Designing a Net-Zero Energy and Chemical-Free Wastewater Treatment Plant for a University Campus in Quito, Ecuador

According to data from 2021, approximately 22% of the nationally distributed water in Ecuador enters wastewater treatment plants, while 52% of untreated water is directly discharged into water bodies, such as rivers. The traditional water treatment method is costly and prevents installation in rural areas and/or populations with less than 20,000 inhabitants. Therefore, the application of non-conventional and low-cost technologies for wastewater treatment would improve the statistics and quality of life of these populations. This design allows for the implementation of a net-zero energy and chemical-free Wastewater Pilot Wastewater Treatment Plant (PWTP) on a university campus in Quito, Ecuador, which will include preliminary, primary, secondary, and treatments, providing a space for researchers to develop new technologies for secondary treatment based on low-cost, natural biological processes to improve the efficiency and reduce the environmental impact of wastewater.