IDAAN moves ahead with Panama waterworks

Panama's water utility IDAAN are reportedly moving forward with several projects.

One is a sewerage system and a wastewater treatment plant in Changuinola, the largest city in Bocas del Toro province. Construction began in June last year and is 40% complete, according to the utility.

The works require a US$36.5mn investment and are the responsibility of Spanish-Panamanian consortium JOCA-IPC. They include 70km of sewerage pipelines, of which 36,687m have already being installed. A wastewater quality lab also forms part of the project, as well as household connections and a pumping station.

More than 19,000 area residents will benefit from the works, which are also aimed at boosting the region's tourism.

Meanwhile, IDAAN is also investing US$32.8mn in expanding a potable water treatment plant in Villa Darién, Darién province.

Works began in August last year, and involve a new treatment plant, new pumping station, storage tanks, and supply and discharge pipelines, and an enhancement of the existing plant and water supply system.

To date, some 70km of pipelines have been installed, which represent a 90% progress regarding the expansion of the supply and distribution networks, according to IDAAN.

The contract to carry out the works was awarded to a consortium comprising Acciona Agua and BTD Proyectos.

Once completed, the project will double the plant's capacity from 1.5mn to 3mn gallons a day and benefit over 14,000 area residents.