Colombia: anti-crisis plan includes US$2bn for potable water initiatives, Uribe

Colombia will spend US$2bn on potable water initiatives as part of the country’s anti-crisis investment plan, President Álvaro Uribe told BNamericas. The investment will cover potable water treatment, expansion, improvement and maintenance initiatives. Works will generate jobs, combating the effects of the global financial crisis, and improve quality of life for Colombians, Uribe said. [T]he anti-crisis plan [also] includes housing development projects and the installation of their respective potable water and sanitation networks.

Source: Eva Medalla, BNamericas [subscription site], 28 Jan 2009

Brazil: Ipea study finds resources insufficient to solve basic sanitation needs

Although Brazil has increased the resources to be invested under the growth acceleration plan PAC, they are not sufficient to solve the problem of basic sanitation in the country, according to a study carried out by the institute of applied economic research (Ipea).

[A]lthough [water and sanitation] coverage has increased, the government’s efforts are not sufficient to handle the country’s urban growth levels, according to Valdemar de Araújo, author of the report. [E]very five years more than 5mn houses are built in Brazilian cities.

[Other problems include] long disbursement cycles [of up to] seven years [and the fact that 4,000 small towns of less than] 200,000 inhabitants, are being left out.

Source: BNamericas [subscription site], 02 Feb 2009

Bolivia: Government turns to UN to help eliminate stagnant water, fight dengue virus

Bolivia’s government has asked the UN for help in [tackling] the dengue virus epidemic affecting the country, an official from the UN’s Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (Eclac) told BNamericas.

Departments Santa Cruz [5,951 confirmed cases], Cochabamba, Beni, Chuquisaca, La Paz, Pando, Tarija, Oruro and Potosí have all been affected by the Aedes Aegypti mosquito, which carries the virus that has claimed the lives of seven people.

UN officials have contacted authorities to support emergency measures that include cleaning up towns and city roads, and eliminating stagnant bodies of water, where the mosquito reproduces and grows. Local municipalities are coordinating works with the health ministry.

[O]ne of the causes of the epidemic is drought, as it leads people to store rainwater and thus contributes to an increase in the amount of stagnant water.

The expansion of potable water networks is key in the fight against dengue, as it would prevent inhabitants from {having to store] water.

In the meantime, authorities have already launched an emergency campaign, with the support of the armed forces, to inform people about {prevention measures]. [A] US$1.2mn budget [has been reserved] to combat the illness [and] the Andean Development Corporation (CAF) has provided US$1.1mn to cover the cost of a health campaign.

[In neighbouring country] Peru, [...] 118Mt of solid waste was collected in Lima over a five-day period to prevent the reproduction of the mosquito.

Source: Eva Medalla, BNamericas [subscription site], 04 Feb 2009

Colombia, Meta department: national government to provide US$61mn to for water plan

The Colombian government will provide an estimated 150bn-peso (US$60.9mn) budget to Meta department’s water plan during the next four years. [...] Environment minister Juan Lozano and Meta governor Darío Vásquez signed the contract [...] for the first phase of the department’s water plan.

The agreement allows the department to receive money from royalties deriving from oil exports in order to finance its water plan, while part of the funds will come from the nation’s annual budget. The initiative is part of a 15-year integral development plan aimed at expanding potable water and sewerage services, and ensuring service 24 hours a day, the official added. The plan will focus on urban areas before expanding to rural areas.

Source: Eva Medalla, BNamericas [subscription site], 10 Feb 2009

Colombia: National government to prioritize US$12mn of waterworks in Norte de Santander

Colombia’s water department will prioritize works worth a total of 30bn pesos (US$12.2mn) [out of a total of 192bn pesos needed for the water and sanitation development plan] in Norte de Santander department, the water ministry reported in a release.

The announcement was made by water and sanitation undersecretary Leyla Rojas, who presided over a public meeting to discuss water and sanitation development needs in the department.

Governor of Norte de Santander, William Villamizar and the Undersecretary for Water, Leyla Rojas, at the public consultation

According to Rojas, the projects are included in the national government’s anti-crisis investment plan, which consists of increasing public investment to create jobs while ensuring economic, social and environmental development. The works to be given priority are part of the national government’s 2006-10 water and sanitation development plan.

[...] Only five of the department’s municipalities are currently unable to access these funds as they have failed to submit their water plans [...]. These municipalities will be eligible to apply for financial aid once they submit their plans, but those that have already done so will be prioritized.

Source: BNamericas [subscription site], 09 Feb 2009