WATER TREATMENT AND REUSE IN MÉXICO.

JORGE ALBERTO MENDOZA PÉREZ

ESCUELA NACIONAL DE CIENCIAS BIOLÓGICAS DEL INSTITUTO POLITÉCNICO NACIONAL.

Index

1. General Information

2. Overview of Water supply in

México and collected wastewater.

3. Wastewater treatment in México

and reuse.

4. Mexican regulatory framework.

5. Case of study: Wastewater

treatment plant from El Colegio

de México A.C.: a successful but

realistic story

Puente de Dios, San Luis Potosí. Image taken from Mexican National Water Program 2014.-2018

1. General Information.

• In 2013 México had a population near 118 million people

(117,053,750) Source: CONAPO 2010-2030 .

• For 2015, at least a 94% of the population in Mexico will have

potable water.*

• In the same year (2015) we hope that 91% of our population

will have access to sewer service and more than 72% of rural

dwellers will have water service.*

• But, if México still following the current trend of consumption

and population growth, in 15 years (2030) the country will

face a critical situation of water shortage.*• * Source: FEA and CEMDA, 2006. www.agua.org.mx and CONAGUA , Water statistics in México, 2013.

Average natural water availability per capita in some countries (m3 /capita ·

year)

Source: FAO 2013 : Aquastat data base

Mexican XIII Administrative-Hydrologic Regions (AHR). Source: CONAGUA.Water Atlas in México, 2013.

Demographic, socioeconomic and renewable water data in AHR, 2013.

Source: CONAGUA , Water statistics in México, 2013.

Water availability in México by type of source.

Water in México

Continental surface of AHR (km2)

Renewablewater

(Hm3/year)

Surface water : Rivers,

Lakes and Ponds.

(Hm3/year)

Ground- water

(Hm3/year)

Available resource

2012-2013

1, 959, 248.00

471,498.00 378,873.00 92,625.00

Source: FEA and CEMDA, 2006. www.agua.org.mx; CONAGUA, Water statistics in México, 2013; Mexican National Water Program 2014.-2018.

In the world rankings, México is considered a country with low water availability. Across the country it rains approximately 1,488,819 Hm3 of water each year, with a normal rainfall annual average of 760 mm.

México holds approximately 0.1% of total freshwater available globally, which determines that a significant percentage of the territory is classified as semi-desert area. It is the reason why water is considered a strategic factor for the overall development of the country.

• In México our Federal Constitution recognize and protect

the human right for water so the Mexican government is

required to guarantee this right and through the laws define

just and fair ways for access, provision and proper use.

• México has faced in recent years unprecedented problems of

water security related to water supply, lack of technology

development, shortage in several zones of the country and

even privatization policies that have generated a high cost in

social and human terms.

2. Overview of Water supply in México and collected wastewater.

Cascada Apatlaco, Puebla. Image taken from Mexican National Water Program 2014.-2018

Improvement of Water supply and Sewer service in México

Source: Mexican National Water Program, 2014.-2018

potable water coverage Sewer service coverage

%

year

Water use in México.Water use Surface

water(Hm3/year)

Ground-water

(Hm3/year)

Total volume

(Hm3/year)

ExtractionPercentag

e (%)

Irrigation 41,200.00 22,200.00 63,400.00 76.6

Public water supply

4,700.00 7,300.00 12,000.00 14.5

Self-supplying industry

1,400.00 1,900.00 3,300.00 4.0

Electric energy

excluding hydroelectr

ic power

3,600.00 400.00 4,000.00 4.9

Total 50,900.00 31,800.00 82,700.00 100Source: CONAGUA , Water statistics in México, 2013.

Water Stress Index = 100 x

Renewable water volume

Consumptive water volume

Without stress

Highest stress

Source: IADB, Wastewater treatment in México, 2013.

Collected Wastewater. Source: CONAGUA.Water Atlas in México, 2013.

Type of discharge

Discharge flow = Q

(m3/s)

Municipal Non-municipal (including industrial

discharges)

Volume for Irrigation

use

Total Collected as raw* Wastewater (Hm3/year)

229.7 7,240.00 6,610.00 3,435.58

Treated volume(Hm3/year)

99.8 3,150.00 1,910.00 279.65**

BOD5 generated(millions of tonnes per year)

--- 1.96 9.92 ---

BOD5 removal by wastewater treatment plants (millions of tonnes per year)

--- 0.7 1.30 ---

*without any kind of partial treatment.. **Only primary treatment

In México almost a 40% of the collected wastewater is treated but no more than a 15% reach the expected quality for reuse or returning to water resources.

