Paraguay gives go ahead to new wastewater plant

A construction order has been issued for a new wastewater pre-treatment plant in Asunción's Bella Vista neighborhood, part of a 436bn guaraní (US$74mn) program to clean up the Paraguayan capital's bay area, according to public works minister Arnoldo Wiens.

The plant has a budget of 106bn guaraníes (US$18mn) and will be built by Spanish firm Acciona Agua, the public works ministry (MOPC) said in a release.

The project, which is being financed by the World Bank and water utility Essap, entails building a preliminary treatment unit that will include screening, pumping stations and a sub fluvial emissary, among other features. Some 500,000 residents will benefit, the ministry said.

During an inspection of the site, Wiens said on the Essap-World Bank partnership that "our intention is to replicate this type of entrepreneurship in other areas of the country."

According to MOPC, the Asunción bay area cleanup program involves two other contracts. One is a 174bn-guaraní contract for a pre-treatment plant in the Varadero neighborhood plus the expansion of the city's sewerage system, which is being carried out by consortium ASI Paraguay in which Acciona Agua is also involved. The third contract is for construction of a wastewater treatment plant and the expansion of San Lorenzo's sewerage system, being carried out by Consorcio Sanitario San Lorenzo for 156bn guaraníes.