Generally, to save water, we only think in reducing its consumption; however Xcaret Park, in the Riviera Maya, Mexico has gone beyond that, creating a system that allows secondary use of sewage (gray and black).
Greywater is coming from the kitchens, wash rooms, while black water is from the toilets. Both are valuable phosphorus, potassium and nitrogen sources. If they are properly treated, they pollute the waterways and oceans depriving marine life of oxygen.
Xcaret eco-park, to prevent this type of pollution, has two plants that purify the two types of water, passing them through organic filters and reusing them to irrigate the green areas, since 1996.
The success of these plants lies in the proper application of engineering and microbiology. The system developed by Xcaret Park is very simple, natural, fast and perfectly synchronized. Sewage is collected, treated immediately with oxygen to have no odor and then purified by organisms eating nutrient contaminants. Xcaret Park also is lucky to have such a wonderful hot and sunny climate that helps microorganisms to eat.
The water is conveyed into 120 feet long canals, which are divided into sections and filled with layers of stones, wire grids, gravel and sand and covered with ground (filter bed of roots), creating a swampy environment, where aquatic and sub aquatic plants from the region grow, within the different layers and the roots are microorganisms that feed on phosphorus, potassium and nitrogen. The roots of the plants provide oxygen and absorb these organisms, when digesting the contaminant compounds. When water flows through the canals, is doubly purified, first going up and then coming down through the different layers. Upon reaching its final destination, it is ready for use and is sent to the plants farm in the park through sophisticated pumps and valves. The whole process takes six to eight hours for gray water and 24 hours for sewage. Biological treatment plants follow the same procedure and natural mangrove swamps of the region.
The facilities are also small pieces of architecture, harmoniously integrated into the landscape, with canals where papaya, bush, palms, bamboo, alfalfa and birds of paradise gorgously thrive. The surrounding areas are particularly lush as another of the beneficial properties of these plants is to enrich the soil. To support their work, there is a modern laboratory, a computer which measures flows, and a team of technicians, who work day and night to monitor the functioning of plants and practice stringent quality control tests.
This activity is of great importance, especially in a region such as the Yucatan peninsula that has no water on the surface. The peninsula consists of limestone that allows the filtration of rainwater and it runs underground in the form of underground rivers. When the dome of these rivers collapses, leaving an open space above, clear water wells are formed, known as cenotes (sinkholes). All underground rivers and cenotes are interconnected. Xcaret Park concern is to prevent contamination from reaching this vast network of water.
Xcaret park’s main objective is that its visitors spend a day packed of fun, with different attractions immersed a natural environment and interactive programs to awake awareness to take care ot our planet. Ask your Travel Agent about special prices for Xcaret Tours. Buying your tickets to Xcaret you are contributing to endangered species conservation activities. When you visit Xcaret , don’t miss the show Mexico Espectacular, It is incredible!.
