STATISTICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL EVALUATION OF THE EFFICIENCY OF MACROPHYTE FLOTATION FILTERS FOR THE TREATMENT OF EUTROPHIC LAKE WATER

In the present study, the efficiency of Floating Macrophyte Filters FMF in the removal of Nitrogen and Phosphorus (eutrophying nutrients) was determined for the treatment of wastewater present in the Colta Lagoon, an ecosystem considered at risk because it is influenced both by agricultural and grazing activities of the communities located in the outskirts, as well as by surface runoff, causing the uncontrolled growth of aquatic plant species, a process known as eutrophication. To develop this research, three biofilters were built with three replicates each (B1, B2 and B3); in each biofilter, Totora (macrophyte) was used on a floating structure, to control its proliferation, thanks to its particularity of transporting the oxygen present in the atmosphere and introducing it through its roots into the water, the reproduction of aerobic microorganisms were allowed, which degraded the organic matter and nutrients. Biofilter 1 (B1), Biofilter 2 (B2) and Biofilter 3 (B3) were made up of water from the Colta Lagoon and Totora, with oxygenation and a solution of mineral salts and biologically active phytohormones (biostimulant for the growth of Totora) being the control variables used for comparison. Characterizations were carried out 15 and 30 days after starting the treatment, obtaining sufficient quantitative results that allowed determining that the three biofilters (B1, B2 and B3), together with their respective replicates, reduced the total nitrogen and phosphates in a percentage higher than 90%. This allowed concluding that the Floating Macrophytes Filters FMF, correspond to green and innovative technology in the development process, compared to other conventional treatments and that, through a correct application, could generate a future solution to the contamination of aquatic ecosystems by wastewater. Therefore, it is recommended to carry out new tests to determine the efficiency of the FMF filters against other components with different pollutant loads that simultaneously represent an environmental problem.