Desarrollo de soluciones modulares transportables para la potabilización de agua y tratamiento de efluentes con uso de tecnologías avanzadas

Abstract

This work presents the strategy for the development of solutions for drinking water as well as wastewater treatment, using prefabricated modular and compact units. Advanced technologies were taken into account, looking for cost‐efficient and competitive technical solutions, applicable to populations from 25 to 100,000 inhabitants and/or industries. Such strategy is based on the development of volume‐intensive designs, with application of advanced technologies, using skilled materials that optimize the durability‐cost relation of each solution. It is pointed out that the use of dissolved air flotation (DAF) is highly efficient for solids and organic matter removal, and that it presents the least area requirement when compared with a typical sedimentation process. It is shown that plastic strengthened with fiberglass is an alternative material to stainless steel for the construction of treatment plants. Its price is 25% lower than that of AISI 304, the weight of the unit is 75% lower, higher resistance and durability of the material is expected. Based on design models, common schemes and design of the following solutions were developed: modular Drinking Water treatment plant (FBD), with DAF technology, developed for flows from 10 to 650 m3/h (1,600 to 104,000 inhabitants); Wastewater Treatment Plant (ETE) using septic tanks and biological filtration (FSFB), serving populations smaller than the 200 people; Wastewater Treatment Plant using the activated sludge process and aerobic digestion (LADA), for populations between 250 and 2,000 inhabitants; Wastewater Treatment Plant using biological filtration and DAF technology (FB‐DAF), developed for populations between 2,000 and 80,000 inhabitants; Wastewater Treatment Plant using Physical Chemical process (UTFQ) and dissolved air flotation (DAF), developed basically for the industrial area; both for effluent reuse, and recovery of raw material, and for the improvement of existing treatment plants that operate overloaded.