Abstract

VILLEGAS GOMEZ, Juan David; GUERRERO ERAZO, Jhonniers; CASTANO ROJAS, Juan Mauricio  and  PAREDES CUERVO, Diego. Septic Tank (ST)-Up Flow Anaerobic Filter (UFAF)-Subsurface Flow Constructed Wetland (SSF-CW) systems aimed at wastewater treatment in small localities in Colombia  . Rev. Téc. Ing. Univ. Zulia [online]. 2006, vol.29, n.3, pp.269-281. ISSN 0254-0770.

Research was done on Septic Tank (ST), Up Flow Anaerobic Filter (UFAF) and Subsurface Flow Constructed Wetlands (SSF-CW) arrangements, aimed at domestic wastewater (DWW) treatment in Colombian small localities. UFAF (commonly used as complementary treatment for ST effluents) with hydraulic residence times (HRT) up to 8 hours were evaluated using gravel and bamboo rings as supporting media. Removal efficiencies of 49.6% ± 2.6 of COD, 56.6% ± 2.1 of BOD₅ and 62.4% ± 2.3 of TSS, were obtained. No significant statistical differences were detected between treatments. Pilots units of SSF-CW with HRTs up to 1 day were evaluated in order to reach a minimum of 80% removal efficiency on DWW, as established by Colombian legislation. Typha sp, Juncus sp and Renealmia alpina, vegetal species of the Colombian coffee-growing region, were planted in gravel and sand media. The systems reached BOD₅ removal efficiencies of 50.6% ± 21, and indicator bacteria reductions near to 2 log cycles. No significant differences in efficiency were attained. The BOD₅ removal rates encountered, in the ST-UFAF-SSF-CW package, during the study allows 80%. The results obtained from the present research were used in scaling-up a DWW treatment system in a small locality in Colombia.   

Keywords : Water sanitation; communitarian participation; septic tank; up flow anaerobic filter; subsurface flow constructed wetland.