Rehabilitation of a sewage system for the municipality of Otaré in Norte de Santander, Colombia

Abstract

This article presents a rehabilitation proposal aimed to optimize the current sanitary sewer system in Otaré, Municipality of Ocaña, Norte de Santander. Actuallt, the system faces operational deficiencies due to the incorporation of new users without proper upgrades, leading to malfunctions. Additionally, the community has expressed concerns about the pollution caused by both open-air sewer discharges and illegal discharges from users not connected to the main sewer network. The sewer system spans approximately 3 km, benefiting almost the entire urban population of Otaré. In this context, the research conducted a diagnostic assessment of the system’s current condition, followed by its optimization through hydraulic simulations using SWMM-5Ve software. A procedural manual was developed to detail the simulation process. Finally, a budget was prepared for the necessary improvements to ensure a more efficient operation of the existing sewer system.