Water: The week in 10 stories

ARGENTINA

The government announced it would finance the building of storm drainage works as part of a reconstruction plan for the city of Comodoro Rivadavia in Chubut province, which was partially destroyed as a result of heavy floods in April.

BRAZIL

The government of São Paulo state will invest up to 3.7mn reais (US$1.15mn) to improve sanitation networks across the municipalities of Cordeirópolis, Cosmorama, Itaju, São José do Rio Pardo and Pacaembu.

Meanwhile, in Paraná state, water utility Sanepar will invest up to 2.5mn reais to adjust and expand an existing water treatment plant in the city of Jacarezinho.

CHILE

Consumer watchdog Sernac filed a class action lawsuit against water utility Aguas del Altiplano over two incidents that polluted the water supply of the Alto Hospicio municipality, in the northern Tarapacá Region (I). The objective of the legal action is for the company to reimburse the full amount that users spent during the emergency trying to get water, and also compensation for the damage caused.

President Michelle Bachelet presented a national plan to face the effects of climate change and fulfill the nation's international commitments on the matter, including a 30% reduction in CO2 emissions by 2030.

COLOMBIA

Utility group Empresas Públicas the Medellín (EPM) launched an offer for 100% of the shares of Empresas Públicas de Rionegro, which operates the aqueduct and sewerage systems in the eponymous city.

MEXICO

The government of Nuevo León state will invest 1.20bn pesos (US$66.7mn) to kickoff its new water plan to 2030.

The Mexico City authorities said that the new regulation on waste separation that went into effect on July 8 has already led to a drop in the quantity of waste sent to landfills for disposal.

NICARAGUA

Representatives from investment promotion agency ProNicaragua said that the Italian government is interested in providing US$20mn in financing for an irrigation project in the country's so-called dry corridor.

PANAMA

Authorities are planning to submit a bill to the national legislature calling for the creation of a new state-owned enterprise that would manage the infrastructure built under the US$2.2bn Panama Bay sanitation program.