A Wastewater Treatment, Reuse and A Wastewater Treatment, Reuse and Outreach Program at the Outreach Program at the

Autonomous University of Benito Autonomous University of Benito Juarez Juarez

in Oaxaca, Mexicoin Oaxaca, Mexico

by Tressie Word, M.S.by Tressie Word, M.S.Winzler & Kelly Consulting EngineersWinzler & Kelly Consulting Engineers

the intro.the intro.• ConceptConcept• ContextContext• OutreachOutreach• TechnologyTechnology• Lessons learnedLessons learned• OutcomesOutcomes• Next stepsNext steps

Build capacity in natural wastewater Build capacity in natural wastewater treatment, reuse and watershed treatment, reuse and watershed management in the Oaxaca Valleymanagement in the Oaxaca Valley

Capacity building is the creation of an enabling Capacity building is the creation of an enabling environment with appropriate policy, legal environment with appropriate policy, legal frameworks & institutional development; including frameworks & institutional development; including community participation, development of resources & community participation, development of resources & strengthening of managerial systems (UNDP, 1991).strengthening of managerial systems (UNDP, 1991).– A long-term, continuing process that involves all stakeholders A long-term, continuing process that involves all stakeholders

the concept.the concept.

the approach.the approach.

the players.the players.

Humboldt State University (HSU) Humboldt State University (HSU)

Universidad Autonómica de Benito Universidad Autonómica de Benito Juárez de Oaxaca (UABJO)Juárez de Oaxaca (UABJO)

Associated organizationsAssociated organizations

• Dr. Robert Gearheart, HSU Professor Dr. Robert Gearheart, HSU Professor • Peter Haase, Principal Engineer, Fall Creek Peter Haase, Principal Engineer, Fall Creek

Engineering Engineering ~ HSU Volunteer ~ HSU Volunteer

• Tressie Word, Staff Engineer, Winzler & Tressie Word, Staff Engineer, Winzler & Kelly ~ HSU LecturerKelly ~ HSU Lecturer

• AdministrationAdministration• ChemistryChemistry Department Faculty, Students & Department Faculty, Students &

StaffStaff

• Institute of Nature and Society of OaxacaInstitute of Nature and Society of Oaxaca• Rio Salado Watershed CommitteeRio Salado Watershed Committee• Federal, State and Local Water Federal, State and Local Water

CommissionsCommissions• Oaxaca Secretary of HealthOaxaca Secretary of Health

the funds.the funds.• Current SourcesCurrent Sources

- UABJOUABJO- Private Private

IndividualsIndividuals- Private Private

CompaniesCompanies- State of OaxacaState of Oaxaca

• Potential SourcesPotential Sources- - National Water CommissionNational Water Commission

of Mexico (CNA)of Mexico (CNA)- National Secretary of National Secretary of

Environment and Natural Environment and Natural Resources (SEMARNAT)Resources (SEMARNAT)

- Secretary of Health of Oaxaca Secretary of Health of Oaxaca (SSO) (SSO)

- Secretary of Social Development Secretary of Social Development of Oaxaca (SEDESOL)of Oaxaca (SEDESOL)

-- Inter-American Inter-American Development Development BankBank

-- North American North American Development Development BankBank

the specifics.the specifics.

• Establish local need & engagementEstablish local need & engagement

• Pursue fundingPursue funding

• Outreach programOutreach program• Monitoring & recording wastewater dataMonitoring & recording wastewater data

• Educational, technical & operational guidanceEducational, technical & operational guidance

• Development of a technical support networkDevelopment of a technical support network

• International exchange opportunitiesInternational exchange opportunities

• Workshop series Workshop series • Four annual participative workshops Four annual participative workshops

• On-campus demonstration facilityOn-campus demonstration facility• Natural wastewater treatment & reclamationNatural wastewater treatment & reclamation

the context.the context.

the status of water and the status of water and wastewater in Mexico.wastewater in Mexico.

