Browsing by Author "Marecos do Monte, Helena"
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- Analysis of reclaimed water application for irrigation using multi-criteria analysisPublication . Albuquerque, António; Marecos do Monte, Helena; Silva, Flora; Cavaleiro, Victor; Carvalho, AntónioApproximately 60% of the population of the Cova da Beira region (Portugal) lives in rural communities with less than 2,000 inhabitants and the wastewater treatment systems in the region are mainly septic tanks, constructed wetlands and trickling filters. The daily reclaimed water discharged into streams could be mainly reused for landscape irrigation of public parks and lawns and golf courses, which often means offsetting potable water for nonpotable purposes. However, those applications may require a polishing treatment to remove mainly pathogens, and trace elements. A one-year monitoring campaign was carried out in a biological aerated filter (BAF) that treats the sewage of 4,000 inhabitants. The research included the measurement of the effluent flow-rate and its characteristics in terms of pH, temperature, conductivity, BOD5, COD, TSS, TN, NH4-N, NO2-N, NO3-N, TP, Na, Mg, Ca, K, Cl, B, As, Cd, Cr, Co, Hg, Ni, Pb, Zn, total coliforms (TC), faecal coliforms (FC), E. Coli and faecal streptococcus (FS). Results show that the effluent concentrations of BOD5, COD, TN, TP, K, Ca and phytotoxic elements (Na and Cl) are compatible with the international guidelines for irrigation reuse (crop cultures and golf courses). Values of conductivity are not a risk to soil salinity, but TC, FC, E. Coli and FS values are not compatible with the reuse guidelines and, therefore, a final disinfection must be implemented to decrease the pathogenic content. The low nitrate concentrations (<5 mg/L) are suitable for irrigation and constitute a very low risk for groundwater contamination. GIS-based multi-criteria analysis was performed combining land use maps, reclaimed water characteristics and economic, environmental and technical criteria. The results showed that approximately 180,000 m3 of treated wastewater annually discharged in the local stream could be reused for irrigation of all crops classified as class A or 31% of the cultures classified as class C (according to the Portuguese Standard 4434), located at a distance of about 1.8 km from the BAF. The use of reclaimed wastewater in rural areas of the Cova da Beira region brings other advantages such as the reduction of the residual pollution load discharged in water streams and the reduction of water abstraction volumes for irrigation, which are important environmental and economics benefits, especially in periods of water shortage.
- Analysis of reclaimed water application for irrigation using multi-criteria analysisPublication . Albuquerque, António; Marecos do Monte, Helena; Silva, Flora; Cavaleiro, Victor; Carvalho, AntónioApproximately 60% of the population of the Cova da Beira region (Portugal) lives in rural communities with less than 2,000 inhabitants and the wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) in the region are mainly septic tanks, constructed wetlands and trickling filters. The daily reclaimed water discharged into streams could be mainly reused for landscape irrigation of public parks and lawns and golf courses, which often means offsetting potable water for nonpotable purposes. However, those applications may require a polishing treatment to remove mainly pathogens, and trace elements. A one-year monitoring campaign was carried out in a biological aerated filter that treats the sewage of 4,000 inhabitants. The research included the measurement of the flow-rate and its characteristics in terms of pH, temperature, conductivity, BOD5, COD, TSS, TN, NH4, NO2, NO3, TP, Na, Mg, Ca, K, Cl, B, As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb, Zn, total coliforms (TC), faecal coliforms (FC), E. Coli and helminths eggs (HE). Results show that the effluent concentrations of BOD5, COD, TN, TP, K, Ca and phytotoxic elements (Na, B and Cl) are compatible with the international guidelines for irrigation reuse (crop irrigation). Values of conductivity are not a risk to soil salinity, but TC, FC and E. Coli values are not compatible with the reuse guidelines and, therefore, a final disinfection must be implemented to decrease the pathogenic content. The low nitrate concentrations (<5 mg L-1) are suitable for irrigation and constitute a very low risk for groundwater contamination. GIS-based multi-criteria analysis was performed combining reclaimed water characteristics, the type and needs of the dominant crop production and environmental, technical and economic criteria. The results showed that approximately 170,000 m3 of reclaimed water annually discharged in the local stream could be reused for irrigation of 30.53 ha fruits trees, corn, olive trees and vine, located at a distance of about 1.8 km from the WWTP. The use of reclaimed wastewater in rural areas brings other advantages such as the reduction of the residual pollution load discharged in water streams and the reduction of water abstraction volumes for irrigation, which are important environmental and economics benefits, especially in periods of water shortage.
- Localização de áreas para infiltração de águas residuais tratadas de pequenos aglomerados urbanosPublication . Silva, Flora; Albuquerque, António; Cavaleiro, Victor; Marecos do Monte, HelenaNa região da Beira Interior algumas origens de água não apresentam características compatíveis com algumas utilizações, devido a fenómenos de poluição (descarga de efluentes) ou por se encontrarem sobre-exploradas. Contudo, as necessidades de água tenderão a crescer nesta região para satisfazer as exigências de actividades sócio-económicas, o que implicará a procura de recursos hídricos alternativos. Após uma campanha de monitorização de dois anos na ETAR de Vila Fernando (Guarda), as características do efluente tratado sugerem que poderia ser utilizado para infiltração no solo. A partir de seis cartas temáticas e de critérios ambientais, técnicos e económicos, seleccionou-se uma área de estudo de 6687,1 ha. Esta área foi analisada com base na manipulação de informação complexa com recurso a Sistemas de Informação Geográfica (SIGs), na sobreposição de áreas de exclusão e inclusão e utilizando uma análise multicritério, obtendo-se uma Carta de Aptidão com uma área favorável para infiltração de 6,4 ha.