Sistema Cutzamala. Image taken from the Mexican National Water Program, 2014-2018.

The pollution caused by discharges of wastewater and poor quality treated wastewater in our aquifer resources, has damaged at least the 24% of our water bodies of immediate use.

3. Wastewater treatment in México and reuse.

Source: Wastewater treatment plant San Francisco de los Romo Aguascalientes, México, 2008

Higher than 60% Above the 40% Lower than 40%

Source: IADB, Wastewater treatment in México, 2013.

Wastewater treatment coverage in México

Reported as 100%

Type of Discharge

Total plants in operation

Installed capacity ( m3/s)

Treated flow (Q = m3/s)

Treatment Efficiency

(%)

Municipal 2,342 140.14 99.80 15 - 16

Non-municipal (including industry)

2,500 91.2 60.5 30-60

Source: CONAGUA. General Division of Drinking Water, Sewerage and Sanitation. 2013.

Statistics of wastewater treatment plants operating in México

Wastewater Treatment level (Data from non municipal systems mainly industries)

Level Aim Plants in operation

(m3/s)

Operation flow

(m3/s)

Percentage(%)

Primary Adjust pH and remove

particles

796 21.7 31.46

Secundary Remove organic material (BOD)

1518 34.7 60.00

Tertiary Remove gases, ions

and bacterias

74 1.18 2.92

Not specific --- 142 2.93 5.91

Total --- 2,530 60.51 100

Source: IADB, Wastewater treatment in México, 2013 and CONAGUA , Water statistics in México, 2013.

Municipal wastewater treatment technology

Treatment process

Treated flow (m3/s)

TreatmentPercentage

(%)

Available Plants in México

Activated sludge

40.6 46.2 550

Stabilization lagoons and ponds

15.6 17.5 700

Advanced primary

9.1 10.2 25

Source: Lahera Ramón, V. 2010

Water (wastewater) reuse in México• 40-45% of wastewater treated or not

is used for irrigation.

• 30-35% is available for returning up

to water resources and since 2010 at

least 5-10% is used to recharge

groundwater aquifers.

• 10-15% is diluted with storm tank

water for different uses mainly as

primary service water.

• Also is used for co-mingled effluent in

rivers and in natural runoff.

• No more than 10% is treated with the

required quality for industrial and

domestic reuse, without human

contact as primary service water.

Source: Bunge, V. 2012; Lahera Ramón, V. 2010 and CONAGUA. General Division of Drinking Water, Sewerage and Sanitation. 2013.

Causes

• LACK OF MONEY

• LACK OF TECHNOLOGY and TRANSDISCIPLINARITY

• BAD COORDINATION and ORGANIZATION BETWEEN

SOCIETY COMPONENTS (GOVERNMENT, INDUSTRIES,

RESEARCH CENTERS, NGOs and CITIZENS)

• ABSENCE OF REGULATIONS and LAWS

• POOR SUSTAINABILITY IN THE PROCESSES

• LACK OF EDUCATION and TRAINING

• CORRUPTION

4. Mexican regulatory framework.The National Water Commission (CONAGUA) is the responsible for integrating and developing the National Water Program under the terms thereof and of the Planning Act, as well as updating and monitor its implementation, proposing criteria and guidelines that allow for unit and coherence to the actions of the Mexican government in reference to water as a national resource and their inherent public assets.

Source: Mexican National Water Program 2014.-2018

National Water Program 2014-2018

The National Water Program (NWP) from 2014 to 2018 shows the essential value of water as a strategic element for attendance the basic needs of mexican population and promote the development of economic activities of the country in a framework that puts the care and preservation of the environment for future generations. This program is directly related with the National Development Plan 2013-2018.

SEMARNATThe Mexican Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (SEMARNAT) is responsible for reviewing the maximum permissible limits of pollutants currently included in the schedule for particular conditions of discharge into water bodies in the permits issued for that purpose.

Source: Mexican National Water Program 2014.-2018

Current regulations

México has established a regulatory framework that regulates wastewater discharges to receiving bodies through the following rules:

NOM 001.- Establishes the maximum permissible limits of pollutants in wastewater discharges into national waters or assets.

NOM 002.-Establishes the maximum permissible limits of pollutants in the wastewater discharge into the urban or municipal sewer systems .

