Hygienization of waste water in the region of Callao, Peru

Water is a scarce resource in the arid coastal region around the Peruvian capital Lima.
The lack of water forces the local farmers to use untreated waste water, taken from the main sewage collector, for irrigation of their agricultural area.

The consumption of crops watered with untreated sewage is a serious health risk. The bad nutritional and hygienic situation results in the high abundance of infectious diseases.

BioPlanta has delivered decentralized and low-cost technology to the farmers, allowing them to use hygienized water for the irrigation of their crops. In this, the farmers have better chances for distributing their products, which now indicated as harmless on a special label. Small-sized Constructed Wetlands on each of the agricultural plots treat the needed amount of water for irrigation of the surrounding fields. Due to its simplicity in construction and operation, this applied technology can be built by the local farmers themselves.

From 2001 to 2003 three systems were constructed and put into operation.

Furthermore, BioPlanta has planned a Wetland system for the hygienization of waste water in the city of Callao. In the future the public parks will be irrigated with the treated water.