A simple method for identifying appropriate areas for onsite wastewater treatment

Onsite Domestic Wastewater Treatment Systems (ODWTS) are increasingly important for treating domestic wastewater in metropolitan contexts, especially in suburban sectors isolated from sewer networks and centralized treatment plants. When ODWTS are not correctly planned and located in suitable places...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Iribarnegaray, Martín Alejandro, Correa, Juan José Orlando, Sorani, Jazmin Marcela del Rosario, Clavijo Lara, Araceli Maria, Rodriguez Alvarez, Maria Soledad, Seghezzo, Lucas
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Estado:Versión publicada
Fecha de publicación:2021
País:Argentina
Institución:Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas
Repositorio:CONICET Digital (CONICET)
Idioma:inglés
OAI Identifier:oai:ri.conicet.gov.ar:11336/171639
Acceso en línea:http://hdl.handle.net/11336/171639
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:SPATIAL DECISION SUPPORT SYSTEM
DOMESTIC WASTEWATER
ONSITE
SALTA
https://purl.org/becyt/ford/2.7
https://purl.org/becyt/ford/2
Descripción
Sumario:Onsite Domestic Wastewater Treatment Systems (ODWTS) are increasingly important for treating domestic wastewater in metropolitan contexts, especially in suburban sectors isolated from sewer networks and centralized treatment plants. When ODWTS are not correctly planned and located in suitable places, or are not properly designed, they can cause groundwater contamination and generate risks for human health. This work presents a Spatial Decision Support System (SDSS) to zone specific areas based on a few simple parameters. The proposed tool can be easily adapted to different contexts, even where institutional capacities are low. Results obtained in the metropolitan area of the Lerma Valley (Salta, Argentina) show strong contradictions between our zoning and current urbanization features in the study area. As a result, environmental impacts and health hazards are likely to manifest in the short or medium term. The sectors with the best receptivity conditions were found in the southern sector of the study area. We argue that ODWTS can be safely implemented in many areas as long as this concept is embedded in urban planning initiatives, which usually also require the consolidation or development of appropriate institutions and control systems.