Peru: Ministers approve legislation to accelerate public works tenders

Peru’s ministerial council has approved a law to cut in half [from 60 to 30 days] the timeframe for awarding public potable water and sanitation tenders, local press reported. Together, the initiatives account for US$1.5bn in the 2009 budget. [...] The new legislation will apply not only to ministries but also to regional and local governments. Currently, 1,600 water and sanitation projects are being developed on a national level. The measure is part of government plans to combat the global financial crisis, Vílchez said.

Source: BNamericas [subscription site], 27 Mar 2009

Panama: Taiwan donates US$3mn to water projects

The government of Taiwan has donated US$5mn to its Panamanian counterpart to support road and potable water projects, the latter’s presidential office reported on its website. The donation is part of a collaboration agreement between the governments. Of the total, US$3mn will be given to national water and sewerage authority Idaan, which will be in charge of carrying out a project to design and build a new potable water plant in La Chorrera district, in Panamá province.

Source: BNamericas [subscription site], 27 Mar 2009

Colombia: IDB approves US$250mn for water programs

The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) has approved a US$1.3bn loan to Colombia aimed at infrastructure works, as well as soothing the effects of the global economic crisis in the country. [This includes] US$250mn [for] water programs [in the form of] rapid disbursement loans. Potable water and sanitation programs for Pasto, the capital of Nariño department, will receive US$27mn; the Medellín river remediation program US$27mn.

Source: Jorge Porter, BNamericas [subscription site] 27 Mar 2009

Haiti, Gonaives: water a costly commodity in storm-ravaged city

Six months after devastating hurricanes and storms descended on Haiti, drinking water remains a rare and precious commodity in the northern city of Gonaives.

Mudslides [in 2008] buried the city under 2.6 million tonnes of mud and completely destroyed the already crumbling national drinking water network (Snep) which operates via water-selling stands and private wells. With some unable to pay for their vital water needs, the population relies instead on tankers provided by NGOs or the United Nations, or is forced to drink contaminated water.

“The installations we have set up or rehabilitated supply two fifths of the city, and about 25 percent is supplied by the Snep network, which remains very fragile,” said Julien Atchade, who heads water and decontamination efforts by NGOs and the United Nations in Gonaives.

[...]

“The price [of water] has doubled since the hurricane, it’s two gourdes (5 cents). I need to come at least three times a day and sometimes I pay more than I earn and I need to use unpurified water”, [said Izma Silene, a small business owner and a mother of six].  Snep resident engineer Chedlair Saint-Just said  ”the price is determined locally with stand managers,” who receive 25 percent of the revenue, with the rest going to the water service.

Read more: Isabelle Ligner, Yahoo! News, 17 Mar 2009

World Water Forum: absence of Latin American heads of state surprises organisers

Given the importance of the [water] issue for the region, the absence of Latin American heads of state at the World Water Forum that started in Turkey on Monday [16 March 2009] came as a surprise to organisers. There are Latin American representatives, but the forum will certainly miss the presence of at least some presidents, a forum official [said].

Heads of state from 11 countries held a private meeting on Monday [16 March 2009] to discuss challenges such as water security, climate adaptability and international solidarity through more strategic water use.

A study [entitled Climate Change and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean, that was] recently released by the UN’s Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (Eclac) indicated that the region needs to implement preventive measures to reduce the impact of climate change as it could be more affected than other areas in the world.

The report criticized regional governments’ tendency to react instead of implementing preventive measure to avoid further damage caused by climate change and the unsustainable use of water resources.

Source: BNamericas [subscription site], 16 Mar 2009

Chile: authorities eye tax breaks, financing to promote sustainable water projects

Chilean authorities are considering implementing tax breaks and financing projects to promote initiatives that combat the effects of climate change on [water] resources. The public works ministry (MOP) [in collaboration with other government agencies, is considering measures such as]: optimizing water use, treating wastewater to be reused, financing for industrial wastewater treatment and tax benefits for those that invest in innovative water projects.

[D]rought is [...] causing a decrease in agricultural production. [...] Less rainfall, the melting of glaciers, and the evaporation of lakes and reservoirs at a higher rate than usual are some of the issues being studied by authorities. MOP has been building reservoirs – both with public funds and through concessions – to supply the mining, agriculture and potable water industry in its dry northern area.

