M Salgot

Publications of M Salgot

• Wastewater infiltration percolation for water reuse and receiving body protection: thirteen years' experience in Spain.

  Authors: F Brissaud, M Salgot, M Folch, M Auset, E Huertas, A Torrens

  Water science and technology : a journal of the International Association on Water Pollution Research. 02/2007; 55(7):227-34.

  Infiltration percolation (IP) is an extensive technology to treat primary or secondary effluents of small and middle size communities before reuse or disposal to sensitive receiving bodies. ThirteenInfiltration percolation (IP) is an extensive technology to treat primary or secondary effluents of small and middle size communities before reuse or disposal to sensitive receiving bodies. Thirteen years of implementation of IP in Spain has highlighted the necessity to abide by defined design and construction rules and operation conditions in order to achieve consistently the treatment objectives and guarantee a long lasting treatment capacity. From this experience, high care should be taken of (i) the characteristics of the sand constituting the filter, (ii) the drainage conditions, (iii) the influent spreading over the infiltration surface and (iv) the risks related to recurrent overloading. Simple monitoring measures are suggested in order to improve the reliability of IP plants.

• Wastewater reclamation through a combination of natural systems (infiltration-percolation and constructed wetlands): a solution for small communities.

  Authors: E Huertas, M Folch, M Salgot

  Water science and technology : a journal of the International Association on Water Pollution Research. 02/2007; 55(7):143-8.

  The decision on technologies used for reclaiming wastewater appears as important as a consequence of the implications on the economic, environmental and health conditions of societies. The problemThe decision on technologies used for reclaiming wastewater appears as important as a consequence of the implications on the economic, environmental and health conditions of societies. The problem arises when deciding how to deal with wastewater in small communities, because the costs of implementing and operating small, intensive wastewater treatment plants are unacceptable and can lead to financing and operation problems. Extensive treatment systems can be a good solution, where space is available. This paper presents the combination of two soft technologies (infiltration-percolation and constructed wetlands) to treat and reclaim wastewater. The obtained results show that the infiltration-percolation effluent presents a quality enough to be reused for irrigation of industrial crops, nurseries, fodder, cereals and oleaginous seeds, ornamental flower production; industrial cooling; impoundments, water bodies, and streams for recreational use in which the public's contact with the water is not permitted; and irrigation of forested areas, landscape areas and restricted access areas. Moreover, the combination of infiltration-percolation and constructed wetlands increases the list of final reclamation to the following: irrigation of pasture for milk or meat animals, crops for canning industry, crops not raw-consumed, fruit trees except by sprinkling, aquaculture; and aquifer recharge by localised percolation through the soil.

• Wastewater reclamation systems in small communities.

  Authors: L Alcalde, M Folch, J C Tapias, E Huertas, A Torrens, M Salgot

  Water science and technology : a journal of the International Association on Water Pollution Research. 02/2007; 55(7):149-54.

  The demands established in the rules and regulations by the administration in Catalonia seem to exclude small communities from wastewater reclamation and reuse, due to the comparatively high costsThe demands established in the rules and regulations by the administration in Catalonia seem to exclude small communities from wastewater reclamation and reuse, due to the comparatively high costs associated with the practice at small scale. In the framework of the DRAC project (Demonstration on Wastewater Reclamation and Reuse in Catalonia) two different pre-treatment systems, one extensive (infiltration-percolation) and another intensive (ring filter), each one followed by chlorine dioxide disinfection, were tested in order to be applied for small communities wastewater reclamation and reuse. The results of this study show that infiltration-percolation systems remove very efficiently physico-chemical contaminants and microorganisms. The ring filter system does not show a significant removal rate of contaminants, The use of infiltration-percolation as a pre-treatment for advanced chemical disinfection allows reducing the dose of disinfectant and the contact time needed to achieve a specific water quality, and diminishes disinfection byproducts (DBPs) generation. Therefore, this reclamation line is suitable for small communities due to its efficiency and low cost. However, further studies are needed in relation to the removal mechanisms of microorganisms, organic compounds in IP systems and the possible DBPs formation using chlorine dioxide.

• Development of a knowledge-based decision support system for identifying adequate wastewater treatment for small communities.

  Authors: J Comas, J Alemany, M Poch, A Torrens, M Salgot, J Bou

  Water science and technology : a journal of the International Association on Water Pollution Research. 02/2003; 48(11-12):393-400.