• Over-exploitation of Over-exploitation of water resources (INEGI, 2007)water resources (INEGI, 2007)• Insufficient or lacking Insufficient or lacking wastewater sanitation measures wastewater sanitation measures

(CNA, 2004)(CNA, 2004)– InfrastructureInfrastructure– Operation & maintenanceOperation & maintenance– MonitoringMonitoring

(CNA, 2004) (CNA, 2004)

(CNA, 2004)(CNA, 2004)

20% to 35% of wastewater is20% to 35% of wastewater istreated in Mexico (INEGI, 2007)treated in Mexico (INEGI, 2007)

the effects.the effects.

EnvironmentEnvironment• Contamination of potable water Contamination of potable water

resources (Briscoe, 1993)resources (Briscoe, 1993)

• Ecosystem imbalances Ecosystem imbalances

(Welch & Lindell, 1992)(Welch & Lindell, 1992)

• Pollution of soils & agricultural Pollution of soils & agricultural produce (INEGI, 2007)produce (INEGI, 2007)

the effects.the effects.

Human HealthHuman Health• Pathogens cause gastro-intestinal Pathogens cause gastro-intestinal

infections, typhoid, cholera & infections, typhoid, cholera & dysentery dysentery

• Toxic chemicals from industry, Toxic chemicals from industry, agriculture & urban areas cause agriculture & urban areas cause harmful effectsharmful effects

the status of wastewater in the status of wastewater in Oaxaca de Juárez, Oaxaca.Oaxaca de Juárez, Oaxaca.

• Population 256,130 Population 256,130

• Activated sludge treatment (still starting-Activated sludge treatment (still starting-up)up)

• In the very recent past, most wastewater In the very recent past, most wastewater was discharged directly to rivers (Atoyac, was discharged directly to rivers (Atoyac, Salado & Jaltlaco) & streetsSalado & Jaltlaco) & streets

http://www.tomzap.com/coaxaca.html

the status of wastewater in the status of wastewater in communities surrounding communities surrounding

Oaxaca de Juárez.Oaxaca de Juárez.

the UABJO project goals.the UABJO project goals.

•GoalsGoals– On-campus infrastructure On-campus infrastructure

improvementsimprovements•Ecological wastewater treatment & and Ecological wastewater treatment & and

reusereuse•Water quality monitoring capacityWater quality monitoring capacity

– Improve water & wastewater Improve water & wastewater conditions in the Oaxaca Valleyconditions in the Oaxaca Valley

– Enhance community relations Enhance community relations – Support applied research effortsSupport applied research efforts– Expand international exchange Expand international exchange

opportunitiesopportunities

the workshop participants.the workshop participants. Collaborative efforts involving Collaborative efforts involving

governments, private firms & civil society governments, private firms & civil society strongly support project success (UNWWAP, strongly support project success (UNWWAP, 2006)2006)

• GovernmentGovernment

• Water authoritiesWater authorities

• IndustryIndustry

• AcademiaAcademia

• Plant managers & operatorsPlant managers & operators

• Private sectorPrivate sector

• Concerned citizensConcerned citizensWorkshop 1Workshop 1

the workshop foci.the workshop foci.• Workshop 1: Natural Wastewater Workshop 1: Natural Wastewater

Treatment System Science & DesignTreatment System Science & Design

• Workshop 2: Watershed and Wastewater Workshop 2: Watershed and Wastewater Management Permitting, Funding Sources, Management Permitting, Funding Sources, and Lawsand Laws

• Workshop 3: Sustainable Technologies and Workshop 3: Sustainable Technologies and Monitoring for Watershed Protection, Monitoring for Watershed Protection, Wastewater Treatment and ReuseWastewater Treatment and Reuse

• Workshop 4: Watershed and Wastewater Workshop 4: Watershed and Wastewater Management Technique Start-up, Management Technique Start-up, Troubleshooting, Operation and Troubleshooting, Operation and MaintenanceMaintenance

the demonstration project.the demonstration project.

Goal: Create a natural, simple, inexpensive, Goal: Create a natural, simple, inexpensive, low-maintenance, energy efficient, low-maintenance, energy efficient, wastewater treatment & reclamation projectwastewater treatment & reclamation project

the technology.the technology.• Upflow Anaerobic Upflow Anaerobic

Sludge BlanketSludge Blanket

• Facultative Facultative LagoonLagoon

• Free Surface Free Surface WetlandsWetlands

• FiltrationFiltration

• StorageStorage

• Subsurface Subsurface IrrigationIrrigation

the the technology.technology.

front viewfront view

side viewside view

upflow anaerobic upflow anaerobic sludge blanketsludge blanket

the the technology.technology.

