IX International Meeting BIBLO 2024: Circular Economy Opportunities in Wastewater Treatment

The IX International Meeting of Library and Information Sciences (BIBLO 2024), held on November 29 in Lima, Peru, with more than 250 participants connected remotely, addressed the topic “Water for sustainable development: water scarcity and pollution in Peru and Latin America.” This event brought together experts from various disciplines to analyze challenges and solutions related to sustainable water management.

Dr. Silvia Saravia Matus, Economic Affairs Officer of the Natural Resources Division of ECLAC, offered the keynote lecture titled “The problem of wastewater in Latin America and the Caribbean and the opportunities for a circular economy in its treatment.” During her presentation, the official presented alarming data: more than 40% of methane emissions in the region come from linear wastewater treatment systems, and only 46% of wastewater receives adequate treatment, a figure that is below the global average of 55.5%.

Among the main proposals of ECLAC, the implementation of methane recovery technologies in small and medium-sized plants stands out, which represent a potential to generate renewable energy and reduce operating costs by 40%. In pilot studies carried out in Mexico and El Salvador, these technologies have demonstrated high economic viability with return on investment periods of five years on average.

The event also featured the participation of institutions such as SENAMHI, INTE-PUCP and OEFA, who provided perspectives on hydrological drought monitoring, remuneration mechanisms for ecosystem services and the relationship between water scarcity and gender equity.

Dr. Saravia’s presentation concluded with a call to strengthen governance in water management and promote inter-institutional collaborations to implement circular economy models that prioritize environmental sustainability and social well-being. This message resonated with BIBLO 2024’s mission to promote the exchange of knowledge and innovative solutions around water issues in the region.