Formulación de una metodología de dimensionamiento de lagunas de estabilización para el tratamiento de agua residual doméstica en Latinoamérica

Abstract

The contamination of water resources is a huge problem that affects not only the environmental sustainability of cities, but also the preservation of the entire territory, and with it the life and health of its inhabitants. The treatment of wastewater through physical, chemical or biological processes is necessary to minimize the potential impacts of wastewater discharges and to promote the recovery of bodies of water. Within the wastewater treatment systems used, stabilization ponds have been presented in recent decades as an appropriate alternative for the treatment and disposal of domestic wastewater. A stabilization pond consists of a pond dug to temporarily reservoir wastewater in order to eliminate pathogenic microorganisms and reduce its concentration of organic matter and nutrients composed of nitrogen and phosphorus. This monograph describes the flow patterns, design parameters, types of lagoons, purification mechanisms and the design criteria of stabilization lagoons according to various authors and government entities, this with the aim of analyzing existing methodologies and establish a design route that adapts to the climatic conditions of the Latin American tropics, its needs and the resources of the communities in these latitudes.