PESQUISA DE GRADUAÇÃO: ANÁLISE DAS POSSIBILIDADES DE USO DE LODO DE ESTAÇÕES DE TRATAMENTO DE ÁGUA E ESGOTO NA GRANDE SÃO PAULO

Abstract

Sludge from water and wastewater treatment inBrazil is frequently disposed in natura in water bodies orlandfills. This practice has been severely questioned due tothe risks posed to public health and aquatic life – one of thegreatest, current challenges to Sanitation. Appropriatesludge disposal is a plant management goal, requiringtechnical and economical viability and environmentalsustainability. Therefore, sludge must undergo qualiquantitativeimprovements before becoming suitable eitherfor disposal or use. The characteristics of treatmentprocesses and disposal sites must be carefully considered,such as to determine solutions less environmentallyaggressive and suit possible uses. This work investigatespossible uses of treatment-plant sludge, starting fromreviewing treatment processes, and finally investigates suchprocesses in Greater São Paulo treatment plants and thepossibilities for using their sludge. It also granted the firstauthor, as his graduate conclusion dissertation, a prize inthe Civil Engineering category.

Index Terms - Undergraduate dissertation, treatment plant,sludge disposal, use of sludge, environmental sanitation.