Innovation in the Management of Sludge Generated in Domestic Waste Water Treatment Plants in Perù

In the 7 domestic wastewater treatment plants -PTAR- evaluated, 81630.72 m³ / day of wastewater are treated and 2537.85 Tn / day of sludge with high moisture content are generated, becoming a problem since the spaces for their confinement are scarce and / or that the existing distances from the generation centers to the final disposal sites are significant. The sludge was characterized physically-chemically and biologically on two occasions and compared with the maximum permissible limits established in the Peruvian, Mexican and EPA regulations, then the results showed excess concentrations of Cadmium, Zinc and Thermotolerant Coliforms, for which prior treatment is recommended. Nutritional concentrations of the generated sludge were also determined, comparing the results with the quality of the compost that is made at the Pampamarca Chico-Carhuaz Plant, which is concluded that they have high concentrations of Total Nitrogen, Organic Matter and acceptable pH; there is a demand for its use to fertilize agricultural land. The conversion of sludge waste to input requires innovation in management, and currently only one company is hired that is in charge of storing, transferring and disposing of them in sanitary landfills. Treating crude sludge, enriching it and marketing it obviously requires a change in management in order to generate business opportunities, already converted into an input, within the framework of the Circular Economy.