Design and Construction of Isla Magueyes Sewer System

 
Isla Magueyes is an 18-acre environmental sanctuary island located about 50 meters to the south of La Parguera Ward in the Municipality of Lajas, Puerto Rico. The island has been managed by the University of Puerto Rico, Mayaguez Campus (UPR-Mayaguez) since 1954 and harbored their Department of Marine Sciences field station facilities. Public water service to the facilities is provided by the Puerto Rico Aqueduct and Sewer Authority (PRASA) via an underground water pipeline connected to the existing water supply system at La Parguera. Public electricity service is supplied by the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority (PREPA) via an aerial connection from the existing electrical system at La Parguera. Electric power is backed up by a local stand-by emergency generator. Public sewage collection and disposal facilities are not available. Domestic waste flow in Isla Magueyes is locally handled in fifteen (15) septic tanks owned and operated by the UPR-Mayaguez. The septic tanks are located close to the existing classrooms and bedrooms. The facilities do not include cafeteria or restaurants. The maximum domestic waste flow has been estimated in 5,000 gallons per day (GPD) equivalent to 3.47 gallons per minute (GPM) based in latest PRASA’s water supply metering. The UPR-Mayaguez will legally close the existing fifteen (15) septic tanks to reduce the environmental impacts in the Island and construct a new sewage collection system to handle the domestic sewage flow (5,000 GPD Max.) generated in their classrooms and bedrooms. The proposed system will intercept the septic tanks and locally collect the domestic sewage flow in a central equalization tank and further convey it via a force main to an existing manhole of the sanitary sewer system operated by PRASA at La Parguera.