IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v15y2023i2p1235-d1029976.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Assessment of the Performance of a Water Treatment Plant in Ecuador: Hydraulic Resizing of the Treatment Units

Author

Listed:
  • Jonathan I. Mendez-Ruiz

    (Escuela Superior Politécnica del Litoral, ESPOL, Faculty of Engineering in Earth Sciences, Campus Gustavo Galindo Km. 30.5 Vía Perimetral, ESPOL Polytechnic University, Guayaquil P.O. Box 09-01-5863, Ecuador)

  • María B. Barcia-Carreño

    (Escuela Superior Politécnica del Litoral, ESPOL, Faculty of Engineering in Earth Sciences, Campus Gustavo Galindo Km. 30.5 Vía Perimetral, ESPOL Polytechnic University, Guayaquil P.O. Box 09-01-5863, Ecuador)

  • Lisbeth J. Mejía-Bustamante

    (Escuela Superior Politécnica del Litoral, ESPOL, Faculty of Engineering in Earth Sciences, Campus Gustavo Galindo Km. 30.5 Vía Perimetral, ESPOL Polytechnic University, Guayaquil P.O. Box 09-01-5863, Ecuador)

  • Ángela K. Cornejo-Pozo

    (Escuela Superior Politécnica del Litoral, ESPOL, Faculty of Engineering in Earth Sciences, Campus Gustavo Galindo Km. 30.5 Vía Perimetral, ESPOL Polytechnic University, Guayaquil P.O. Box 09-01-5863, Ecuador)

  • Cristian A. Salas-Vázquez

    (Escuela Superior Politécnica del Litoral, ESPOL, Faculty of Engineering in Earth Sciences, Campus Gustavo Galindo Km. 30.5 Vía Perimetral, ESPOL Polytechnic University, Guayaquil P.O. Box 09-01-5863, Ecuador)

  • Priscila E. Valverde-Armas

    (Escuela Superior Politécnica del Litoral, ESPOL, Faculty of Engineering in Earth Sciences, Campus Gustavo Galindo Km. 30.5 Vía Perimetral, ESPOL Polytechnic University, Guayaquil P.O. Box 09-01-5863, Ecuador)

Abstract

Granting access to drinking water has been a challenge because 47% of the worldwide population is not connected to a drinking water distribution network in rural settlements. This study aimed to evaluate the contaminant removal efficiency in a conventional water treatment facility in the Austro region of Ecuador, Paute, to identify the treatment units requiring hydraulic resizing. Water samples were collected from each treatment unit to characterize the physical-chemical and microbiological parameters, and the dimensions of the treatment ponds for hydraulic evaluation purposes. Water hardness, electrical conductivity, SO 4 2− , and Fe 2+ were the main issues found in the water, which failed to comply with Ecuadorian technical guidelines. The treatment units, such as the flocculator, rapid sand filter, and storage tank, were resized to meet the demand of the future population. In addition, the residual free chlorine was measured as insufficient in the community’s tap water, showing an unprotected water distribution system to microbiological contamination. No disinfection by-products were found despite the existence of biodegradable organic matter. The findings of this research propose improvements in the deployed treatment practices to provide the community with drinking water in accordance with the Sustainable Development Objectives (SDG 3 and SDG 6).

