More than four years of research on wastewater management in peri-urban settlements in the Bucaramanga Metropolitan Area culminated in the closing meeting of the project “Development of Strategies for Wastewater Management in Peri-Urban Settlements of the Bucaramanga Metropolitan Area,” an initiative led by the Industrial University of Santander (UIS) in collaboration with local institutions. The project, focused on sustainable water management and environmental sanitation, involved the participation of the research groups Center for Environmental Studies and Research (CEIAM), the Research Group on Water Resources and Environmental Sanitation (GPH), INTERFASE, and the Regional Observatory for Sustainable Human Development (ORDHS).
“This project seeks to address a complex problem associated with unplanned settlements in the metropolitan area. Approximately 300,000 people live in these areas with poor wastewater management, much of which ends up in rivers, causing a significant environmental impact. We are developing tools that will enable institutions to make decisions and contribute to resolving this situation,” explained Ricardo Oviedo, project director and professor at the School of Civil Engineering.
The initiative was supported by the Bucaramanga Metropolitan Water Authority, whose representatives highlighted the results achieved, as well as the commitment of UIS researchers to apply their knowledge to solving real-world problems, particularly in highly vulnerable contexts.
“This project yields significant results not only for the university and the company, but also for the region and the country. It enables the development of a roadmap aimed at implementing wastewater solutions in unplanned areas of various municipalities across Colombia,” said Ángel Sepúlveda, business development lead at the Bucaramanga Metropolitan Water Authority.
The results presented were well-received by attendees, who highlighted the importance of moving forward with implementation in the metropolitan area and replicating its scope in other areas of territorial planning.
“It is essential to leverage this roadmap developed by the UIS to apply it across various sectors, such as transportation, sanitation, the environment, and public spaces. These are issues that require coordination between communities and institutions,” stated Mercedes Camargo, a sustainable development specialist with the Bucaramanga Metropolitan Area.
This project is an example of how the UIS contributes to the development of sustainable solutions for regional development through research.
