the Salamanca Hub, water, nutrients, cellulose and energy, as well as the expected results of the project. These include recovering materials from waste, improving energy efficiency, and developing closed-loop water cycles. Through this session, students were able to connect global European innovation initiatives with their own local environment, understanding how Salamanca plays an active role in advancing sustainable resource management.

The outreach session concluded with a creative, interactive activity: a paper “fortune teller” game designed within the United Circles framework. Through this engaging and educational tool, students reinforced their knowledge in a fun and accessible way, deepening their understanding of the project’s main concepts.

By combining hands-on learning with European-level innovation, this visit offered students a valuable opportunity to explore how sustainability, technology and circular economy principles are being implemented in their own community.

Written by Salamanca Hub