Estrategias de mitigación de impactos ambientales implementadas en el proyecto hidroeléctrico de Sogamoso

Abstract

The Sogamoso hydroelectric plant is a mega project located in the north-eastern of Santander, Colombia. This plant covers the canyon where the Sogamoso River goes through The Serranía de la Paz 75 Km before its river mouth in the Magdalena River. The construction of these huge civil engineering works triggers a series of environmental impacts, many of whom are categorized as negative impacts. Overall, these impacts are seen and evaluated in such areas as: physical environment, natural environment and social environment. Once each generated impact is identified, its mitigation measures are established including an ISAGEN’s environmental management plan (EMP) for The Sogamoso hydroelectric plant. In the Colombian context, the go-ahead for this environmental management plan is given by The National Authority for Environmental Licenses in accordance with the requirements stablished in Decree 1076 of 2015. Considering that the water resource is crucial for the subsistence of the planet and the operation of hydroelectric plants, it is decided to look into the contamination caused in the water. The waste water treatment for domestic and industrial water is very important in the water purification. There are different strategies and processes in these treatments, highlighting sedimentation tanks, filters, wetlands, etc. The hydroelectric plant is composed by the control building where operators are located. This building should have its basic sanitation services in order to serve the building population in this place. Therefore, it can be said that the residential water from the control building is categorized as domestic use. In order to deal with this issue it is decided to design two water filters as an alternative to purify the water, one of them is called Up Flow Anaerobic Filter and the other one is known as buried sand filter. The basic parameter to determine the dimensions of each filter was the design flow. Each filter’s generalities were identified and based on existing research projects, develop a design. Also, the technical normativity used in the design of these filters was found in the Technical Regulation of the Potable Water and Sanitation Sector RAS 2000. Finally, the cost analysis for each filter is made bringing a discussion with regard to the original designs implemented by the construction firm.