Evaluation of moringa seed extract as a natural coagulant for turbidity reduction in the water treatment process of the Mariano Ospina water supply system in the municipality of Guasca, Cundinamarca

Abstract

The study conducted in Guasca (Cundinamarca) evaluated the use of Moringa oleifera seed extract as a natural coagulant to improve water treatment at the Mariano Ospina community water system. Jug tests determined a preliminary optimal dose of 0.05 g/L, and after adjusting agitation and settling conditions, a residual turbidity of 1.8 NTU was achieved at 0.08 g/L within 168 hours, in compliance with Resolution 2115 of 2007. GIS analysis revealed a direct relationship between heavy rainfall and increased turbidity in the water source. Additionally, social, economic, and environmental benefits of using moringa were identified in rural communities without access to conventional technologies. Finally, the hydraulic design of the Drinking Water Treatment Plant (DWTP) was proposed using the Environmental Protection Agency Network (EPANET) as a technical input, confirming that moringa is an ecological, accessible, and regulatory-compliant alternative for water management in rural areas with high climatic variability.