Estudio técnico ambiental comparativo del tratamiento de aguas residuales domésticas para su descarga mediante emisarios en medio marítimo y continental. Caso Cartagena y Barranquilla

Abstract

Due to its composition, the domestic wastewater - DWW, generates environmental impacts that can alter aquatic ecosystems. These impacts may vary depending on the characteristics of the receiving body, occurring different behaviors in maritime and continental bodies. The receiving body therefore determines the characteristics of the treatment to be received by the DWW. However, until the year 2018, in Colombia only the permissible limits of dumping to superficial (continental) bodies were established and the quality objectives of specific receiving bodies were considered. In this context, municipal wastewater treatment systems, in compliance with resolution 631 of 2015, did not discriminate against the receiving body, having the same treatment characteristics for dumping in marine and continental environments. In view of the foregoing, the following work aims to define the technical environmental criteria to be considered in the domestic wastewater treatment system according to the characteristics of the receiving media. Methodologically, a qualitative, descriptive and evaluative investigation was carried out, in which the behavior of the receiving body was analyzed, the DWW treatment system was compared to two cities in which discharges are carried out in continental and maritime environments- Barranquilla and Cartagena – through emissaries, and defined the operational units required for wastewater treatment according to the media. It was determined that the parameters of DWW of importance for discharging in the continental media were pH, conductivity, dissolved oxygen, BOD, COD, TSS, settleable solids, fats and oils, and coliforms; while for the discharge in marine media were TSS, and fats and oils.