Smarter wastewater interventions through circular economy principles in Bogotá

The Bogotá River covers 6,000 km2 and includes 45 municipalities, acting as the main waterway in the metropolitan region of the capital city of Bogotá.The Basin provides hydropower generation and water for irrigation in the upper basin and receives wastewater discharges from nearly 10 million people in the lower basin. Since 1950s, wastewater discharges from domestic and industrial sources, as well as from urban runoff and the dumping of solid waste, severely polluted the river over the years. As a result, the river stopped being used as a source of water supply for the population of Bogotá and turned into a source of pollution, health issues and environmental degradation.

For this reason, the City of Bogota is designing and implementing an array of impactful initiatives that build on circular economy principles to help improve the sustainability, quality and resilience of wastewater services.

As a first step, a basin management plan was developed focused on flood control, wastewater management and water quality restoration.

As a second step, the El Salitre wastewater treatment plant was redesigned to account for energy efficiency and resource recovery. The new design of the plant included an expansion in capacity and an energy recovery provision to generate a significant part of the plant’s consumption needs and a disinfection treatment process. At a future stage the plant will also allow reuse of wastewater and production of biosolids for agricultural purposes.

The new 2021 land-use plan for the city is a crucial turning point for the circular economy in Bogotá. Indeed, this long-term land-use plan will guide the city over the coming years, including elements such as water treatment and waste separation to extend the life cycle of water. Based on the Bogotá Water and Sewage Agency (EAAB) efforts, most of the initiatives so far have focused on valuing waste streams resulting from water treatment processes and ecosystem regeneration.

First, the amount of solid bio waste from water treatment is set to double with the completion of the new Canoas water treatment plant, treating 70% of Bogotá’s wastewater.

In addition, sludge will be transformed into energy in its water treatment plant, allowing improved energy efficiency.

Finally, reusing water at the user level is also needed and still on hold. In the meanwhile, water is being recirculated to improve efficiency at some of the company’s drinking water treatment plants.

Collectively, the implementation of such circular principles contributes to increase the resilience and sustainability of Bogota’s wastewater assets and services, while protecting water sources and the ecosystem.

Efficiently investing in wastewater and other sanitation infrastructure is crucial to achieve public health benefits, improve the environment, and enhance quality of life. Safely managed water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) services are an essential part of preventing disease and protecting human health during infectious disease outbreaks, including the current COVID-19 pandemic