Chilean utility planning Antofagasta wastewater reuse project

Chilean state-owned utility Econssa is developing a project for a new wastewater treatment plant in Antofagasta region, which is part of an initiative to reuse treated wastewater.

Econssa CEO Patricio Herrera told BNamericas at a congress organized by Latin American desalination and water reuse association Aladyr in Santiago that the project is currently in the feasibility stage at present, but that it is estimated to require an investment of around US$50mn.

In his presentation, Herrera said that the project entails the construction of a wastewater treatment plant, the water from which would be then used for industrial purposes. The plant would have an average treatment capacity of 300l/s, with a maximum of 900l/s, and would be located near the town of Salar del Carmen.

"There have been successful [wastewater reuse] experiences in Chile, not many though," he said, citing the example of mining firm Candelaria, which uses treated wastewater for 3% of its operations, while Glencore subsidiary Altonorte uses treated wastewater from utility Aguas Antofagasta for two thirds of its operations.

He said that the environmental impact study for the water reuse project would soon be submitted to evaluation service SEA, while the tender is expected to take place in the first quarter of 2019. This would mean the plant being finished by 2024.

"This is the most important wastewater reuse proposal in Chile and could open the door to similar initiatives," he said.

WASTEWATER SPILL

When BNamericas asked Herrera about the wastewater spill that affected the city of Antofagasta over the weekend, the Econssa CEO accknowledged that the existing treatment plants in the area "ended up being too small," but that projects to improve infrastructure have been slowed by restrictions imposed by the terrain in the area.