Conceptual Design of Green Filters: A Case Study of Libertador Bolívar

The water supply is vital for the development of human activities. However, wastewater generated must be adequately treated or reused, so applying an adequate and environmentally friendly purification method is necessary. In Ecuador, Libertador Bolívar coastal community presents frequent overflows of wastewater from the stabilization ponds due to mass tourism, being a challenge for the administrators of the local sanitary network. This research aims to carry out a geomechanical characterization of the soils of the sector through field studies and laboratories to obtain an optimal location of green filter systems that reduce contamination by wastewater discharges that generate an environmental problem. The results showed that the lithology of the area (sands with a high clay content) allows adequate filtration to remove and reduce the concentration of pathogenic microorganisms in the pre-treated waters in the stabilization ponds. Simultaneously, a timber species (Guadua angustifolia) was proposed due to an affinity to humid environments, accelerated growth and final use as building construction materials. According to these results, an approximate area of 15.46 ha is suggested around the stabilization ponds for the maximum reuse of residual water, contributing to the sustainable development of the affected population and generating an economic resource in the sustainable use of timber resources.