Evaluación de las plantas de depuración de agua residual de las comunidades de Macas y San Pedro, cantón Cuenca, Azuay

Abstract

This study consist in the evaluation of performance of wastewater treatment plants¬ (WWTP´s). These WWTP´s are located in Macas and San Pedro, both in the rural area of Cuenca canton, Azuay province. The evaluated plants are composed of a septic tank followed by an upflow anaerobic filter. The study consist of the following steps: characterization of the population served and the sewers connected to the WWTP´s; assesment of the state of the physical infraestructure of the WWTP´s; evaluation of the removal efficiency of the major pollutants by measurements on the influent and the effluent. Mentionedworksincludefield and laboratoryactivities in collaborationwith ETAPA EP and the Laboratorio de Sanitaria de la Facultad de Ingeniería de la Universidad de Cuenca. The evaluation presents as a result, a large volume of infitration water through the sewer. Despite this wealth of infiltration, removal of the present systems treatment are 60% and 83% for WWTP Macas and San Pedro respectively, and the discharge coplies with the rules laid down in TULAS in all parameters except for colliforms, so that treatment is not acting on behalf of public health.