NOM 003.- Establishes the maximum permissible limits for contaminants in treated wastewater reused in public services.

NOM 004.-Establishes specifications and maximum permissible limits of pollutants in sludge and biosolids for its use and disposal.Source: SEMARNAT, Envioronmental regulatory framework, 2013.

Reuse program for treated wastewater.

Basic points:

I.- Reuse treated wastewater for irrigation.

II.- Reuse of treated wastewater in industries promoting exchanging water for primary services with treated water.

III.- Construction and expansion of networks of treated wastewater to incorporate effluents from municipal wastewater treatment plants in order to reuse water in industrial parks and for recharging groundwater aquifers. This action will be encouraged, once they comply with the relevant environmental quality provisions

Source: Mexican National Water Program 2014.-2018

Current and Future Strategies.

• Wastewater Collectors and treatment plants will be built with a holistic

approach to watershed and aquifer.

• It will be given a strong impulse to the reuse of treated wastewater,

particularly for agricultural irrigation and industrial processes.

• It has to be promoted with the states and municipalities, the proper

functioning of the existing wastewater treatment plants, which means

operating them efficiently and continuously.

• Also It must be promoted that the industries treat their wastewater and

improve the effectiveness of systems.

To better the current situation of our infrastructure for wastewater treatment and to achieve future plans on the reuse of treated wastewater, a series of strategies shall be followed:

Source: Mexican National Water Program 2014.-2018

Immediate actions.

• Improve current systems

• Build new systems with better technology

• Search for new clean energy sources

• Reach the 100% reuse of treated wastewater.

• Design and apply new regulations to improve and better the

management of water resources

• Include more pollutants to be monitored and decrease the

maximum permissible limits of them in those discharges which

go directly to water resources

• Increase the sustainability of our water management proceedingsSource: Mexican National Water Program 2014.-2018

Requirements.

• MONEY

• TECHNOLOGY and TRANSDISCIPLINARITY

• PERMANENT ASSOCIATION and BACKFEED BETWEEN SOCIETY

COMPONENTS (GOVERNMENT, INDUSTRIES, RESEARCH CENTERS,

NGOs and CITIZENS)

• REGULATIONS and LAWS

• DEVELOPMENT OF SUSTAINABILITY IN THE PROCESSES

• EDUCATION and TRAINING

• ETHICS (VANISHING OF CORRUPTION)

5. Case of study: Wastewater treatment plant from El Colegio de México A.C.: a successful but realistic story.

• El Colegio de México,

A.C. (commonly known as Colmex,

English: The College of Mexico) is a

prestigious Mexican institute of

higher education, specializing in

teaching and research in  social

sciences and humanities. he college

was founded in 1940 by the Mexican

Federal Government, the Bank of

México (Banco de México),

the National Autonomous University

of México (UNAM), and the Fondo de

Cultura Económica.

Environmental certification.

• In 2011 El Colegio de México as part of its planning to

obtain the environmental certification from the

government of the Federal District (D.F.) started a project

for the construction, operation and control of its own

wastewater plant.

Colegio de México WWTP Line Diagram

System parameters

Process(Dual)

EA /MBR-NF

Treatment Flow

(m3/day)

Installed Capacity(m3/day)

Water reuse

volume(m3)

Settling solids(%)

Mean BOD influent

(mg O2/L)

Mean BOD effluent

(mg O2/L)

Extended Aeration (activated sludge)

50 75 40 95 - 98 1,650.00 60-90

MBR-NF 50 75 40 95- 98 2, 500.00 20-30

Costs

Plant cost (USD) 493,600.50

Elimination efficiency (%)as MBR-NF

98.80-99.00

Specific Regulation NOM 003

Annual Maintenance cost (USD)

35,000

$/m3 (pesos/cents of dollar) 3.6 /0.28

Operators (six days per week)

2

Water (wastewater) reuse

Water reuse Volume (m3 per day)

Garden Irrigation

8

Groundwater recharge

11

Sanitary services

18

Almost 40% of maintenance is used for membranes, irrigation system and sanitary water supply (bombs)

Conclusions

• An efficiently wastewater treatment plant will have at the

beginning a large inversion recovery cost and it will be

necessary invest in training the personal in charge.

• Water reuse of course will bring saving money but the initial inversion recovery and the annual maintenance cost will avoid for a time period get benefits.

• New technology is expensive but it is necessary in order to keep, take care and recover our water resources

THANKS A LOT !!!!

ANY QUESTION ?????

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