REVISTA PALMAS_66 ABRIL 2022

THE WASTE WATER TREATMENT PLANT (WWTP)
The Palmas de Mar Treatment Plant consists
of a central facility and a total of five
pumping stations that collect and bring
effluent from all the facilities/houses in the
complex into the WWTP Since its inception,
the plant operates with a zero-discharge
permit issued by the Environmental Quality
Board (Now Department of Natural Resources
& Environmental, DRNA). The model of
the treatment plant established in 1980’s is
a completely aerobic operation plant with
biological reactors, sludge digesters and clarifiers,
which treat and produce all the effluent
that reaches the retention lagoons identified
within the permit, to then be used in irrigation.
NO chemicals are used for the wastewater
treatment. NO treated water is deposited
in Wetlands, creeks, river or any other State
water body. (See Fig.3)
Before getting into the ponds, the treated
water passes into the disinfection tanks to
receive as part of the secondary treatment
the injection of chlorine, while the sludge is
treated by a digestion system. Digested and
drained sludge is the main element to generate
the compost that is used in the garden
areas within the complex. Since 2009 Palmas
del Mar Utility uses for disinfection, a system
known as MIOX. This is a system where a solution
of water with salt passes through plates
and by electrolysis there is a separation of
sodium and chlorine.
Chlorine is injected into
the water and in aqueous
sodium solution is
returned to the plant. Low
risk and an efficient way to
disinfect. When the water
is already disinfected, that
effluent is discharged into
sedimentation or polishing
ponds and is used by Golf operations for
irrigation purposes. In terms of impact on
the environment and health, the use of this
treated wastewater needs to comply with the
parameters and standards established by
the DRNA on our Operation Permit. Monthly
testing needs to be submitted to DRNA on a
quarterly basis.
COLLATERAL
BENEFITS OF THE
TREATMENT SYSTEM
Another benefit that Palmas del Mar Utility
obtains from the operation of the treatment
plant of the Palmas de Mar facilities is the
use of sludge for the manufacture of compost.
The digested sludge is drained into the
drying beds first and then mixed with the
grounds/garden waste that is collected within
the complex. This mixture is left in the drying
beds so that dewatering continues and
then it is taken to the yard, placed in piles
and classified by month, monitoring its temperature.
At the end of 90 days, it is screened
and ready for sale. The obtained results of
this compost certify how useful for Palmas
del Mar landscapers and general public this
resultant material is. (See Fig. 4)
The 40 plus years that Palmas de Mar Utility
has been managing a potable water distribution
system, using treated wastewater for
the irrigation of golf courses and generating
compost as a by-product from the treated water
sludge, are a clear example that the reuse
of treated waters is viable and reliable for domestic
use as it is for agro-industrial projects.
Efficient potable water management, re-use
of water, recycling vegetative material and
MIOX disinfection proves that PDMU is aware
of their role on this community. That’s why
we can say that PDMU is more than a Water
company. We are a community member and
an integral part of the Palmas del Mar actual
status and future development.
¹ Daniel Torrellas Cruz is the Executive Director
of PDM Utility Corp. He has a Civil Engineering
degree from UPR -Mayaguez and has been
part of the Palmas del Mar Working Environment
since 1999, being in PDMU since 2010.