Venezuela unveils waterworks plan for parched state

Venezuela has unveiled an investment plan to build water supply infrastructure in the drought-stricken northern coastal state of Vargas.

Vargas' present water needs are roughly 2,200l/s, while current production is around 815l/s. Implementation of all phases of the plan would bring production levels to around 2,895l/s, state-run water and sanitation agency Hidroven said in a release.

Short-term work due to be completed by May will add 370l/s and include swapping out existing water distribution lines for steel pipelines, a new abduction line between the coastal towns of Camurí and Naiguatá, drilling 10 subsurface wells, and fixing leaks in the water system.

Medium-term plans to be implemented in 2015-17 will see the replacement of around 17km of existing distribution lines for steel ones between capital Caracas and the coastline.

Other works entail completion of a desalinization plant to serve Caracas' Simón Bolívar international airport; new water intake infrastructure to draw from the Oricao river; the expansion and rehabilitation of pumping stations, and further expansion and rehabilitation of distribution lines. The medium-term measures will add 410l/s, bringing production to 1,595l/s.

Long-term plans will be implemented in 2015-19 and involve construction of new dam on the Maya river, replacing some 45km of distribution lines, and construction of a treatment plant in Chichiriviche (Falcón state), with a treatment capacity of 1,500l/s.