Table 1.
Data on population and operating characteristics of WWTPs in the area of study.
| Served Populationa | Population Equivalentb | Capacity (m3/y)c |
Reclamation processes | Reuse | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Designed | Currentd | |||||
| Murcia | 370,893 | 530,499 | 36,500,000 | 36,952,999 | Activated sludge (A2O process), Disinfection, NaClO | Public domain |
| Cartagena | 175,870 | 163,969 | 12,775,000 | 8,625,103 | Activated sludge, Disinfection | Irrigation |
| Molina de Segura | 67,455 | 150,545 | 9,125,000 | 5,699,930 | Activated sludge, Decantation, Coagulation, Flocculation, Sand filtration, Disinfection, UV, NaClO | Irrigation |
| Lorca | 73,057 | 101,161 | 7,300,000 | 3,366,919 | Activated sludge, Coagulation, Flocculation, Sand filtration, Disinfection, UV, NaClO | Irrigation |
| Cieza | 33,744 | 69,502 | 3,650,000 | 2,338,673 | Activated sludge (Extended aeration), Disinfection, Coagulation, Flocculation, Sand filtration, Disinfection, UV | Irrigation |
| Totana | 29,113 | 28,289 | 2,190,000 | 1,440,463 | Activated sludge (Extended aeration), Disinfection, UV | Irrigation |
a
Population connected to the wastewater treatment facility.
b
Calculated based on the organic biodegradable load having a five-day biochemical oxygen demand (BOD5) of 60 g of oxygen per day.
c
m3/y, water flow expressed as volume per year.
d
Average water flow observed during the period of study.