Browsing by Author "Pauta Calle, Gladys Guillermina"

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Analysis and risk assessment of arsenic in the water sources of the cities Cuenca and Azogues, Ecuador
(2021) Pauta Calle, Gladys Guillermina; Velasco Heras, María Eugenia; Vázquez Guillen, Gabriela Belén; Abril Torres, Andrea Fernanda; Torres Inga, Carlos Santiago
Aprovechamiento de lodos deshidratados generados en plantas de tratamiento de agua potable y residual como agregado para materiales de construcción
(2014) Bermeo Barreto, Andrea Melissa; Idrovo Heredia, Edgar Paúl; Pauta Calle, Gladys Guillermina
In the present study are analyzed the sludge coming from the Stabilization Ponds located in Ucubamba, which are an integral part of the treatment system for domestic wastewater of the city of Cuenca, and sludge coming from water treatment operations of the treatment plant of Sústag. These analyzes are intended to determine the usefulness of sludge as aggregates for construction materials, creating an ecological arrangement of thereof, and helping to minimize the extractive activities of raw materials used in the construction industry. Studies showed that sludge from the water treatment has not this applicability due to the high content of sulfates, which exert a marked corrosive effect on materials: mortars and concretes. On the other hand, sludge coming from the wastewater treatment system proved to be effective for the manufacture of the following materials: mortars, in which the sludge ash exerts the same effect as lime; concrete, when the sludge replaces 10% of fine aggregate; and bricks where the highest efficiency is obtained when the added dose replaces 5% of its volume.
Biological impact assessment of sewage outfalls in the urbanized area of the Cuenca river basin (Ecuador) in two different seasons
(2018) Jerves Cobo, Rubén Fernando; Lock, Koen; Van Butsel, Jana; Pauta Calle, Gladys Guillermina; Cisneros Espinoza, Felipe Eduardo; Nopens, Ingmar; Goethals, Peter L
We evaluated the biological water quality in relation to chemicals discharged through sewage outfall during both dry and rainy season. The lowland area of the Cuenca River basin in the southern Andes of Ecuador, including the city of Cuenca, constituted the study area. To perform an integrated water quality assessment, data were collected of macroinvertebrates, physicochemical conditions and morphological characteristics in 43 sites in the Cuenca River and its tributaries. The Andean Biotic Index (ABI) and the Biological Monitoring Working Party adapted to Colombia (BMWP-Col) were used to evaluate the biological water quality. Both biological indexes were higher upstream than downstream from the city. Moreover, these indexes indicated better conditions during the rainy season than in the dry season, based on the presence of more sensitive families. The biological indexes related more to the oxygen saturation than to the five-day biological oxygen demand (BOD5), nutrients and chloride concentrations. The relationship between BOD5 and nutrient concentrations with the variation of both biological indexes was clearer in the dry season than in the rainy season. However, in some sites, these indexes were influenced more by morphological aspects than by pollutants. Both biological indexes showed similar patterns along the rivers, generally the BMWP-Col scored higher than the ABI index. The latter index was shown to be more suitable for the high Andes region. These results could be used to support the implementation of river restoration actions, such as determining priorities for splitting sewer and precipitation water transport systems and needs for improved wastewater treatment facilities in specific locations. © 2018 Elsevier GmbH
Biological water quality in tropical rivers during dry and rainy seasons: a model-based analysis
(2020) Jerves Cobo, Rubén Fernando; Eurie Forio, Marie Anne; Lock, Koen; Van Butsel, Jana; Pauta Calle, Gladys Guillermina; Cisneros Espinoza, Felipe Eduardo; Nopens, Ingmar; Goethals, Peter L
Recent studies on water quality in tropical rivers indicate substantial differences between seasons. However, investigations on the needs and added value of season-specific models are lacking. Thus, this paper aims to determine the accuracy and relevance of season-specific and season-overarching models to predict biological water quality. Additionally, we investigated the variation of prediction accuracy using sub-datasets from different parts of the Cuenca River basin. This study was accomplished in the rivers that pass through the urban and suburban areas of the city of Cuenca, which is located in the southern Andes of Ecuador. The Andean Biotic Index (ABI) was used as an indicator of biological water quality. Subsequently, models were developed to predict the ABI, with physicochemical and morphological variables as predictors, which were collected in 43 sites during both the dry and the rainy seasons. The predictions were obtained using three kinds of generalized linear models (GLMs): Gaussian, Gamma and Inverse Gaussian. The season-specific models were more accurate than the season-overarching models. Similarly, the predictions of the biological water quality in sites sampled in the urban area were more accurate than the forecasts performed in reference sites. The major variables predicting the ABI during the dry season were five-day biological oxygen demand (BOD5), ammonium and orthophosphate, while dissolved oxygen (DO), oxygen saturation (OS), nitrate, total solids proved to be important during the rainy season. The results of this research emphasize the importance of developing season-specific models and the implementation of different key actions for river restoration during both the dry and rainy seasons. The accuracy and the replication of these models could be improved and checked with more data taken from new sampling events. The modelling approach developed in this study can be applied to similar basins in the tropics and reveals that environmental investments need to count on monitoring strategies and data and analyses of the biological water quality variation in dry and rainy seasons, within the context of sustainable development.
