Improvement to quality of surface waters from rural communities: vegetable extracts as a sustainable and cheap alternative

The high degree of pollution and cost of water treatment in rural communities of developing countries have led to a constant search of alternative cheap, versatile and easy for surface water treatment. In this sense, the aim of this study was to determine the removal power of turbidity, color, chlorides and nitrites of the plant pitahaya (Hylocereus triangularis), guasimo (Guazuma ulmifolia) and cactus nopal (Opuntia ficus-indica) in surface waters. An extraction was performed, and the optimal dose of each extract using a jar test was selected. After extracts were mixed to increase their flocculent/coagulant power, pitahaya removed turbidity in 97%, color 91%, chlorides 82% and nitrites 92%. For the same parameters, guasimo showed a removal of 95%, 89%, 74% and 94%, respectively. The mixture of pitahaya and guasimo removed 100% of nitrites. The plants studied have potential use for the removal of turbidity, color, chlorides and nitrites in water for human consumption and industrial wastewater.