Colombia: delegation of project approval to certified water utilities

Vivienda minister Germán Vargas Lleras and Bucaramanga state water utility (AMB) general manager Ludwig Stünkel García at a public event. Photo: Julián Sabogal. MVCT

The Acueducto Metropolitano de Bucaramanga (AMB) is now the 5th certified public utility sanctioned by the Colombian government to approve water and sanitation projects.

In a press release the  housing, cities and land ministry (MVCT) said new legislation approved in 2012 had made this delegation of powers to municipal water utilities. The ministry said this cuts red tape so that projects can be approved faster.

Previous certified public water utilities were Aguas de Cartagena, Empopasto, Aguas de Manizales and Empresas Públicas de Armenia.

Related websites:

• MVCT - Viceministerio de Agua y Saneamiento
• IRC/Triple-S – Water services that last – Colombia overview

Source: MVCT [in Spanish], 06 Dec 2012 ; BNamericas.com / WaterWorld.com, 06 Dec 2012

Bolivia, Santa Cruz: mayor “re-municipalises” town water supply in San Miguel de Velasco

The mayor of San Miguel de Velasco in Santa Cruz department, Pedro Damián Dorado, has proposed to “re-municipalise” the town’s water supply, due to poor management and quality of the service.
The mayor expressed anger at the current water operator (Cosesmi Ltd) and the Civic Committee for a recent water cut that lasted three days.

According to media reports, the Civic Committee carried out the cut intentionally because social and indigenous organizations in San Miguel de Velasco refused to attend a Committee meeting.

On 29 September 2010 there were street protests because the water being supplied by Cosemi was said to be contaminated. According to a report by the Department of Health Services, the water in San Miguel de Velasco is unfit for human consumption.

Source: Los Tiempos [in Spanish], 11 Nov 2010 ; El Deber [in Spanish]

Perú – Camana to begin US$9mn sewerage project

Peru’s Camana province, in Arequipa region, is set to begin a rehabilitation and expansion project on its 45-year old sewerage system, according to Camana governor Sergio Davila Vizcarra. The project will require an investment of 25.5mn soles (Euro 7.018), state news agency Andina reported.

Read full article on: BNmericas.com, [Subscription site], 23 August 2010

Uruguay: OSE investing US$15mn to expand water services to small towns and schools

Uruguay’s state-owned water utility OSE is investing US$15mn to make sure all rural areas have potable water services by end-2011, the government said in a release. The Spanish international cooperation agency for development (AECID) will cover half of the cost, with OSE covering the other 50%.

Read full article on: BNamericas.com [subscription site], 12 Apr 2010

Honduras, Tegucigalpa: La Concepción, Los Laureles reservoirs at below 30% of capacity

Water levels in the Los Laureles and La Concepción reservoirs, serving Honduran capital Tegucigalpa, are at less than 30% of capacity. The situation has forced national water authority Sanaa to apply stricter water rationing measures.

Read full articles on: BNamericas.com [subscription site], 31 Mar 2010 ; BNamericas.com, 25 Mar 2010

Bolivia: Morales threatens to take over water utilities

President Evo Morales has said that the state will gradually take control of basic services such as water utilities in Bolivia. State control of basic services is necessary to avoid the private sector using them for their own gain, he said citing the example of Cochabamba utility Aguas de Tunari.

Read full article on: BNamericas.com [subscription site], 04 Mar 2010

Panama: Idaan to launch water awareness campaign

Panama’s national water and sanitation utility (Idaan) will start a water awareness campaign by mid-March 2010. Earlier attempts to communicate the importance of water through conferences and newsletters were unsuccesful.

Read full article on: BNamericas.com [subscription site], 03 Mar 2010

Dominican Republic: Inapa to invest US$206mn in 50 potable water, sewerage projects

The Dominican Republic’s national water utility Inapa announced it is investing 7.5bn pesos (US$207mn) in 50 potable water and sewerage projects throughout the country.  In 2009, Inapa repaired, rehabilitated and built 232 potable water and sewerage systems, and implemented an additional 229 small and medium potable water and sewerage projects.

Read full article on: BNamericas.com [subscription site], 02 Mar 2010

Uruguay: OSE implements measures to increase domestic sewerage connections

Uruguayan state-owned water utility OSE is implementing measures to increase domestic sewerage connections in the country. Measures include waiving the connection fee for households outside capital Montevideo, offering loans and new proposed legislation making connection to the public network obligatory.

Read full article on: BNamericas.com [subscription site] , 08 Feb 2010

Honduras, Tegucigalpa: Sanaa implements measures to combat drought

Water levels at the Los Laureles and La Concepción reservoirs, serving Honduran capital Tegucigalpa, are low and dropping fast. To combat the situation, Sanaa has implemented permanent water rationing in the capital and is fining people found stealing water from the system.

Read the full article on: Indiana Corrales, BNamericas.com [subscription site], 12 Jan 2010