REPORT PROJECT OF RESIDUAL WATER TREATMENT FOR THE COMMUNITY BASINS OF SAN LUCAS TOLIMÁN, DISTRICT OF SOLOLÁ SEPTEMBER 2014 INFORMATION

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1 REPORT PROJECT OF RESIDUAL WATER TREATMENT FOR THE COMMUNITY BASINS OF SAN LUCAS TOLIMÁN, DISTRICT OF SOLOLÁ SEPTEMBER 2014 INFORMATION DESCRIPTION This project consists of how to prevent women from San Lucas Tolimán from washing their clothes in the waters of Lake Atitlan in order to improve their health and to avoid water contamination by treating the gray waters that come from the community basins to avoid eutrophic acceleration of Lake Atitlán, reduce the contamination of natural resources and improve the wellness of people from San Lucas Tolimán. With Rotary funds, three basin modules were finished in the area of San Lucas and two in Tzununá with an investment amount of US$108, A total of seven were completed with additional local donations of US$65, As part of the same project, two restroom batteries where finished one for women and another one for men and two kids playgrounds were installed. These last two components are very important for the success and sustainability of this project. Women used to bathe themselves when they washed their clothes and had their children around.

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3 Our biggest challenge was to apply the correct water treatment after it was used in the washing stations. The amount of water was enormous with phosphates and contaminants in the same proportion. To achieve the expected outcomes, we joined efforts with other institutions. SUMMARY

4 SITUATION BEFORE THE PROJECT In the last decades, Lake Atitlán has suffered constant discharges of contaminants from different sources causing an over fertilization and an unusual development of different life forms such as the species known as Cyanobacteria. With the development of this biomass, the limpid waters have deteriorated severely showing blooming symptoms in several locations. The population has also been affected by the lack of education and projects that improve life conditions. As an

5 example we can mention homes with open fires, deforestation (as result of wood consumption), and lack of a drainage network to use bathrooms in order to avoid contaminating the lakes water that they also consume. People washed clothes in the lake using soaps with high quantities of phosphorus and nitrogen that helped contaminating the basin. They used the lake since they didn t have a bathroom system to take a bath. SITUATION AFTER THE PROJECT The construction of washing stations has benefited many people since now they won t contaminate the water they drink. They will also be able to work under the shade (avoiding skin problems) and problems with their knees since they won t have to kneel down and wash their clothes in the lake in an uncomfortable position. Mothers are normally accompanied by their children that now have an entertaining area to be while they work. This is a good model to replicate in the future.

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7 2145 PEOPLE BENEFITED ADJUSTMENTS MADE TO THE DESIGN BASIC PROJECT INFORMATION A Treatment Plant was made to improve the system. Description of the Treatment System 1. The Active Muds are a type of biological treatment for residual waters logic of remaining waters that occur in the presence of air. Their function is based on providing the contact duration, the necessary oxygen and the homogeny means so that aerobic microorganisms purify the water, eliminating the soluble organic matter and biodegradable and assimilating the colloidal matter through the contact of microorganisms with the solids suspended in the water.

8 The aerobic biological treatment has several advantages such as not generating bad odors and excellent quality of fluids under adequate operating conditions. The basic products of an aerobic reaction are carbon dioxide, water and new microorganisms captive in the system that continue contributing by removing contaminants: Organic Matter, Oxygen, Nutrients, New Cells, Dioxide, Water (Contaminant) (Biological Mud) of carbon. The muds activated in the mode of extended ventilation are a simple variation of the conventional system. The difference is that the extended ventilation uses a larger volume than the ventilation tank eliminating with it the necessity of additional treatment units such as a primary clarifier and mud digester. In the other hand, due to the larger volume of the ventilation tank the biomass remains in the system longer with less organic matter (DBO5) available for bacteria that end up consuming cellular material for their own survival, consequently the mud removed gets out stabilized. The size of the ventilation tank of the extended ventilation mode also provides the system with a better response capacity with regard of the caudal variation and organic charge. The extended ventilation provides enough contact time inside the tank to favor an excellent stabilization of all muds reducing with it its volume making it easier for further handling. In the system all elements and required devices where considered in order to obtain the results that guarantee an excellent quality of water for the process flow. This water quality meets international regulations and the design procedures recommended by the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) of the United States of America and the Water Environmental Federation (WEF). The plant doesn t produce bad odors or inconvenience to other nearby users. 2. Water Quality Parameters in the entrance-output of the plant One characteristic of the proposed treatment system is its easy handling and operation, flexible technology and low susceptibility to flow variations and organic charge. The proposed treatment system can be handled automatically with its electro mechanic components as well as manually. In the treatment plant are considered all elements and necessary dispositive to obtain the results that will guarantee an excellent water quality in the output

9 of the process. The plant won t produce bad odors or inconvenience to nearby users. 3. Unit Operations Stage I: Stage II: Stage III: Initial treatment which consists in eliminating thick material. Biological treatment to remove organic contamination dissolved in fine particles. Biological treatment to properly stabilize and handle mud.

10 casting of concrete structure base (Rotary Club) wall formwork of concrete structure (Rotary Club) wall formwork finalization of concrete structure (Rotary Club) wall foundry of concrete structure (Rotary Club)

11 Initial Detail Stage (Rotary Club) Finalization Detail Stage (Rotary Club)

12 Accesories & Supplies (AMSCLAE) Accesories & Supplies (AMSCLAE) Accesories & Supplies Accesories & Supplies

13 (AMSCLAE) (AMSCLAE) Finished Project (Interinstitutional Cooperation) Finished Project (Interinstitutional Cooperation) DIFFICULTIES FOUND AND SOLUTIONS APPLIED It is important to mention that the design had to be changed due to the volume of the water used which was greater than the original one estimated. We had the support of many organizations to obtain an adequate design.

14 SPONSORS ROTARY INTERNATIONAL RC Guatemala Vista Hermosa RC Guatemala del Este Comité Todos por El Lago Amsclae Cementos Progreso Hidrotecnia VISITS MADE BY INTERNATIONAL ROTARIANS D5170 AND PARTICIPATION OF LOCAL ROTARY CLUBS (ESTE AND VISTA HERMOSA) International Rotarians visited project sites personally in February of 2013 and met up with host Rotarians (RC Guatemla del Este and RC Guatemala Vista Hermosa) We also received visitors from Minnesota, Laramie, Washington ST. and the board of the cooperating organization, Todos por el Lago. They also closely followed the implementation of the project through regular contact with RC Guatemala del Este and are informed on the status of the project. Host Rotarians have visited project sites numerous times and supervised the different phases of the project, construction of

15 the washing stations, wetlands, toilet blocks and children play areas, as well as assisted with purchases of building materials etc. We also counted with the visit of Erin Woodward s (from The Rotary Foundation) along with Rotarians from D5440 who participated in the project execution. VISIT OF THE LFR AUDITOR Attended PDG Marcelo Frangiosa when he visited and audited the project in 2014.