Propuesta de Gestión de Lodos Residuales Municipales. Caso de Estudio: Planta de Tratamiento de Agua Residual de la Parroquia Rural de Nono

Abstract

The main objective of this project was establishing a viable technical and economic alternative for the wastewater sludge management. This research used sludge mixed from the Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) located in Nono, Quito-Ecuador. The theoretical aspects considered in this study were support by specialized bibliography about the sludge wastewater treatments, regulations for the use, and its management. The methodology applied consisted on sampling, monitoring and comparing the two sludge treatment technologies studies to lab-scale: alkaline stabilization and vermicompost. The theoretical foundations allowed establishing technical and economic criteria to choice the best alternative. At the end of the experimental phase, considering the technical point of view, both alternatives improved the sludge quality, but being the vermicompost treatment, which produced an agricultural reusable sludge (Class A), due to coliforms is less than 1000 [NMP/g] and the ratio SV/ST is 0,31. The economic analysis showed that vermicompost offers a viable project and saving money. The results include a design (infrastructure plans and monitoring frequency) with the optimal alternative to be implement (vermicompost), to real scale.