Biopolymer nanofiber doped with nanospinels by electrospinning and microbiological assays
(Editado por la Comisión de la The International Nanotechnology & Nanoscience Conference & Exhibition 2018, 2018) Ponce Vásquez, Diego Arturo; Novoa, Nestor; Arrue, Ramón; Peña Tapia, Denisse Fabiola; Vanegas Peña, María Eulalia; Cruzat Contreras, Christian Américo; Peña, Octavio; Vázquez Guillen, Gabriela Belén; Pauta Calle, Gladys Guillermina
Aim of this work was investigated the change in physical-chemical properties of biopolymer (poly(lactic acid)(PLA)) nanofiber doped with magnetic nanospinels and study of antimicrobial activity of these matrix for a possible use as fungical or carrier drug used in the organic farming. The spinel nanoparticles (Ni0.5Fe2.5O4) were synthesized by Sol-gel method and the incorporation to polymeric matrix was performed by impregnation method and nanofiber synthetized by electrospinning. Nanoparticles were characterized by FESEM, DRX and SQUID. PLA was characterized by SEM and DSC and nanoparticles supported on biopolymer were characterized by DSC and were realized bioassays (antibiograms in font to Fusarium sp). Through powder X-rays, the average crystalline size of nanoparticles was determined using Scherrer's formula and the network parameters by FullProf suite, via Rietveld's method. The average size measurements were between 5 nm and 35 nm. Magnetic susceptibility measurements were performed to determine the blocking temperature of the nanoparticles, the compounds present magnetic irreversibility at room temperature. The nanofiber characterization by SEM showed that all fibers have nanometric size. In addition, bioassays of nanoparticles showed an inhibitory activity for different concentration of nanoparticles, by contrast in biopolymer nanofiber doped with nanospinels no showed activity in a preliminary test. These results suggest a possible use of nanofibers with a higher concentration of nanoparticles as organic fungicides.
Caracterización microbiológica de las aguas de los ríos de la ciudad de Cuenca
(2018-11-11) Rivera Pesántez, Carlos Andrés; Ochoa Delgado, Liliana Emperatriz; Pauta Calle, Gladys Guillermina; León Vizñay, Jéssica Andrea
This study was conducted in the four rivers of the City of Cuenca, with the aim of identifying and quantifying microorganisms indicators of fecal and environmental contamination such as: Cryptosporidium spp, Giardia spp, Entrerococcus feacalis and molds and yeasts. For the determination of Cryptosporidium spp and Giardia spp an inorganic flocculation technique was used and subsequent staining with immunofluorescent dyes. The total Streptococcus and Enterococcus feacalis count was performed by the membrane filtration method. Regarding the molds and yeasts, the fluid plate technique was carried out. The presence of Cryptosporidium spp., Giardia spp. Enterococcus faecalis and Molds and Yeasts was evidenced, in the high zones low counts were evidenced, in the middle and lower zone, the concentration increases gradually, finding the highest concentrations in the last sampling stations . It was concluded that the Tomebamba river presented a higher count of all the microorganisms in the lower zone, and the one that showed the least contamination of this type is the Yanuncay river.
