Propuesta de diseño de una planta de tratamiento de aguas residuales domesticas a escala piloto

This article presents the design proposal for a pilot-scale domestic wastewater treatment plant at the State University of Milagro (UNEMI), located in the province of Guayas, Ecuador. The construction of a pilot plant is proposed to improve the quality of discharges by returning treated water that can be reused for irrigation of gardens and sports fields on campus. The design of the system is detailed, including the sizing of pumps for suction and recirculation, the electrical panel for equipment control, and the containers for secondary biological treatment. The calculation of flow rates and volumes was carried out following specific formulas to guarantee treatment efficiency. In addition, the air needs for mixing and washing were evaluated, as well as the air requirements per diffuser, in order to optimize the purification process. The results show that the proposed design achieves a significant reduction in the levels of pollutants in the wastewater, complying with the limits established by current legislation for parameters such as Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD5), Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD), Total Nitrogen Kjeldahl (NTK) and Total Suspended Solids (TSS). This demonstrates the effectiveness of the system in reducing the pollutant load and allowing the reuse of treated water in non-potable activities.