Redesign of the Wastewater Treatment Plant of the Chiquicha Centro community belonging to the Pelileo canton, Tungurahua province, Ecuador

Abstract

The purpose of this research was the redesign of the Wastewater Treatment Plant of the Chiquicha Centro community in Pelileo, Tungurahua province, which has been in operation since 2012 and has had a poor performance in its residual treatment water, evidenced by the turbidity of the effluent, structural deterioration in each decontaminating unit and vegetation presence. This methodology has integrated documentary investigation such as direct observation and interviews to collect information regarding the study area. In the same way, through fieldwork, the inlet and outlet flow of the plant was measured, and with the experimental method, a sampling of the residual liquid was carried out, which was subjected to a physical-chemical analysis so determined that most of the Polluting parameters exceeded the permissible limit for discharge as stipulated in the current environmental regulations of the country. Using the descriptive method, the operation of the purification station was diagnosed according to design guidelines of the World Health Organization, the National Water Commission and the Water Secretariat, demonstrating that this plant does not operate efficiently. For this reason, a new purification scheme has been proposed with a pretreatment design that includes screening, sand trap, and grease tank; It continues to a septic tank, two up-flow anaerobic filters, and a redesigned sludge drying bed. The results ensured the full implementation of the proposal, an optimal process for removing contaminants and improving the living conditions of the community.