Evaluación y propuesta de rediseño de la planta de depuración de agua residual de Quillopungo, parroquia El Valle, Cuenca

Abstract

The establishment of sewage treatment systems provides security to communities giving them development opportunities in healthy environments. Ecuador faces problems due to lack of sanitation. There are communities without any access to wastewater treatment systems and others with inefficient or intermittent efficiency systems. The knowledge of needed areas and the adjustment of the problems contributes to social progress in the Country. This study is about Quillopungo Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP), managed by the enterprise ETAPA EP (Municipal Public institution in charge of Telecommunications, Drinking Water, Sewage and Sanitation), and located in a rural area of Cuenca- Ecuador called El Valle. The study proposes a technical solution based on biological anaerobic treatments, (upflow anaerobic sludge blanket and anaerobic filters), to overcome the technical and operational problems that Quillopungo WWTP has presented and consequently improve the efficiency of contaminants removal. Through the study of the original designs, field inspections, laboratory characterization of influent and effluent water and inspections of the receiving body the current state of the WWTP was known. Subsequently, possible alternatives of adjustment that improve the efficiency of the processes were investigated. As a result, it was possible to expand the knowledge about technologies for wastewater treatment accurate in our environment and propose a sustainable alternative for Quillopungo. It is expected that the results will contribute to: the improvement of the quality of life of the served communities, the knowledge of the mentioned technologies and sanitation in Ecuador.