Idaan to study moving La Chorrera plant ops.

Panama's Idaan will launch studies to find a new location for the water collectors for the La Chorrera drinking water plant, due to the high level of contamination from wastewater dumped at the present site of the Caimito river, the Panama America reported. The water is currently treated with chemicals, and in this case the treatments imply investments of US$0.60 for each 1000 gallons of water produced. The plant produces 11Mgal/d of water, which is distributed to Balboa, Colon, Guadalupe, Puerto Caimito and El Coco. Idaan will carry out studies before deciding if it is necessary to contract a private company or carry out a public bidding process for the works. In other regional waterworks news, Biwater won an Idaan project in late-May to carry out system improvements to the Panama, La Chorrera, Colon and Arraijan province aqueducts, BNamericas previously reported. The improvements are expected to increase the region's water flow by 45Mgal/d by year-end and will include creating a computerized system to better determine where water leaks appear.