  The identification of adequate treatment for small communities is a complex problem since it makes it necessary to combine aspects of the community and landscape, the receiving environment, and theThe identification of adequate treatment for small communities is a complex problem since it makes it necessary to combine aspects of the community and landscape, the receiving environment, and the available wastewater treatment technologies. This paper presents the development and implementation of a Knowledge-Based Decision Support System (KB-DSS) to tackle this problem. Different knowledge sources have been consulted in order to make up a comprehensive and accurate knowledge base. The core of the KB-DSS embraces two objectives. The first one is to assist in the selection of the treatment level adequate to fulfil the target quality standards for the receiving environment. The second one is to select the specific type of treatment. The KB-DSS is being applied to each one of the 3,482 different small communities comprised in the Small Communities Wastewater Treatment Plan of Catalonia, grouped according to river catchments. This paper also summarizes the different steps involved in the operation of the knowledge-based DSS when solving a real case study.

• Role of water reuse for enhancing integrated water management in Europe and Mediterranean countries.

  Authors: V Lazarova, B Levine, J Sack, G Cirelli, P Jeffrey, H Muntau, M Salgot, F Brissaud

  Water science and technology : a journal of the International Association on Water Pollution Research. 02/2001; 43(10):25-33.

  Recycling water is an important aspect of water resource and environment management policies, ensuring reliable alternative water resources, reducing environmental pollution and achieving a moreRecycling water is an important aspect of water resource and environment management policies, ensuring reliable alternative water resources, reducing environmental pollution and achieving a more sustainable form of development. This paper focuses on wastewater reuse as a strategy for integrated water management. Key economic, financial, regulatory, social and technical factors that help to make water reuse projects successful are reviewed. Selected examples from Northern and Western Europe and arid and semi-arid Mediterranean regions illustrate the contribution of wastewater reuse to integrated management of water resources.

• Secondary wastewater disposal for crop irrigation with minimal risks.

  Authors: G Oron, R Armon, R Mandelbaum, Y Manor, C Campos, L Gillerman, M Salgot, C Gerba, I Klein, C Enriquez

  Water science and technology : a journal of the International Association on Water Pollution Research. 02/2001; 43(10):139-46.

  A critical objective for any wastewater reuse program is to close the gap between supply of and demand for water and to minimize health and environmental hazards. Thus, the effects of treatedA critical objective for any wastewater reuse program is to close the gap between supply of and demand for water and to minimize health and environmental hazards. Thus, the effects of treated effluent on crops, soils and community health must be considered carefully. When applying wastewater to soil-plant systems, it is to be noted that the passage of water through the soil reduces considerably the number of microorganisms carried out by the reclaimed wastewater. Nevertheless, there is a need to study the real rate of organism decay subject to water quality, soil and vegetable characteristics, and irrigation method. The aim of this work is to determine the fate of the fecal coliforms, coliphages F+ and CN13, and helminth eggs survival during the application of reclaimed wastewater in a vineyard orchard near the City of Arad (Israel) via onsurface and subsurface drip irrigation systems. Wastewater obtained from a stabilization pond, and soil samples were tested and an important decrease of microorganisms was reached in both cases, with the better values obtained with the sub-surface drip irrigation system.

• Biological control tools for wastewater reclamation and reuse. A critical review.

  Authors: M Salgot, C Campos, B Galofré, J C Tapias

  Water science and technology : a journal of the International Association on Water Pollution Research. 02/2001; 43(10):195-201.

  The health related risk of wastewater reclamation and reuse is usually defined by laws, rules or regulations by using only biological tools; i.e. bacteria, viruses, or other pathogens or indicatorsThe health related risk of wastewater reclamation and reuse is usually defined by laws, rules or regulations by using only biological tools; i.e. bacteria, viruses, or other pathogens or indicators determination. Those determinations exert some influence in the costs of the mentioned practices, and it seems probable that in the near future more determinations will be required. Nevertheless, a total indication of wastewater biological quality is not given by such organisms; in fact, long-term toxicity is not detected by such means. The future of biological control of reclamation and reuse systems and the price associated to such determinations is examined through a practical application case.

• Using 3-D structures and their virtual representation as a tool for restoring opencast mines and quarries

  Authors: V. Pinto, X. Font, M. Salgot, J.C. Tapias, T. Mañá

  Engineering Geology.

