A sewage management proposal for Luruaco lake, Colombia

TL;DR

This study uses numerical simulations to analyze faecal coliforms dynamics in Luruaco lake, Colombia, and proposes management actions to reduce contamination based on flow and pollution modeling.

Contribution

It introduces a detailed numerical modeling approach for faecal coliforms in Luruaco lake and evaluates specific sewage management strategies for contamination reduction.

Findings

Diverting Limón stream to Negro stream improves water quality.

Installing a sewage treatment plant at Negro stream's mouth reduces contamination.

Numerical simulations identify effective sewage management interventions.

Abstract

This study presents numerical simulations of faecal coliforms dynamics in Luruaco lake, located in Atl\'antico Department, Colombia. The velocity field is obtained through a two-dimensional horizontal (2DH) model of Navier-Stokes equations system. The transport equation of faecal coliforms concentration is provided from a convective-diffusive-reactive equation. The lake's geometry is built through cubic spline and multi-block methods. The discretization method by Finite Differences and the First Order Upwind (FOU) are applied to the 2DH model. The Mark and Cell (MAC) method is used to determine numerically the velocity field of water flow. Numerical simulations are carried out for a 72-hour period in order to understand the influence of faecal coliforms injections from each tributary. From the qualitative and quantitative analysis of the factors that influence faecal coliforms dynamics, proposals are presented, which aim to reduce contamination in some regions of Lake Luruaco. The numerical simulations show that the best option to improve water quality in the lake is the implementation of two actions, the diversion of the Lim\'on stream to the Negro stream and the installation of a sewage treatment plant at the mouth of the Negro stream. Other less expensive proposals are also presented.