Effluent polishing of the stabilization ponds at the university of zulia through rock filter

• Suher Yabroudi Universidad del Zulia-Venezuela
• Carmen Cárdenas Universidad del Zulia-Venezuela
• Karelen Araujo Universidad del Zulia-Venezuela
• Tomás Perruolo Universidad del Zulia-Venezuela
• Ismenia Araujo Universidad del Zulia-Venezuela
• Alberto Trujillo Universidad del Zulia-Venezuela
• Luis Vargas Universidad del Zulia-Venezuela
• Luisa Saules Universidad del Zulia-Venezuela

Palabras clave: stabilization ponds, water reuse, hydraulic charges, effluent polishing, rock filter

Resumen

Stabilization ponds represent an efficient alternative for the treatment of wastewater; however, the main disadvantage to them is the high concentration of solids in the effluent, which makes improving this effluent a necessary step to take. The objective of this research was been to analyze the efficiency of the rock filter as a system of treatment for improving the quality of the effluents at the stabilization lagoons of the University of Zulia by evaluating physical, chemical and bacteriological parameters. To achieve this, it was necessary to observe the stone segment of the ponds, which was 0.8 m. High, and had stones of 2.5 cm. in diameter. Hydraulic charges were used at 0.75 and 0.5 m3/m3d, for a period of six weeks each. The largest removals were achieved when using the hydraulic charge at 0.5 m3/m3d, as follows: 80% turbidity removal, 81% apparent color, 69% COD, 74% BOD, 88% SST, 89% SSV, 92.1% TC and 85.6% FC.