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Development of Graywater Treatment for Rural Communities
Citation:
OConnor, T., E. Huertas, AND E. Colon. Development of Graywater Treatment for Rural Communities. 2014 Joint Caribbean Science/Citizen Science Workshop, University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras, PUERTO RICO, September 11 - 12, 2014.
Impact/Purpose:
Throughout Puerto Rico, housing development practices in the past have often not been closely monitored by regulatory agencies. Past construction practices have often created a legacy of communities constructed without proper sewage disposal infrastructure. Many of these communities were built with on-site wastewater disposal systems though the conditions in these rural areas of Puerto Rico are often not conducive to the proper operation of these systems due to a variety of conditions such as high groundwater, steep slopes, clay soils and small lot sizes often without an adequately sized drainage field. The combination of these factors with a less than required regulatory presence has resulted in a situation where homeowners often find it difficult or impossible to properly dispose of all of the wastewater emanating from their residence. In an effort to reduce overflows from the holding tanks, homeowners have generally adopted the practice of discharging graywater to property surrounding the house or when available, a storm drains or a nearby body of water.
Description:
2014 PR Citizen Science Workshop, University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras – Architecture Amphitheater
URLs/Downloads:
http://www.cienciapr.org/sites/cienciapr.org/files/events/day_2_agenda_2014_pr_citizen_science_workshop_final.pdf