Comparación de las eficiencias de recuperación de lípidos de las microalgas Chlorella y Scenedesmus obtenidas con diferentes disolventes
(2018) Pauta Calle, Gladys Guillermina; León Tamariz, Fabián; Cisneros Ramos, Juan Fernando; Pinos Vélez, Verónica Patricia; Alvarado Martínez, Andrés Omar
The lipids of microalgae are the source for obtaining third-generation biofuels so that fossil fuels canbe replaced. The objectives of this study were to determine the composition of the lipids of Chlorella and Scenedesmus microalgae using the gravimetric method; Determine the efficiency of different solvents for the extraction of lipids with the Soxhlet method and compare the lipid recovery productivities of Chlorella microalgae with thermal and physical pretreatments. The highest amount of lipids, 20.37% per dry sample, the microalga, the chlorella, the solvent mixture, the chloroform:methanol in a 1:2 ratio. The increase in the amount of lipids generated with the use of pretreatments no justifies its use for which it is recommended that no pretreatment be applied. The results allow to establish a baseline in the use of microalgae cultivable in the Ecuadorian mountain to obtain lipids for biofuels
Control de calidad de agua y análisis de sedimentos en la microcuenca del Río Tabacay
(2016) Urgilez Montero, Paul Fernando; Pauta Calle, Gladys Guillermina
Through a monitoring program with control stations strategically located along the watershed, a study of water quality of the River Tabacay is performed using a Quality Index ICA, of the Mexican Institute of Water Technology. The microbasin of the Tabacay River is deteriorated due to the presence of wastewater discharges, industrial waters, as well as mining in the periphery of the channel, which significantly affects the uses of water, especially for human consumption. The high presence of sediments in the area of San Antonio, induced to realize studies with material from the bottom of the riverbed in some of the monitoring points, reaching approximately determine transport rates background, empirical and semi-empirical correlations using. The contribution of this work is to obtain an updated diagnosis status of the Tabacayriver, as well as establish control measures and pollution prevention. With these results, will be delivered to the company EMAPAL, the Ministry of Environment, the SENAGUA, and HIDROPAUTE (in charge of management and resource management), a management tool, useful in the process of decision making.
Control de calidad de las mermeladas de mayor consumo en nuestro medio
(1984-11-11) Pauta Calle, Gladys Guillermina; Sarmiento, Lida; Arteaga Muñoz, Cecilia
Correlación de indicadores de contaminación fecal en los cuerpos superficiales: caso de estudio: ríos de la ciudad de Cuenca
(Universidad de Cuenca, 2020-01-23) Loja Sari, Miriam Carolina; Palta Vera, Andrea Janeth; Pauta Calle, Gladys Guillermina
An alternative to perform reliable control the microbiological water rivers quality control is the use of faecal contamination indicators, such as total coliforms, fecal coliforms, faecal streptococcus and enterococcus. These microorganisms are part of the microbiota of the gastrointestinal tract of man and warm-blooded animals that are excreted through feces. In this investigation the study of the microbiological quality of the rivers of the city of Cuenca were carried out, using the aforementioned indicators and covering representative hydrological periods: high, medium and low flow. In specific stations of the rivers 12 monitoring campaigns were carried out, with a total of 78 specific samples. For all indicators, the Multiple Tubes technique was used, the results of which are reported as NMP/100ml. The results indicate that faecal streptococcus and enterococcus can be used as reliable indicators of faecal contamination; They are very sensitive to changes in quality, provide information when defining water uses and present some advantages over traditional indicators: total and fecal coliforms, so they show the real extent of pollution. The comprehensive analysis of water pollution requires the use of all these indicators, especially in peculiar environments, while allowing specific corrective measures to be taken to control pollution. This work deepens the knowledge of the microbiological quality of the rivers of Cuenca and is part of the research that derives from the project “Integral Management of Water Quality”.
Diagnóstico de la calidad del agua de la laguna recreacional del parque infantil “Marco Romero Heredia”, ubicada en Azogues - provincia del Cañar
(2018) Ortega Peñafiel, Luis Antonio; Pesántez Serrano, Ana Carolina; Pauta Calle, Gladys Guillermina
In the fallowing academic essay, water quality from the artificial lagoon of the recreational park “Marco Romero Heredia” it is analyzed and diagnosed, according to the TULSMA regulation for water designated for secondary contact recreation. The trophic state is set through two indexes: OCDE and Carlson; the flow is determined by a bi-dimensional model; finally, treatment and maintenance alternative are presented. Seven monitoring campaigns were performed between March of 2017 and January of 2018. The samples were taken to the Universidad de Cuenca’s sanitary laboratory for their respective analyses; the obtained results were compared with the parameters set by TULSMA regulation and the trophic state was obtained. According to this regulation, the water satisfies some standards, such as: dissolved oxygen saturation percentage, absence of greases and oils, surfactant agents, and pH levels; but others are not accomplished, such as: phosphorus/nitrogen relation, floating material, and coliform bacteria (in some measuring stations). The two indexes indicate an advanced level of trophy. Additionally. The bi-dimensional model generated showed that the velocities in the lagoon are too slow, besides in some zones the velocity is zero, because of this, there are static flow zones. At least, recommendations are presented to improve and maintain a good water quality in the lagoon, as well as a periodic disinfection treatment that can be implemented to avoid eutrophication problems again, improving substantially the aesthetic of this lagoon.
