Effect of alternative flocculants on the improvement of water quality for potential human consumption in Santa Maria, Huaura

Abstract

Objectives: To evaluate the effect of three natural flocculants, one chemical and a mixture of both in the improvement of water quality for potential consumption in Santa Maria, Huaura. Methodology: Water was sampled from three different locations, Los Pinos Population Center, Sevilla Sector and Huaura river. In each water batch, five flocculants were evaluated, three natural (Moringa, tuna powder and tuna chunks), one chemical (aluminum sulfate) and the mixture of both (78% cassava starch and 22% aluminum sulfate), at doses of 800 mg/L, 40 mg/L, 3 chunks, 40 mg/L and 950 mg/L respectively. The study had a duration of 60 days. The response variable was the variation of initial levels of turbidity (UNT), pH (pH units), electrical conductivity (dS/m), total dissolved solids (mg/L) and temperature (°C) in water. The data obtained were analyzed using analysis of variance in a randomized complete block design. Results: The flocculants that had similar effect in terms of turbidity decrease and variation of complementary parameters of physicochemical quality in water (P>0,05) were aluminum sulfate (61,61 %) and powdered prickly pear cactus mucilage (40,60 %). Conclusions: Tuna mucilage powder as a natural flocculant shows similar effect as the chemical flocculant aluminum sulfate in improving the quality of water for potential human consumption.