DETERMINACIÓN DE LA EFICIENCIA DE LA PLANTA DE TRATAMIENTO DE AGUAS RESIDUALES DE LA UNIVERSIDAD DE SAN CARLOS,USAC

Abstract

The University of San Carlos from Guatemala has its own treatment plant, for the wastewater generated by its facilities, it had a primary sedimentation process, a trickling filter (three serial stages), a secondary sedimentation process with a sludge digester and a drying yard. Because the stages have the same structural characteristics, we determinate not only the overall efficiency of the treatment plant, but also the individual efficiency for each treatment unit and stage of the trickling filter in the organic matter removal, measured as DBO5. We determined that the wastewater present similar characteristics to the domestic water source. We obtained an overall efficiency of 95.2%, the primary settler a 63.1%, the trickling filter a 32.3%, and the secondary settler 4.3%. Different results from those expected and reported in theory. Also, the Phase I has an average efficiency of 71.7%, Stage II of 21.1% and the Stage III of 7.2%. The effluent treatment plant complies with the national legislation in force until May 2, 2020. Afterwards we need to analyze the reuse of the effluent in authorized activities or the implementation of a tertiary treatment for the removal of nutrients.