Wastewater Discharge and Reuse Regulation in Costa Rica: An Opportunity for Improvement
, Diana Mora-Campos 1, Pablo Salas-Jimenez 1, MarÃa Hidalgo-Gutierrez 1, Tomás Soto-Murillo 1, Josel Vargas-Calderon 1, Ana Villalobos-Villalobos 2 and Eugenio Androvetto-Villalobos 2
Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
The article presents interesting results of the analysis, which may be useful in the field of water and wastewater management in Costa Rica. The analysis was based on a very large set of reliable data, subjected to advanced statistical processing. The article was well constructed and written. I am not an expert in the field of applied statistical method, but the method of analyzing and interpreting its results seems to be corrected and exhaustive. I recommend the publication of the work in the current form.
Author Response
There are not comments
Reviewer 2 Report
Dear authors, I have enclosed the coments.
I believe that the article should explain the reality and the aspects that I comment. Hopefully it serves to improve the environment. Thanks
Comments for author File: 
Comments.pdf
Author Response
ABSTRACT AND INTRODUCTION
- To know the context, the authors should include maps indicating regions and major polluting activities.
Answer: The figure is incorporated in the materials and methods section
- I think major municipal landfills are considered in Table 3, item 3821 Treatment and disposal of non-hazardous waste. It is an important pollutant source and should be indicate if there are a control in the leachate and garbage from the landfills: in the 90s the waste was dragged and discharged into rivers, with a high level of contamination (wastewater), affecting beaches that were highly polluted.
Answer: The suggested reference was not considered, because the document represents one context that is not corresponding with the reallity. The landfills included were closed since 2005.
- Abstract: you consider this activity with lowest probabilities and in line 368-375 you can explain the environmental reality as I comment before
Answer: The suggested reference was not considered, because the document represents one context that is not corresponding with the reallity. The landfills included were closed since 2005.
- The situation of the Central Valley landfills can be found at: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/322580915_EFECTO_DE_VERTEDEROS_MUNICIPALES_EN_LA_CALIDAD_DE_LAS_AGUAS_SUBTERRANEAS_DEL_VALLE_CENTRAL_DE_COSTA_RICA
MATERIALS AND METHODS
- Lines 131-132. Indicate in all parameters the abbreviation:….oil and grease (OG)… methylene blue active substances (MBAS)
Answer: The indicated adjustment was made
- Table 1. Explain data. Minor values are reported in 2020 (for all year or only several months?). Why this elevated wastewater samples in Central with respect to the others?
Answer: The requested explanation was included in the text, see line 137
- Table 2. Indicate period and explain ordinary and especial categories
Answer: The period and the requested explanation were included, see line 141
- Table 3. Compact on one page
Answer: The indicated adjustment was made
- 2.1. Bayesian networks: define tipo D, tipo M, REG.P and explain methodology, results and conclusions
Answer: A paragraph was added making the requested explanations
- 2.3. Environmental risk analysis per discharge: Equations should be revised: RAj= IAj x (1) but according table 9: RA= IA x p. Indicate if IA is ΣIAj and consider in all variables RA, P or p…
Answer: The indicated adjustment was made
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
- Table 4. Please, explain how it is considered or calculated: Globally, Ordinary and Special.
- Answer: The indicated adjustment was made
- Figure 3: explain in English the meaning of these plots (included in Spanish). Explain Tukey results
Answer: The indicated adjustment was made
Lines 241-248. Please, refers to table 4 data because, for example 87.6, is not in the table
Answer: The indicated adjustment was made
- Figure 5 are interesting but poor resolution. Figures 6-10 should be improved too
Answer: The indicated adjustment was made
ABSTRACT AND CONCLUSIONS
- Lines 318-320, Abstract and Conclusions. The “periphery” will be clarified if maps with different regions are included. Wastewater discharges from the Central Valley to the sea in the coastal regions occur and it would be convenient to consider the original sources that pollute the surface waters that flow from one region to another.
Answer: The indicated adjustment was made
- In think it is important to include the following idea in abstract and conclusions, line 466:
“there is a high feasibility for environmental agencies in the country to revise the maximum allowable values in the law to reduce the contaminant emission rates in receiver bodies, as an intermediate step to move from a regulatory system according to concentration to a more equitable system that regulates discharge per contaminant mass AND ADD “WITH RESPECT TO TIME”.
To avoid dilution, it is according to:
Flow (m3/day) x concentration (g/ m3) = g/day
Because must be regulated the ratio “mass/time”, and it is not possible the dilution.
Answer: The indicated text was included
REFERENCES
- Include other references about Costa Rica, as: Efecto De Vertederos Municipales En La Calidad De Las Aguas Subterráneas Del Valle Central De Costa Rica (N. Boluda-Botella, 2000, Información Tecnológica, Vol. 11 nº 2):
https://books.google.es/books?id=tRKNQlFpPPsC&pg=PA9&lpg=PA9&dq=efecto+de+los+vertederos+municipales+del+valle+central+costa+rica&source=bl&ots=bJhya1O90x&sig=mKg6QN-EkXKnCzeaxPB0m214zBk&hl=es&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiyu4jNjOLYAhVFvhQKHUF2CogQ6AEwAHoECAYQAQ#v=onepage&q=efecto%20de%20los%20vertederos%20municipales%20del%20valle%20central%20costa%20rica&f=false
Answer: The indicated text was not included
