El Salvador's congress okays funds for potable water plant

El Salvador's legislative assembly approved amending the national budget for this year to earmark additional US$3.34mn to state water utility ANDA for the modernization and expansion of the Las Pavas potable water treatment plant.

As a result of the measure, which had been previously approved by the assembly's finance and special budget committee, US$2.31mn of the total sum will be used to carry out mitigation works along 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 congress approved earlier this year. Works were launched shortly after.

Once completed, water supply in San Salvador alone will increase by 100,000m3 a day. The project is expected to benefit some 1.5mn residents and will help meet water demand in the capital's metropolitan area for the next 25 years.