  An important factor in the restoration studies of quarries and open-cast mines is the ability of generating final restored models of visualisation. These 3-D models are particularly useful forAn important factor in the restoration studies of quarries and open-cast mines is the ability of generating final restored models of visualisation. These 3-D models are particularly useful for presenting projects, as they can greatly enhance the analysis of different alternatives. A method involving several subroutines for simulation purposes is presented in this paper. The system allows for the simulation of a variety of geological structures, both real and restored. The subroutines facilitate: (1) the automatic integration between the restoration structure and its geotechnical and morphological parameters, (2) the achievement of a uniform slope, and (3) the adjustment of the talus of the restoration structure to the relief. Graphic output in DXF and VRML formats allows for both static and dynamic optimal visualisation. Readers interested in subroutines written in Visual Basic can contact the first author: victor@geo.ub.es.

• Using electrical imaging for assessing suitability of reclaimed water recharge at Begur, Spain

  Authors: J.C. Tapias, M. Himi, A. Masachs, C. Nieto, F. Brissaud, M. Salgot, A. Casas

  Desalination.

  Groundwater is increasingly being used for water supply; however, the present social demand is not only to detect new groundwater resources but also to protect them. Moreover, reclaimed water is alsoGroundwater is increasingly being used for water supply; however, the present social demand is not only to detect new groundwater resources but also to protect them. Moreover, reclaimed water is also a valued non-conventional resource. Both statements are especially true in arid and semi-arid areas where water is scarce, but also in the Mediterranean countries because of the wide rainfall irregularity. When trying to perform an integrated management of water resources, groundwater volumes can be increased by reusing reclaimed water for recharge. Surface spreading is the simplest, oldest, and most widely applied method of artificial recharge. Wherever it goes, water remains in some part of the hydrologic cycle, but what is really desired when discharging or reusing wastewater is to prevent the effluent — or more correctly, the pollutants it contains — from causing water quality and public health concerns. When recharging with reclaimed effluents, to ensure an effective percolation through the soil and an adequate treatment of the effluent, the structure and properties of the vadose zone must be understood in detail. One of the easiest and cost-effective techniques for producing a large amount of information on aquifer geometry and subsoil properties is the electrical imaging technique. The underlying objective was to test the advantage of using this geophysical method for the continuous characterization of subsoil structure around the Begur treatment plant where treated wastewater is discharged and reused in a soil–plant–aquifer system. The good results of wastewater application in the area are also discussed.

• Wastewater reuse and risk: definition of key objectives

  Authors: M. Salgot, E. Huertas, S. Weber, W. Dott, J. Hollender

  Desalination.

  Wastewater reclamation holds promise as an important water resource as the desire to develop arid regions continues to place increasing demands on finite water resources. The debate surrounding theWastewater reclamation holds promise as an important water resource as the desire to develop arid regions continues to place increasing demands on finite water resources. The debate surrounding the consumption of reclaimed wastewater finds risk managers pondering the question of what types of water quality standards might be set in order to provide the proper level of safety associated with the use of reclaimed wastewater. We propose quality categories for different reuses such as irrigation or indirect aquifer recharge with different requirements towards microbial and chemical parameters. Based on recent existing guidelines and risk estimations, microbial and chemical limits for each category were compiled. Since economic calculations are very important, analytical costs are included and measurements frequency is proposed. Biological parameters have to indicate all potential pathogenic organisms including viruses, bacteria and parasites from different origins. The selected biological indicator parameters most used in rules and regulations are coliforms and E. coli, indicating the occurrence of a former faecal contamination and the possible presence of all pathogens occurring in faeces of warm-blooded animals. In the case of wastewater reuse, biological parameters have to indicate all potential pathogens causing infection diseases and/or intoxication in all living beings including plants and animals. The large number of possible chemical parameters in relation with wastewater reclamation and reuse has to be adapted and minimized with respect to the origin of the sewage, the extent of the treatment process and the intended use. These parameters must cover a broad spectrum of toxicological and ecological risks as well as possible technical disorders. Risk assessment and risk management are also necessary.

• Discusión del artículo: Situación actual y perspectivas futuras de la reutilización de aguas residuales como una fuente de recursos hidráulicos

  Authors: M Salgot, M Folch