On Saturday, the connection of the Chilibre water treatment plant with the Eastern Hydraulic Ring was completed, and on the other hand, the feasibility study for the future eastern water treatment plant was secured.
In statements made during an appearance before the National Assembly in March of last year, the director of IDAAN, Rutilio Villarreal, reported that the Mamoní River could also be used to guarantee the water supply.
«Studies are being conducted on the Mamoní River that, with a run-of-the-river dam, like those in the interior, we can have a volume of water that can guarantee the first phase of the plant,» Villarreal said on that occasion.
Additionally, other works were carried out at the water treatment plant, such as the installation of three electric valves, which completed the total replacement of the previous hydraulic ones.
Eastern Ring
The connection of the main conduction line of the Chilibre water treatment plant with the Eastern Hydraulic Ring was carried out on schedule.
The official also referred to the possible location of the water treatment plant, which would be in Las Margaritas de Chepo. The Secretary of Goals reported that in the coming weeks, this important project, which must bring water to the most distant communities of Chilibre that currently do not have access to this vital liquid, will be inaugurated.
The study will allow for the determination of the cost of the water treatment plant, which could have a capacity to produce 30 million gallons of water daily.
It is expected that, unlike Chilibre and other water treatment plants that obtain water from Gatún Lake, this plant will have Lake Bayano as its water source.
The Secretary of Goals, José Ramón Icaza, communicated that last Wednesday he met with an envoy from the government of the United Kingdom to confirm non-reimbursable technical cooperation for the feasibility study.
Solutions for drinking water for the eastern sector of the province of Panama are beginning to take shape.
The idea is for the eastern water treatment plant to supply the Centenario plant to try to create a circular scheme, explained the director general of IDAAN at the time.
IDAAN reported that this is the first time this line has been intervened since its construction 50 years ago.
«This is one of President Mulino's campaign promises and is part of the government's strategic plan,» Icaza said.
The feasibility study includes the technical, financial, and economic analysis of the project, explained the Secretary of Goals.
He reported that UKEF has already contracted the company that will carry out the feasibility study and expects it to take no more than six months, after which the project will be put out to tender.
Icaza pointed out that he has already held conversations with the UK Export Finance (UKEF) agency and last week confirmed what he considered an «important milestone».