Estudio de la calidad del agua: caso de estudio del río Déleg - provincia del Cañar
(2018) Espejo Ruiz, Juan Carlos; Tenelanda Patiño, Pablo Andrés; Pauta Calle, Gladys Guillermina
The study of the water quality in rivers is invaluable due to the importance of this natural resource and the benefit it provides to society. The exponential population growth coupled with the minimal safety and contamination regulations that exist today pose a grave and looming threat. One major risk is the loss of these rivers as a primary water supply, creating the need to turn to subterranean water aquifers, of which very little is known in these areas. This current project is meant to supplement the existing investigation, “Manejo Integral de la Calidad de Agua”, which is part of the VLIR program. For these reasons, it determined necessary and important to produce an updated diagnosis of the water quality in the river Déleg, in the Cañar province, through the application of the WQI (Water Quality Index) formulated by the Instituto Mexicano de Tecnología del Agua, with 18 physical, chemical, and microbiological parameters in 5 important stations in order to define usages which can be assigned to the resource; this study also evaluates the spatial and temporal variability of the water’s quality between september 2017 and december 2017, with 8 monitors. Results shows that the ICA index in the Déleg river varies between 56,02 and 72,06; which classify the river as having low contamination and the usages of the water along the river will be for farming, industry and animal trough
Estudio de los sólidos suspendidos en el agua del río Tabacay y su vinculación con la cobertura vegetal y usos del suelo en la microcuenca
(2017) Jaya Cabrera, Fabián Enrique; Pauta Calle, Gladys Guillermina
The Tabacay river basin due to the different land uses and vegetation cover provides a wide range of values of surface runoff and sediment concentration, which significantly affects the uses of water, such as that destined for human consumption and, to the applications Later, as in the Paute Hydroelectric, as it causes a gradual degeneration of the turbines and sedimentation in the reservoir, causing hydraulic alterations. This research work is focused on the study of the solids in suspension that are produced in the microbasin, to link it later with the coverage and land uses. A monitoring program is designed in the river that contemplates both the analysis of the solids suspended in the water, as well as the characteristics of the bottom bed to analyze the sedimented solids. The monitoring also includes the measurement of the flow at each sampling point, an important data to determine the transport load; the measurement of the flow is made using the Float method, this, due to the difficulty of mobilizing measuring equipment that provides more accuracy. The monitoring campaigns will be carried out in constant intervals of time, probably achieving the most representative rainfall events of the micro-basin in the period May-July 2017. At the end of the investigation, control measures and pollution prevention are suggested. With these results, a management tool, useful in its decision-making process, will be delivered to the companies in charge of Surface Water control.
Estudio del impacto ambiental en la calidad del agua del río Cuenca producido por la descarga del efluente de la planta de tratamiento de aguas residuales de Ucubamba
(2018) Espinoza Berrezueta, Daniel Andrés; Zumba López, Tatiana Carolina; Pauta Calle, Gladys Guillermina
Nowadays Wastewater Treatment Plants are a development indicator and also and effective process for environmental mitigation; although its effluent continues to be discharged to a natural receiving body. It is very important that the receiving body is able to absorb and neutralize the pollutant loads, for this reason the preservation of water quality should be monitored. In Cuenca, since 1999, has been operating the Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) of Ucubamba, and its effluent is being discharged into the Cuenca river. This study attempts to determine the effects of the effluent on the river. In this way, the objective was established to determine the environmental impact that occurs in the water quality of the Cuenca river, due to the discharge of the effluent from the WWTP of the city Cuenca located in Ucubamba. To determine this impact, a distributive matrix of Leopold was used, in which those parameters determined by the ICA methodology were used, also the trophic state of the river was evaluated using chlorophyll measurements. The results showed that there is a negative impact categorized as compatible and also a positive impact, this due because the effluent dilutes certain concentrations of pollutants in the river. It can be concluded that the river’s state, in terms of quality, before the discharge is critical; this situation helps to the effluent effect does not represent a greater impact in it.
