IDB extends Patino aquifer consultancy deadline

The deadline to submit expressions of interest to draft and implement a management plan for Paraguay's Patino aquifer has been extended to October 10 from Friday (Sep.26), an Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) official told BNamericas. So far 17 consultants have submitted documents, he added. The plan will help national environment sanitation service Senasa's efforts to ensure the aquifer is used in a sustainable manner through the implementation of a monitoring network, among other tasks. The aquifer, along with the Paraguay river, is capital Asuncion's chief water source, and according to information from the IDB, the relative ease of well perforations and their extensive use has put this water source at risk. About 2 million of the country's 5 million residents live in the Greater Asuncion area. According to the Bank, uncontrolled sewage and industrial wastewater discharges, as well as agricultural chemicals have polluted the aquifer, which spans an area of 1,173 sq. km. Salinity problems are also impacting Patino.