Evaluación de la factibilidad técnica, ambiental y económica del reuso de agua en el proceso de lavandería del Hospital Pablo Tobón Uribe

Abstract

The Pablo Tobón Uribe Hospital has a laundry for hospital uniforms and clothing comprising of three washing machines that use an average of 2.818,2m3 of water per month. By using alternative processes based on “cleaner production” this water can be recovered and used for diverse purposes, thereby avoiding wasting water. Reusing this water will save 822,5m3 of water per month, which is equivalent to 27,400 litres per day. If this water were to be collected over a five day period it would be enough to provide water for a refugee camp of 5000 displaced people (including 2000 school age children), 25 staff from the relief agency, and 75 cows. Saving this amount of water represents an economic saving to the hospital of $2,197,720 Colombian pesos per month, and the investment required can be recovered in just three months. For these reasons it is considered that investing in the reuse of water in the Pablo Tobón Uribe Hospital will bring environmental and economic benefits; it is also technically viable as it does not require water treatment technology.