Evaluation of an Efficient Microorganism Product for the Treatment of Wastewater Discharged into Havana Bay, Cuba

Abstract

 Nature-based solutions to mitigate the effects of wastewater discharge on the environment, including efficient microorganisms, are gaining ground among technologies for this purpose. The effectiveness of the efficient microorganism product ME Agroambiental® (MEA®) in mitigating the impact of industrial wastewater discharges into Havana Bay was evaluated. In the first half of 2022, composite samples were taken at the discharge points of three industries (with one having two wastewater discharges) dedicated to food production during peak discharge hours, with control samples taken before the application of MEA® and follow-up samples collected one month post-application. The samples were analyzed for biochemical oxygen demand (BOD5), chemical oxygen demand, total coliforms, and thermotolerant coliforms. The results indicated a significant reduction in pollutant loads, with BOD5 reductions ranging from 77% to 94.2% and COD reductions between 64% and 87.4% across the evaluated companies. The MEA® product demonstrated particular effectiveness in treating wastewater from kitchens, sewers, grease traps, and industrial processes, achieving up to 98.3% reduction in specific contaminants such as organic waste and fats. These findings suggest that MEA® is a viable solution for reducing pollution in Havana Bay.

Keywords: wastewater treatment, efficient microorganisms, ME Agroambiental®, Biochemical Oxygen Demand, Chemical Oxygen Demand