El Salvador commission okays potable water plant funds

The finance and special budget commission of El Salvador's legislative assembly has approved to amend the national budget for this year to earmark some US$3.34mn for the modernization and expansion of the Las Pavas potable water treatment plant.

Some US$2.3mn of that sum will be used to carry out mitigation works on the Lempa river, while US$272,605 will cover supervision services. For studies on the design of some works US$636,600 have been budgeted and US$120,000 for other expenses, the legislative assembly said in a release.

The funds will come from the US$16.9mn Central American Development Bank (Cabei) loan that received congressional approval earlier this year.

Now, the motion for the amendment will be turned to the floor of the assembly for final approval. The discussion session is expected to take place on Wednesday.

Carried out by French water solutions firm Suez, modernization entails the rehabilitation of the plant and four pumping stations that help draw water to the facility. It also includes infrastructure works to increase water production to 3m3/s.

With an output of 1.8m3/s, the plant in San Pablo Tacachico is El Salvador's largest potable water supply source, serving 1.5mn residents in capital San Salvador and its metropolitan area.

Works for US$78.4mn are financed by a US$61.5mn loan from the French government in addition to the US$16.9mn from Cabei.

Once completed, water supply in San Salvador alone will increase by 100,000m3 a day. The project is expected to benefit some 2mn residents and will help meet water demand in the capital's metropolitan area for the next 25 years.

PICTURED: Members of the legislative assembly's finance and special budget commission attend a session to discuss the amendment.