Diseño de sistema para la reutilización de aguas grises en la irrigación de cultivos en viviendas rurales del Cantón Baba, los Ríos, Ecuador

Abstract

This project addresses the issue of greywater management in rural communities of Ecuador, where limited access to water and inadequate sanitation significantly impacts the quality of life. The main objective is to design a sustainable system for the treatment and reuse of greywater for agricultural irrigation. The hypothesis proposed is that implementing a constructed wetland, adapted to local conditions and utilizing low-cost, easily accessible materials and plant species, can reduce dependence on external water sources. This study is justified by the need to optimize water resources and mitigate environmental risks in rural areas. The project development included the initial characterization of raw and treated water through physical, chemical, and microbiological analyses, in accordance with the current quality parameters in the country. A treatment prototype was designed, constructed, and evaluated, using water hyacinth as the primary treatment element. The tests were conducted in treatment stages, measuring the system's efficiency. The results demonstrated the system's effectiveness in improving water quality, with a significant removal of contaminants. A compliance rate of 87.5% with the established parameters was achieved, while the remaining 12.5% showed partial compliance. The proposed system is effective for treating greywater in rural areas, but adjustments are needed to optimize its performance and fully comply with regulations. Keywords: greywater treatment, constructed wetlands, agricultural irrigation, water sustainability, rural communities.