Browsing by Author "Flores del Pino, Lisveth"

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Considerations on water quality and the use of chlorine in times of SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) pandemic in the community
(2020) García Ávila, Fausto Fernando; Flores del Pino, Lisveth; Zhindon Arevalo, Cesar Edmundo; Altamirano Cardenas, Luis Francisco; Gutierrez Ortega, Fausto Horacio; Cadme Galabay, Manuel Remigio; Valdiviezo Gonzales, Lorgio
This review goal is to reflect on the challenges and prospects for water quality in the face of the pandemic caused by the new SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus (COVID-19). Based on the information available so far, the detection of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in wastewater has raised interest in using it as an early warning method, to detect the resurgence of infections and to report the risk associated with contracting SARS-CoV-2 in contact with untreated water or inadequately treated wastewater is discharged. The wastewater-based epidemiological approach can be used as an early indicator of infection within a specific population. On the other hand, it is necessary to collect information from the managers of drinking water supply companies and professionals who are related to water quality, to know SARS-CoV-2 data and information, and its influence on drinking water quality. The basic purpose of this review article is to try to provide a valuable and quick reference guide to COVID-19. Important topics were discussed, such as detection of SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater in various parts of the world; wastewater screening to monitor COVID-19; persistence of SARS-CoV-2 in aquatic systems; the presence of SARS-CoV-2 in drinking water; clean water as a mechanism to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic; chlorine as a disinfectant to eliminate SARSCoV-2 and damage to ecosystems by the use of chlorine. Currently does not exist extensive literature on the effectiveness of water and wastewater treatment processes that ensure the correct elimination of SARS-CoV-2. Excessive use of disinfectants such as chlorine is causing effects on the environment. This document lighlights the need for further research to establish the behavior of the SARS-CoV-2 virus in aquatic systems. This study presents an early overview of the observed and potential impacts of COVID-19 on the environment.
Effect of residual chlorine on copper pipes in drinking water systems
(2019) Flores del Pino, Lisveth; Vazquez Garcia, Sandra Elizabeth; Sánchez Alvarracín, Carlos Mauricio; García Ávila, Fausto Fernando; Garcia Altamirano, Diana Catalina; Zhindón Arévalo, César; Bonifaz Barba, Gabriel Alejandro; Ramos Fernández, Lia
© 2019 Eastern Macedonia and Thrace Institute of Technology. Copper pipes corrosion that transport potable water can deteriorate water quality within a distribution system, releasing high copper amounts, exceeding the maximum concentration copper for potable water standards. This study examines the influence of free chlorine on the leaching of copper in the pipes used for the distribution of drinking water. A series of tests was carried out using corrosion test coupons extractable constructed of copper material. The coupons were installed in units containing filtered water (without chlorine, 0 mg/L) and water treated with an average residual chlorine concentration of 0.85 mg/L in the water treatment plant in Azogues city, Ecuador. A corrosion test rack was also installed in a house with an average residual chlorine concentration of 0.37 mg/L. Coupons in these sites were exposed in duplicate for one, two, three and six months. The corrosion coupons were then extracted and weighed to establish the corrosion rate by gravimetric technique. Additional tests were performed in static immersion laboratory tests using drinking water with chlorine concentrations ranging from 0.25 to 5 mg/L for one month. The weight loss tests indicated that an increase in free chlorine concentration, the greater release of copper and therefore a higher corrosion rate.