• Meets secondary treatment Meets secondary treatment effluent standards for effluent standards for water reuse water reuse (Wendland et al, 2006)(Wendland et al, 2006)

• Demands low energy Demands low energy

• Produces little sludge Produces little sludge

• Requires simple operation Requires simple operation & maintenance& maintenance

the permits.the permits.•UABJO ProjectUABJO Project

– Permit Requirements WaivedPermit Requirements Waived•Autonomous UniversityAutonomous University

•Pilot projectPilot project

•General ProcessGeneral Process– Environmental Impact Report Environmental Impact Report – Design approval processDesign approval process– Permit required from the National Permit required from the National

Water CommissionWater Commission

the the construction.construction.

the team.the team.

Final Design & Final Design & ConstructionConstruction

site visit: feb site visit: feb

2007.2007.

site visit: aug site visit: aug 2007.2007.

the final product.the final product.

the outreach.the outreach.

GuendulainGuendulain

TlacalulaTlacalula

TlacalulaTlacalula

MitlaMitla

HuayapamHuayapam

HuayapamHuayapam

the challenges.the challenges.

• Political climatePolitical climate

• Cultural differencesCultural differences

• CommunicationCommunication

• CoordinationCoordination

• FundingFunding

• Regulatory enforcementRegulatory enforcement

• WeatherWeather

the lessons.the lessons.

• Employ sincere cultural & political sensitivityEmploy sincere cultural & political sensitivity– Changes in government & administration have Changes in government & administration have

broad, immediate implicationsbroad, immediate implications

• Anticipate emergent events & weak pointsAnticipate emergent events & weak points• Maintain long-term presenceMaintain long-term presence• Support solid local engagement in project Support solid local engagement in project

componentscomponents– Apply flexible, transparent, engaged problem Apply flexible, transparent, engaged problem

solving practicessolving practices

• Provide appropriately complex operation, Provide appropriately complex operation, maintenance & evaluation guidelines maintenance & evaluation guidelines

the outcomes.the outcomes.

• On-campus wetland wastewater On-campus wetland wastewater treatment, reuse & treatment, reuse & demonstration systemdemonstration system

• Establishment of a university Establishment of a university wastewater outreach program wastewater outreach program – Local information network on Local information network on

wastewater treatment technologywastewater treatment technology– Local wastewater monitoring Local wastewater monitoring

programprogram

the outcomes.the outcomes.

• The implementation of two The implementation of two constructed wetland wastewater constructed wetland wastewater treatment plants stemmed from treatment plants stemmed from the first workshopthe first workshop– Matatlan (~9,000 Inhabitants)Matatlan (~9,000 Inhabitants)– Tlalixtac (~10,000 Inhabitants) Tlalixtac (~10,000 Inhabitants)

• The workshop series continuesThe workshop series continues

the future.the future.

• Provide a venue to create an Oaxaca Provide a venue to create an Oaxaca Committee for Water, Environmental and Committee for Water, Environmental and HealthHealth

• Support surrounding communities to Support surrounding communities to implement appropriate water and wastewater implement appropriate water and wastewater projects projects

• Expand UABJO international exchange Expand UABJO international exchange opportunities opportunities

• Develop of a local wastewater technical Develop of a local wastewater technical support networksupport network

• Continue technical support for UABJO Continue technical support for UABJO demonstration and outreach programsdemonstration and outreach programs

• The Appropedia Foundation: Living library The Appropedia Foundation: Living library of sustainable development projects in the of sustainable development projects in the developing worlddeveloping world

– http://www.appropedia.orghttp://www.appropedia.org

• Institute of Nature and Society of Oaxaca: Institute of Nature and Society of Oaxaca: Studies, publications and outreach in Studies, publications and outreach in Oaxaca, Mexico on watershed Oaxaca, Mexico on watershed management and sustainable management and sustainable developmentdevelopment

– http://insooaxaca.comhttp://insooaxaca.com

• My email: tressieword@w-and-k.comMy email: tressieword@w-and-k.com

some resources.some resources.

¿¿questions?questions?