Estudio integral de la calidad del agua del río Burgay y evaluación del riesgo toxicológico por la probable presencia de plaguicidas
(2014) Pauta Calle, Gladys Guillermina; Chang Gómez, José Vicente
Water quality of the Burgay river basin in the Province of Cañar - Ecuador was studied by using two water quality indices: ICA of the Mexican Institute of Water Technology, for the physical- chemical and bacteriological quality; and BMWP (Biological Monitoring Working Party) for the biological quality based on aquatic macro-invertebrates. Crop and livestock activity is predominant in the basin, therefore diffuse pollution was also assessed by the presence of pesticides and associated toxicological risk; some monitoring stations exceeded concentrations permitted by the Ecuadorian Legislation called “Tulas” to sources intended for human supply and just require disinfection: 10 ppb for organ chlorinated pesticides (OC), and 100 ppb for organ pesticides phosphorus (OF). This comprehensive study identifies the uses to which the water resource can be used: public water supply, recreation, fishing and aquatic, agricultural and industrial life. The evaluation was performed by systematic monitoring for a period of ten months, from February to November 2013. There is a need to intercept domestic wastewater of the largest populations in the basin, which is currently discharged directly to the river; and implementing a monitoring system for pesticides in drinking water of communities that use the resource, without pre-treatment.
Estudios de tratabilidad del agua en una planta piloto construida en el parque El Paraíso, e implementación de modelo numérico de la estructura
(Universidad de Cuenca, 2021-09-08) Mogrovejo Nieves, Alex Marcelo; Pauta Calle, Gladys Guillermina
Analyzing the behavior of water according to its respective treatment is fundamental in the economic, social, cultural sense. The design is based on water quality studies for the respective treatment and purification at the entrance of homes, hospitals, recreational areas which should be in a minimum analysis but must meet certain water quality standards. Water is one of the most important natural resources for life, conservation of the environment and more parameters associated with the quality of life, in cities around the world it is important to analyze this issue according to its importance to have a healthy environment and conditions of healthiness and health essential for day to day, as well as in the aesthetic areas of water such is the case of water in recreational areas where color, smell, turbidity, bacteria index, coliforms, pathogens among others. One of the biggest problems in drinking water treatment systems for communities is the lack of raw water characterization tests, which allow a thorough knowledge of their composition and their response to the process of purification and environmental stabilization. Use a flocculator for the respective analysis of retention time, sedimentation levels, chlorine dose, sediment level. The implementation of Numerical Models in the field of civil engineering with the technological facility, has become indispensable and indisputable due to the ease of tests to be performed prior to manipulation of the different parameters involved in the structure, Iber a powerful free software for two-dimensional modeling of water flow with application to hydraulics and fluvial morphology.
Evaluación de la calidad de agua para consumo humano en la Universidad de Cuenca
(Universidad de Cuenca, 2023-11-06) Vera Balbuca, Katherine Mercedes; Zhañay Bravo, Lourdes Cecilia; Pauta Calle, Gladys Guillermina
The purpose of this study is to review the quality of drinking water consumed at the University of Cuenca, both from storage cisterns and from water supplied directly through the public network. There are 12 reserve units distributed in the central campus, eco-campus, historic center campus, campus paraíso and campus yanuncay, most of which are not supplying the different buildings. Water quality was evaluated through a descriptive and quantitative observational study with four monitoring campaigns for each campus, using physical, chemical and microbiological control parameters stipulated in the INEN 1108 (2020) reference standard. It is concluded that the quality of the water in all the cisterns does not meet the reference standard, at least in one of the requirements: physical, chemical or microbiological; therefore the water is not suitable for human consumption, requiring immediate actions so that the University has safe reservoirs that guarantee the different uses of the resource and can face situations of water shortage; while the evaluation of the physical-chemical and microbiological quality of the water supplied directly by the public network, meets the reference standard in all campuses. The study includes a research component and is the identification of Pseudomona aeruginosa, a pathogenic bacterium that develops in water reservoirs in objectionable storage conditions, putting the health of consumers at risk; the presence of this bacterium was detected in all cisterns. It is recommended that control agencies include the search for this bacterium as a quality indicator, since even when treated water is shown to be free of fecal coliforms, its potability cannot be assured.