- Site selection for reclaimed water infiltration using GIS toolsPublication . Silva, Flora; Albuquerque, António; Marecos do Monte, Helena; Cavaleiro, Victor; Carvalho, AntónioIn the region of the Beira Interior some sources of water do not present characteristics suitable for some uses due to the discharge of not well treated effluents or because are over-exploited (namely aquifers). However, the water demand will grow in this region to meet socio-economic activities under development (the Cova da Beira irrigation plan, irrigation of golf courses and green areas, spas and distribution for human and industrial consumption), which will lead to the search of alternative sources of water. In this context, the treated wastewater is beeing seen as a source of water to be used and not a waste to be eliminated. After a monitoring campaign of two years in the wastewater treatment plant of Vila Fernando (Guarda), which included a constructed wetland system, the characteristics of the final effluent suggest that it could be used for the recharge of aquifers, not only because it is an area that uses essentially groundwater sources, but because other uses seem to be not relevant and would require a polishing treatment for the secondary effluent, which would higher the costs of operation. From six thematic maps and economic, environmental and technical criteria, it was selected a study area of 6687.1 ha, and, after manipulation of complex information using GIS tools, based on the overlapping areas of exclusion and inclusion in each thematic maps and using algebra of maps operations, it was obtained a Suitable Map with a favorable area for infiltration of 6.4 ha (Figure 1). An area of 1 300 m2 would be enough to set up four infiltration basins (18x18 m each), that would work in alternating cycles of filling-infiltration-cleaning-filling.
- Site selection for reclaimed water infiltration using GIS toolsPublication . Silva, Flora; Albuquerque, António; Marecos do Monte, Helena; Cavaleiro, Victor; Carvalho, AntónioIn the Beira Interior region (Portugal) some sources of water do not present characteristics suitable for some uses due to pollution (namely associated to the discharge of point and nonpoint effluents) or are over-exploited (namely the aquifers). However, the water demand will grow in this region to meet socio-economic activities under development (e.g. the Cova da Beira irrigation plan, irrigation of golf courses and green areas and SPAs, as well as for distribution for human and industrial consumption), which will lead to the search of alternative sources of water. The region is characterized by many disperse urban agglomerates with less than 2,000 inhabitants, where the wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) are mainly ecological systems such as constructed wetlands (CW). In this context, the treated wastewater (reclaimed water) from these ecological treatment systems should be seen as a source of water to be used and not a waste to be eliminated. After a monitoring campaign of two years at the CW system of Vila Fernando (Guarda, Portugal), the characteristics of the final effluent suggest that it could be used for aquifer recharge, not only because it is an area that uses many groundwater resources, but because other uses seem to be not relevant and would require a polishing treatment for the effluent, which would increase the costs of both investment and operation. From 6 thematic maps and environmental, technical and economic criteria, it was selected a study area of 6687 ha. This area was analysed based on the manipulation of complex information using Geographic Information Systems (GIS), which consisted on overlapping areas of exclusion and inclusion from each thematic map and the use of algebraic operations (multi-criteria analysis) to obtain a final Suitable Map that indicated an area of 6.4 ha located in anthrosols as the most favorable ones for the infiltration of reclaimed water.
- Utilização de solos residuais para infiltração de águas residuais tratadasPublication . Silva, Flora; Albuquerque, António; Arrobas, Margarida; Cavaleiro, Victor; Marecos do Monte, Helena; Scalize, PauloA reutilização de águas residuais tratadas (ART) é praticada, na maioria dos casos, como uma estratégia de conservação da água em regiões onde os recursos hídricos são escassos, mas também por motivos ambientais, a fim de se preservar a qualidade da água de meios recetores, reduzindo a descarga de efluentes de estações de tratamento de águas residuais (ETAR). Nos próximos anos, a região da Beira Interior (Portugal) necessitará de um maior volume de água, não só para atividades domésticas e industriais, mas também para atividades agrícolas (cobertas pelo Plano de Regadio da Cova da Beira) e recreativas (rega de campos de golfe, áreas desportivas e de lazer), uma vez que o Turismo é uma das apostas de desenvolvimento da região. Assim, a recarga de aquíferos pode constituir uma alternativa para o restabelecimento de volumes de água subterrânea que poderão ser utilizados para satisfazer parte daquelas atividades. Após uma campanha de monitorização de dois anos na ETAR de Vila Fernando (Guarda, Portugal), as caraterísticas do efluente tratado sugerem que poderia ser utilizado para infiltração no solo. Optou-se por um tipo de recarga por bacias de infiltração, tendo sido realizada, para a sua localização, uma análise multicritério baseada em Sistemas de Informação Geográfica (SIG), combinando seis cartas temáticas e critérios ambientais, técnicos e económicos. O procedimento de cálculo envolveu a sobreposição de áreas de exclusão e inclusão de cada uma das cartas temáticas sobre a área de estudo, através de operações algébricas de mapas. Obteve-se uma Carta de Aptidão final que indica uma área favorável de 6,4 ha para infiltração de ART no solo. Num dos locais selecionados, recolheram-se amostras de solo residual de granito, indicando os resultados das análises que este apresenta características favoráveis à infiltração de ART.