Sustainable treatment of 300,000 L/d of wastewater at the College of Sciences and Humanities South Campus of the National Autonomous University of Mexico: Anaerobic-wetland solution for compliance with NOM-001-SEMARNAT-2021 of Mexico

Abstract

The “College of Sciences and Humanities, South Campus (hereinafter CCH-SUR)”built on the volcanic terrain of Zacatépetl, hosts a daily population of approximately 15,000 persons distributed across 38 buildings. The estimated generation of wastewater reaches 300 m³/day, which is currently managed through septic tanks discharging into natural fissures of the subsurface. This rudimentary system is insufficient and poses an environmental risk, particularly under the stricter criteria of the NOM-001-SEMARNAT-2021, which regulates the quality of discharges intended for infiltration. The absence of a formal treatment system compromisos both groundwater quality and the sustainability of the ecological environment. In response to this problem, the design of a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) is proposed, based on a combined anaerobic reactor and constructed wetland system, located in the Botanical Garden adjacent to the campus. This solution aims to ensure regulatory compliance, protect the volcanic subsoil, and offer a decentralized, efficient, and sustainable alternative for managing the wastewater of CCH Sur.