Prevención y control de contaminación de recursos hídricos en la Mancomunidad del Chocó Andino : Diseño de un Plan de Acción Ambiental para microempresas queseras de la parroquia Nanegalito.

Abstract

The Commonwealth of Chocó Andino faces multiple environmental problems, the main ones being caused by mining, hydroelectric and microenterprise projects in the area, including micro-cheese enterprises. The parish of Nanegalito was selected because it has the largest number of dairy centers, as did the parish of Nono. For the evaluation of environmental impacts of the cheese-making process, the prior identification of the environmental aspects and factors of a case study was required and a map of social actors of the Nanegalito Parish was elaborated. Through a cause-and-effect matrix, it was determined that flora, fauna, and water quality are the most affected environmental characteristics. Also, it was observed that the processes that generate highly significant impacts are: coagulation, treatment of curd, cleaning and maintenance. A sample of wastewater from a cheese microenterprise was characterized using the parameters: BOD5, COD and oils and fats and the compliance with the applicable and current regulations was analyzed, for the approach of prevention and control measures through an action plan. Based on the information on the daily volume of whey generated in the Nanegalito Parish, a mass balance was carried out and it was concluded that the amount obtained from whey, of 4 400 l/day, is not sufficient for the project to obtain citric acid by fermentative route to generate utility; for the project to be profitable, 42 500 l/day of whey is required. Based on the analysis of the regulations and the case study checklist, 15 non-compliances were established related to: environmental regularization, wastewater monitoring, pre-discharge treatment and solid waste management. A cause analysis was carried out for the approach of 18 corrective measures with which the environmental action plan was formulated. This plan contains: short, mediumand long-term execution timelines, estimated costs for implementation, monitoring indicators and possible means of verification.