The construction industry is a major contributor to environmental pollution, with cement production only accounting for nearly 8% of global CO₂ emissions. Sustainable alternatives, such as bio-bricks incorporating agricultural waste, offer a promising solution to reduce emissions. This study investigates the development and optimization of bio-bricks using lignin as reinforcement in cementitious composites. A mixture design approach was applied to determine optimal proportions of cement, lignin, and bovine excreta, enhancing mechanical properties such as compressive and flexural strength while promoting sustainability. Response Surface Methodology (RSM) was used to model the effects of mixture components, revealing that a blend of 959 g of cement, 224 g of lignin, and 314 g of bovine excreta resulted in the best performance. Compressive strength reached ~1.7 MPa, demonstrating the composition viability for eco-friendly construction. The study highlights the bio-brick’s potential to mitigate the environmental impact by reducing reliance on traditional cement while integrating renewable materials.

This article presents a rehabilitation proposal aimed to optimize the current sanitary sewer system in Otaré, Municipality of Ocaña, Norte de Santander. Actuallt, the system faces operational deficiencies due to the incorporation of new users without proper upgrades, leading to malfunctions. Additionally, the community has expressed concerns about the pollution caused by both open-air sewer discharges and illegal discharges from users not connected to the main sewer network. The sewer system spans approximately 3 km, benefiting almost the entire urban population of Otaré. In this context, the research conducted a diagnostic assessment of the system’s current condition, followed by its optimization through hydraulic simulations using SWMM-5Ve software. A procedural manual was developed to detail the simulation process. Finally, a budget was prepared for the necessary improvements to ensure a more efficient operation of the existing sewer system.