Determining effectiveness of Constructed Wetlands inEl Porvenir, Honduras

David Couto, Jasmine Gandhi,Johnson Pham, Ven Satyam, Josh Weinberg

Constructive Wetlands•This is a simple way of harnessing microorganisms and vegetation to purify wastewater.•Water is pumped into a basin where microorganisms on the roots of seeded plants break down biological matter found in wastewater to a state of 90% purity.•The plants themselves will further purify the water by taking in heavy metals through their roots, purifying a further 7% to 8%.

Negative Aspects

•Winter rains may overflow wetlands•Wetlands may attract mosquitoes as a nesting ground•Wastewater plant is four miles away from river

Positive Aspects

•Constructive wetlands are fairly inexpensive and low-maintenance•There is an abundance of land to construct on•The village is on a high slope of a depression; gravity can carry influent to and through wetlands to the river

Geography and Environment

•El Porvenir is in the interior highlands, lacking nutrient-rich soil of volcanic ash•The village is in a depression that allows easy transport across the isthmus•Logging and land clearing has caused erosion and increased destruction of floods•Mining activity has polluted many rivers and streams•In the winter, enough rain falls to ensure lush vegetation•Honduras holds great biodiversity, housing over 6,000 species of vascular plants

Economy and Culture

• No paved roads – all are dirt and gravel•Only one home phone in the village of El Porvenir since 1993•Many inhabitants of El Porvenir commute to the city of La Ceiba for work•Most workers make $26-32 per 6-day, 10-14 hour/day work week• Home to many farm and forest enterprises

•Bicycles are the main form of traffic•Five churches – religious•Crime rate is high – people resort to putting up bars around their porches•Restaurants & bars are found along the beach

Introduction

Our group analyzed El Porvenir in terms of its geographic, economic, cultural, and environmental aspects to determine if a constructed wetland would be a

appropriate method of treating wastewater for the agricultural school La Semilla del Progresso and surrounding communities.

Final Recommendation

This form of wastewater treatment is highly recommended in El Porvenir because of its low monetary cost and high effectiveness with a small amount

of technology required.

We feel that the positives outweigh the negatives of the wastewater treatment system and that this form of wastewater treatment will be the

easiest to teach to farmers at La Semilla de Progresso.

http://www.extension.umn.edu/distribution/naturalresources/images/7671f05.gif

http://www.extension.umn.edu/distribution/naturalresources/images/7671f01.gif

Surface flow Sub-surface flow

Bibliography for pictures on slide

http://www.cs.uml.edu/teams-academy/uploads/Main/teams-banner-top.jpg

http://www.epicprojects.org/images/epic_logo.gif

http://cache.eb.com/eb/image?id=7209&rendTypeId=4

http://geology.com/world/honduras-map.gif

http://lagringasblogicito.blogspot.com/2008/05/buildings-and-traffic-in-el-porvenir.html