Venezuela: US$15 million for potable water in La Guajira

US$15 million approved for supplying potable water to the Venezuelan Guajira

The funds are destined for an investment program which will benefit rural indigenous populations by increasing and improving the quality of water supply and sanitation services.

A US$15-million loan for the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela was recently approved by the Andean Development Corporation (CAF) to support the Investment Program in potable water and sanitation in La Guajira peninsula on the Colombian border, at a total cost of US$23 million. The executing agency is Hidrológica Venezolana (Hidroven).

CAF Executive President Enrique García emphasized the sustainable nature of the loan which is consistent with the Corporation's priorities for promoting projects aimed at sectors of greatest vulnerability, as well as preserving the environmental integrity and the participation of communities in the development and conservation of their habitat.

The CAF loan satisfies the objective of providing as efficiently as possible a sustainable supply of potable water in the municipalities of Mara, Páez and Almirante Padilla in Zulia state. The Project will benefit the rural indigenous population by increasing and upgrading the quality of the water supply and sanitation services.

The Venezuelan region of La Guajira suffers from water shortages and reports many incidences of water-related diseases. Half of its population receives water from pipes and the rest is delivered by tankers, pack animals, or by the users themselves on foot.

In an effort to improve this situation, the Program involves the design and execution of the process of transferring the responsibility for providing potable water and sanitation services to the Mara, Páez and Almirante Padilla municipalities of Zulia state, and training the communities in the supervision and control of the services.

The Program is also intended to prepare the communities to meet the technical, administrative and commercial conditions required to provide and supervise the services; and to make investments aimed at increasing coverage and improving quality, as well as designing and implementing a system that guarantees the recovery of the related costs and expenses.