Wastewater treatment is crucial for sanitation and environmental health in Latin America and the Caribbean. Despite abundant freshwater resources, a small fraction of municipal wastewater is treated, posing challenges. Proper water resource management is essential as urbanization increases. It ensures safe drinking water and reduces the risk of pollution from untreated wastewater. This research focuses on optimizing a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) at the Universidad Catolica de Colombia through four main stages: First, the diagnosis of the physical infrastructure and operation of the plant; second, the proposal for improvements in order to optimize the physical and operational aspects of the WWTP; the third stage focused on designing and implementing necessary actions to optimize the plant, including performance tests. Finally, the effectiveness of the optimization was evaluated by comparing pre and post-treatment water quality laboratory results. The diagnosis revealed issues affecting the WWTP's performance and compliance, such as pump failures, design deficiencies, and inadequate equipment. The proposed improvements included the replacement of the oxidation ditch with a circular aeration tank and modifications to enhance functionality. Also, operational aspects and pilot tests validated the effectiveness of the proposed changes, ensuring compliance with regulations. As a result, physical components were modified and a developing maintenance and operation manual was developed. The evaluation showed improved water quality, meeting regulatory standards, and contributing to sustainable water management practices.