[...] President Michelle Bachelet’s government has prioritized investment in innovation, and that includes research programs to ensure the sustainability of the country’s water resources, a MOP official said, adding that these investments include studying technologies to build underground reservoirs and reduce evaporation.

Source: Eva Medalla, BNamericas [subscription site], 12 Mar 2009

Brazil: Union files lawsuit against Sabesp for alleged contract irregularities

São Paulo’s Baixada Santista, Litoral Sul and Vale do Ribeira urbanization union (Sintius) has filed a civil suit against state water utility Sabesp alleging more than 19 million reais (US$ 8 million) in contract irregularities [...] with engineering firm Saenge Engenharia de Saneamento e Edificações (Saenge).  The union claims service charges were overpriced by up to 500% [...]. “According to the Sabesp pricelist, the cost to repair a PVC sewerage unit is 313 reais. However, Saenge is charging 916 reais and Sabesp accepted,” Sintius president Marquito Duarte said, adding that the contract stipulates more than 2,400 of these services. Sabesp said the final cost was the same as on the pricelist that was made public when the tender was launched.

Source: BNamericas [subscription site], 06 Mar 2009

Nicaragua: Enacal faces financial crisis, says its president

The president of Nicaragua’s national water utility Enacal, Ruth Selma Herrera, said the entity does not have the financial capacity to solve potable water supply problems currently affecting the country, especially in capital Managua, paper La Prensa reported. Herrera made the statement before the infrastructure and public services committee of congress, adding that the entity is currently unable to carry out the projects needed to provide 24-hour a day service to the whole city.

“Enacal’s tariffs are 95% subsidized,” she said. “The state has not provided a subsidy of 350mn córdobas [US$17.3mn], and we have 50mn córdobas in pending liabilities. The state must decide what to do with the company because if this situation persists, Enacal will disappear.”

Source: BNamericas [subscription site], 20 Mar 2009

Bolivia: Spain approves US$80mn grant for water, sanitation projects

The Spanish government has approved a US$80mn donation to Bolivia’s environment and water ministry for potable water and sewerage projects [and the construction of water intake systems], Bolivian government news agency ABI reported. [The package is part of a water and sanitation development plan that requires US$500mn].

[An earlier report] in local paper El Informador reported that Bolivian authorities [sought] financial support in Spain to cover the cost of a series of water projects [worth] US$ 150mn. Germany, Canada and Sweden [had] already offered their support to carry them out. [Spain has denied an announcement made by President Evo Morales of Bolivia, that it would give some 700mn euros out of of the 1.5bn-euro Spanish water fund to support projects in the country].

Source: BNamericas [subscription site], 19 Mar 2009 ; BNamericas, 02 Mar 2009 ; BNamericas, 12 Mar 2009

Latin America: transboundary water issues – conflict and collaboration

Chilean and Peruvian foreign relations authorities will discuss [in March 2009] a project in Peru’s Tacna province and its effect on water resources in northern Chile. [...] Peruvian mining firm Minsur is currently working on the Peruvian side of the Azufre river basin, and the Azufre river becomes a tributary of the Lluta river on the Chilean side of the border.

The mining company plans to extract 30l/s of water as part of its gold and silver mining operations. The project could have a permanent effect on the river basin, used to irrigate some 2,700ha in region XV, Chilean public works ministry’s (MOP) general water authority DGA officials claim.

[...] Chilean civilian groups have contacted local authorities, claiming the use of aquifers in Peru has affected water availability in the region. Peru’s industrial and water activities have also been questioned by Bolivian authorities, as other initiatives have affected the amount and quality of water resources in that country.

Source: Eva Medalla,  BNamericas [subscription site], 03 Mar 2009

Mexico and Guatemala are considering establishing a bilateral treaty to address issues related to shared international water resources for human consumption and domestic use, Mexican paper El Informador reported.
Mexican foreign affairs ministry SRE said both parties agreed on supplying water to their respective border communities to guarantee each country’s self-sufficiency . [...] Mexico [also] announced it [expects to finish] building [drinking water supply] systems [for] local communities that are currently served by waters originating in Guatemalan territory [...] by May [2009].

Source: BNamericas [subscription site], 05 Mar 2009