Modeling of residual chlorine in a drinking water network in times of pandemic of the SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19)
(2021) García Ávila, Fausto Fernando; Avilés Añazco, Alex Manuel; Ordoñez Jara, Juan Andres; Guanuchi Quezada, Christian Marcelo; Flores del Pino, Lisveth; Ramos Fernández, Lía
Due to the outbreak of the novel coronavirus disease there is a need for public water supply of the highest quality. Adequate levels of chlorine allow immediate elimination of harmful bacteria and viruses and provide a protective residual throughout the drinking water distribution network (DWDN). Therefore, a residual chlorine decay model was developed to predict chlorine levels in a real drinking water distribution network. The model allowed determining human exposure to drinking water with a deficit of residual chlorine, considering that it is currently necessary for the population to have clean water to combat coronavirus Covid 19. The chlorine bulk decay rates (kb) and the reaction constant of chlorine with the pipe wall (kw) were experimentally determined. Average kb and kw values of 3.7 d− 1 and 0.066m d− 1 were obtained, respectively. The values of kb and kw were used in EPANET to simulate the chlorine concentrations in a DWDN. The residual chlorine concentrations simulated by the properly calibrated and validated model were notably close to the actual concentrations measured at different points of the DWDN. The results showed that maintaining a chlorine concentration of 0.87 mg L− 1 in the distribution tank, the residual chlorine values in the nodes complied with the cuadorian standard (0.3 mg L− 1); meanwhile, about 45% of the nodes did not comply with what is recommended by the WHO as a mechanism to combat the current pandemic (0.5 mg L− 1). This study demonstrated that residual chlorine modeling is a valuable tool for monitoring water quality in the distribution network, allowing to control residual chlorine levels in this pandemic season.
Performance of Phragmites Australis and Cyperus Papyrus in the treatment of municipal wastewater by vertical flow subsurface constructed wetlands
(2019) Avilés Añazco, Alex Manuel; García Ávila, Fausto Fernando; Zhinin Chimbo, Fanny Lucia; Donoso Moscoso, Silvana Patricia; Flores del Pino, Lisveth; Patiño Chavez, Jhanina Fabiola
The use of constructed wetlands to treat municipal wastewater reduces energy consumption and therefore economic costs, as well as reduces environmental pollution. The purpose of this study was to compare the purification capacity of domestic wastewater using two species of plants sown in subsurface constructed wetlands with vertical flow built on a small scale that received municipal wastewater with primary treatment. The species used were Phragmites Australis and Cyperus Papyrus. For this purpose, a constant flow of 0.6 m3 day−1 was fed from the primary lagoon to each of the two wetlands built on a pilot scale with continuous flow. Each unit was filled with granite gravel in the lower part and with silicic sand in the upper part of different granulometry, the porosity of the medium was 0.34, with a retention time of 1.12 days and a hydraulic load rate of 0.2 m day−1. To analyze the purification capacity of wastewater, physical, chemical and biological parameters were monitored during three months. Samples were taken at the entrance and exit in each experimental unit. The results obtained in the experimental tests for the two species of plants, indicated that the Cyperus Papyrus presented a greater capacity of pollutants removal as biochemical oxygen demand (80.69%), chemical oxygen demand (69.87%), ammoniacal nitrogen (69.69%), total phosphorus (50%), total coliforms (98.08%) and fecal coliforms (95.61%). In the case of Phragmites Australis retains more solids. The species with greater efficiency in the treatment of municipal wastewater for this study was Cyperus Papyrus. Keywords: Constructed wetland, Fitorremediacion, Macrophytes, Nutrients, Wastewater treatment
Pressure management for leakage reduction using pressure reducing valves. Case study in an Andean city
(2019) Avilés Añazco, Alex Manuel; Flores del Pino, Lisveth; Ramos Fernández, Lia; Guanuchi Quezada, Christian Marcelo; Garcíaa Ávila, Fausto Fernando
A very common problem in distribution systems is water leakage, which can be reduced by pressure management. The objective of this study was to evaluate the reduction of water leakage by optimizing the pressure using pressure reducing valves (PRV). The corresponding hydraulic model of a real distribution network was developed using the EPANET software. After the hydraulic model was calibrated and validated, the analysis of the pressure in the nodes, the velocity in the pipes, through the technical performance indicators (TPI) was performed, in addition, the leakages were quantified. The initial results indicated the need to optimize the pressure, nodes with excessive pressures were found in the lower part of the network. WaterNetGen was used as an extension of EPANET software to model leakages based on pressure after determining the leakage coefficient and considering the installation of two PRVs. The results allowed optimizing the appropriate pressure in 30.83% of the nodes and minimizing leakages in 31.65%. In turn, the simulation assuming the installation of two PRVs determined that the TPI would increase from 79.81% to 97.45%. The focus of this study is recommended to the companies that supply drinking water as a support tool for planning to reduce leakages.