Suggested Citation

  • Jonathan I. Mendez-Ruiz & María B. Barcia-Carreño & Lisbeth J. Mejía-Bustamante & Ángela K. Cornejo-Pozo & Cristian A. Salas-Vázquez & Priscila E. Valverde-Armas, 2023. "Assessment of the Performance of a Water Treatment Plant in Ecuador: Hydraulic Resizing of the Treatment Units," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(2), pages 1-23, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:2:p:1235-:d:1029976
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/15/2/1235/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/15/2/1235/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Zhang, Jing, 2012. "The impact of water quality on health: Evidence from the drinking water infrastructure program in rural China," Journal of Health Economics, Elsevier, vol. 31(1), pages 122-134.
    2. El-Sayed A. Badr & Ahmed A. Al-Naeem, 2021. "Assessment of Drinking Water Purification Plant Efficiency in Al-Hassa, Eastern Region of Saudi Arabia," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(11), pages 1-17, May.
    3. Meeks, Robyn, 2018. "Property Rights and Water Access: Evidence from Land Titling in Rural Peru," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 102(C), pages 345-357.
    4. Bryan Salgado-Almeida & Daniel A. Falquez-Torres & Paola L. Romero-Crespo & Priscila E. Valverde-Armas & Fredy Guzmán-Martínez & Samantha Jiménez-Oyola, 2022. "Risk Assessment of Mining Environmental Liabilities for Their Categorization and Prioritization in Gold-Mining Areas of Ecuador," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(10), pages 1-17, May.
    5. Paulo Campoverde-Muñoz & Luis Aguilar-Salas & Paola Romero-Crespo & Priscila E. Valverde-Armas & Karla Villamar-Marazita & Samantha Jiménez-Oyola & Daniel Garcés-León, 2022. "Risk Assessment of Groundwater Contamination in the Gala, Tenguel, and Siete River Basins, Ponce Enriquez Mining Area—Ecuador," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(1), pages 1-14, December.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Keya Sengupta, 2016. "Water and health for sustainable development," African Journal of Economic and Sustainable Development, Inderscience Enterprises Ltd, vol. 5(1), pages 66-101.
    2. ZHONG, Hai, 2015. "An over time analysis on the mechanisms behind the education–health gradients in China," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 34(C), pages 135-149.
    3. Apurva Pamidimukkala & Sharareh Kermanshachi & Nikhitha Adepu & Elnaz Safapour, 2021. "Resilience in Water Infrastructures: A Review of Challenges and Adoption Strategies," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(23), pages 1-15, November.
    4. Lovo, Stefania & Veronesi, Marcella, 2019. "Crop Diversification and Child Health: Empirical Evidence From Tanzania," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 158(C), pages 168-179.
    5. Wu, Haoyi & Guo, Huanxiu & Zhang, Bing & Bu, Maoliang, 2017. "Westward movement of new polluting firms in China: Pollution reduction mandates and location choice," Journal of Comparative Economics, Elsevier, vol. 45(1), pages 119-138.
    6. Yijie Wang & Guoyong Liu & Bangbang Zhang & Zhiyou Liu & Xiaohu Liu, 2022. "Coordinated Development of Farmland Transfer and Labor Migration in China: Spatio-Temporal Evolution and Driving Factors," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(12), pages 1-19, December.
    7. Xing-Yun Zou & Xin-Yu Peng & Xin-Xin Zhao & Chun-Ping Chang, 2023. "The impact of extreme weather events on water quality: international evidence," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 115(1), pages 1-21, January.
    8. de Brauw, Alan & Mu, Ren, 2012. "Unattended but not undernourished: young children left behind in rural China:," IFPRI discussion papers 1191, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).
    9. Loor, Ignacio & Evans, James, 2021. "Understanding the value and vulnerability of informal infrastructures: Footpaths in Quito," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 94(C).
    10. Yangyang Sun & Daxin Dong & Yulian Ding, 2021. "The Impact of Dietary Knowledge on Health: Evidence from the China Health and Nutrition Survey," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(7), pages 1-17, April.
    11. Brainerd, Elizabeth & Menon, Nidhiya, 2014. "Seasonal effects of water quality: The hidden costs of the Green Revolution to infant and child health in India," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 107(C), pages 49-64.
    12. Xuhang Shen & Ziqi Wang & Shi Li, 2023. "Access to Piped Water and Off-Farm Work Participation: Evidence from Rural China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(4), pages 1-20, February.
    13. Carlos Mestanza-Ramón & Demmy Mora-Silva & Giovanni D’Orio & Enrique Tapia-Segarra & Isabel Dominguez Gaibor & José Fernando Esparza Parra & Carlos Renato Chávez Velásquez & Salvatore Straface, 2022. "Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mining (ASGM): Management and Socioenvironmental Impacts in the Northern Amazon of Ecuador," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(11), pages 1-16, June.
    14. Choi, Hyunhong & Koo, Yoonmo, 2018. "Using Contingent Valuation and Numerical Methods to Determine Optimal Locations for Environmental Facilities: Public Arboretums in South Korea," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 149(C), pages 184-201.
    15. Zhou, Li & Turvey, Calum G., 2018. "Drinking water and off-farm labour supply: between-gender and within-gender bias," Australian Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics, Australian Agricultural and Resource Economics Society, vol. 62(1), January.
    16. Yasuharu SHIMAMURA & Hiroshi NISHINO & Hirofumi TSURUTA & Keitaro AOYAGI, 2017. "Effect of Groundwater Development Project on Diarrhea Incidence in Rural Zambia," GSICS Working Paper Series 31, Graduate School of International Cooperation Studies, Kobe University.
    17. Paulo Campoverde-Muñoz & Luis Aguilar-Salas & Paola Romero-Crespo & Priscila E. Valverde-Armas & Karla Villamar-Marazita & Samantha Jiménez-Oyola & Daniel Garcés-León, 2022. "Risk Assessment of Groundwater Contamination in the Gala, Tenguel, and Siete River Basins, Ponce Enriquez Mining Area—Ecuador," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(1), pages 1-14, December.
    18. Wangyang Lai & Shanjun Li & Yanan Li & Xiaohui Tian, 2022. "Air Pollution and Cognitive Functions: Evidence from Straw Burning in China," American Journal of Agricultural Economics, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 104(1), pages 190-208, January.
    19. Kota Ogasawara & Shinichiro Shirota & Genya Kobayashi, 2018. "Public health improvements and mortality in interwar Tokyo: a Bayesian disease mapping approach," Cliometrica, Springer;Cliometric Society (Association Francaise de Cliométrie), vol. 12(1), pages 1-31, January.
    20. Tyler Andrew Scott & Nicola Ulibarri & Omar Perez Figueroa, 2020. "NEPA and National Trends in Federal Infrastructure Siting in the United States," Review of Policy Research, Policy Studies Organization, vol. 37(5), pages 605-633, September.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:2:p:1235-:d:1029976. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.