Evaluación de la calidad del agua de los ríos de la ciudad de Cuenca, Ecuador
(2019) Abril Novillo, Andrea Soledad; Pauta Calle, Gladys Guillermina; Rivera Ochoa, Carlos Santiago; Morales Matute, Oscar Patricio; Velasco Heras, María Eugenia; Gutiérrez Sarmiento, Daniela Liliana; Vázquez Guillen, Gabriela Belén
The water quality of the Tarqui, Yanuncay, Machángara and Tomebamba rivers, tributaries of the Paute river was evaluated. Due to the need to incorporate new approaches in the water quality monitoring, this study applied the widely known water quality index (WQI) but, instead of using the 9 parameters originally required by the method, we used 18 physicochemical and microbiological parameters. For each river, nine monitoring campaigns were carried out, covering representative hydrological periods and measuring flow discharges. The results show that, in general, in the areas of river catchment, the water resource is suitable for almost all types of use, but gradually, as it progresses downstream, the quality decreases due to sanitary or industrial wastewater and to natural factors such as runoff or erosion sediments. The most critical condition of the evaluated river’s water quality was presented during drought conditions, mainly due to the decrease in dissolved oxygen and the increase in temperature, salinity, organic matter and coliform bacteria. On the other hand, during rainy periods, parameters indicating a decrease of water quality were color, turbidity, and nutrient content such as phosphorus and nitrogen. In general, rivers have better quality for medium flow conditions, which prevail during most of the year. The present results were analyzed in accordance with the quality objectives established in previous studies, allowing a qualitative evaluation of the wastewater interception and treatment system of the city of Cuenca, Ecuador.
Evaluación de la calidad del agua del río Tomebamba mediante el índice ICA del Instituto Mexicano de tecnología del agua
(2014) Peñafiel Romero, Ana Gabriela; Pauta Calle, Gladys Guillermina
The rivers are experiencing deterioration in water quality due to its use as a recipient of the different discharges. Moreover, there is natural pollution which is analyzed through the hydro-geochemistry of the river. Through the application of quality indexes, it is possible to diagnose and ensure a comprehensive assessment of the resource defining the uses to which it can be used. A comparative analysis of applying WQI and WQI-NSF indexes at seven points on the Tomebamba Riverlocated in the Llaviuco-Challuabamba section, monitored over a period of nine months, from March to November 2013, showed evidence of growing river deterioration as it moves its route, presenting an acceptable quality, little polluted and contaminated according toWQI and a good quality and average according to WQI-NSF. The variation in the quality of the water between the two compared models is relatively small. The most influential physicochemical parameters in the values of WQI were nitrates, ammonia nitrogen, dissolved solids, alkalinity, hardness and biochemical oxygen demand during the dry season and phosphates, suspended solids and turbidity in the rainy season. There is a need to deepen the control of the pollution of the river in the sectorlocatedafter the PTAR with the creation of marginal interceptors. Finally, although the marginal interceptors Tomebamba river are operating, still not achieved in some sectors and for some specific uses of the resource, the values set by the normative TULSMA due to the high density of coliforms bacterium, vital aspect in public health importance.
Evaluación del desempeño de un sistema piloto de humedales de flujo subsuperficial horizontal para el tratamiento de aguas residuales domésticas en ecosistemas de montaña
(2018) Padrón Palacios, Juana Priscila; Pauta Calle, Gladys Guillermina
In the assessment of a wastewater treatment system, a very important factor is the efficiency that it can achieve in the decrease of nutrients. Constructed wetlands with horizontal subsurface flow are a sustainable alternative for such treatment in small communities. However, no references are reported for the use of these systems in conditions of height above 2400 m a.s.l. In the present study, the efficiency of three wetlands built on a pilot scale in the treatment of domestic wastewater was evaluated, using different hydraulic retention times (HRT) and different emergent plants. The three reactors worked with hydraulic loading rates of 2,2 to 4 cm / d, temperatures between 13 to 15 ° C and at a height of 2416 m a.s.l. The results showed that the performance of the pilots reached average values between 50 and 90%, 75 and 98%, 40 and 58%, in the removal of Total Kjeldahl Nitrogen (TKN), Organic Nitrogen (OGN), and Total Phosphorus (TP) respectively. However, for total coliforms (TC) and Escherichia coli (E.coli), the removal was between 99,991 and 99,999%; and 99.96 and 99.99% respectively, for HRT between five and nine days. It has demonstrated the feasibility of the use of these systems for the height and temperature conditions of the city of Cuenca. The use of plug-flow models and tanks-in-series for the study of the removal of the analyzed pollutants showed that the tanks-in-series represented better the operation of the reactors. In the case of the removal of pathogens, it was observed that the plug-flow model represented better the decay of these pollutants.