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Tertiary Domestic Wastewater Treatment Alternatives for Dispersed Rural Housing in Areas of Hydrogeological Interest

10.24050/reia.v22i44.1845
Published 2025-07-08
Articles

Abstract

In Colombia, there is currently a need to define clear actions and strategies for the protection of groundwater. This is in order to reduce the growing concern caused by the scattered information and lack of knowledge about this resource, which hinders its proper management. In accordance with Colombian legislation, the disposal of wastewaters is prohibited in areas of critical environmental importance, including zones with high aquifer recharge and groundwater sources. In addition, Resolution 0631 of 2015 provides comprehensive regulation of these discharges, establishing permissible limits for a range of economic activities and promoting the implementation of domestic wastewater treatment systems. However, the management of wastewater in rural areas represents a significant risk of contamination, especially if they are located in areas of hydrogeological interest. This is because the removal of nutrients that, when discharging the effluent directly to the soil, reach the aquifers by infiltration is not performed when the wastewater is treated through septic systems. The objective of this article is to promote water quality in groundwater sources and to facilitate their long-term conservation. To this end, it presents a review of the literature and a methodology for the design and selection of decentralised tertiary treatment alternatives for dispersed rural housing. Among the existing tertiary treatment alternatives, those suitable for implementation in areas of hydrogeological interest are surface and subsurface flow constructed wetlands, intermittent sand filters, green filters, zero discharge green filters and upflow evaporative green filters. The latter two alternatives have the additional advantage that they do not generate effluents at the end of the process.

Keywords

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Authors

  • Catalina

    Universidad de Antioquia

  • Keren Avendaño Mejía

    Colombia

  • Darío Naranjo-Fernández

    Colombia

    https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4445-8932

  • Teresita Betancur Vargas

    Universidad de Antioquia

  • Juliana Ossa Valencia

    Colombia

  • Paola Alejandra Vásquez Cardona

    Colombia

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