CAF funds modernization of water supply and sewerage systems in northern Argentina
As part of the government’s water infrastructure program, titled Plan Belgrano, CAF is funding the construction of a new wastewater treatment plant and the expansion of the sewerage system in the city of Formosa, which will increase the system’s capacity to meet the province capital’s current and future demand.
Through the project called “Expansion and commissioning of the sewerage system of the city of Formosa,” CAF- development bank of Latin America- is funding a new sewer network built by Argentina’s Ministry of the Interior, Public Works and Housing, in order to improve the quality of life of more than 100,000 residents of the province capital.
This project is part of Plan Belgrano, for which CAF has approved three loans totaling $310 million for the water and sewerage systems, in order to improve coverage in this area in northern Argentina, which currently stands at 90% for water supply and below 45% for sewerage. These figures are the main reason behind the emphasis on this region.
These projects funded by CAF will benefit the residents of the city of Formosa, as they will alleviate pressure on the 50-year-old sewerage system of the provincial capital, which was designed with a lifespan of 30 years and for 60,000 inhabitants, which the city has largely outgrown.
To complete the sewer system and avoid pouring waste water directly into the Paraguay River, the project includes the construction of a wastewater treatment plant, with a setup based on settlers and aerated lagoons. The first stage included the installation of new main pipelines, renovating current pumping stations and installing new facilities, along with the civil works and electromechanical modules needed for the treatment plant.
With these disbursements, CAF is supporting the Argentinian government in the implementation of the ambitious national plan for water supply and sewerage, which aims to achieve a 100% coverage in water supply and 75% coverage in sewer system in the nation by 2023, as part of the sustainable development goals (SDGs), which imply an investment in water and sewerage infrastructure much larger than that made in recent years.