Water and Waste: The Week in 10 Stories

COLOMBIA

The financing for Bogotá’s US$1.2bn Canoas wastewater plant has fallen into doubt after a ruling from the attorney general that CAR Cundinamarca must have all studies finished before signing a financing agreement.

BRAZIL

Paraná state plans to raise up to US$2.1bn to finance sanitation projects across the state. Most of that amount is likely to come from state-run bank Caixa.

The shareholders of Copasa approved a US$200mn investment plan for this year.

MEXICO

Mexico City passed a bill that will ban the sale, distribution and delivery of single use plastic items starting on 2020.

The mayor of Mexico City’s Cuajimalpa district warned that the construction of the Mexico City-Toluca rail line is causing water shortages.

ARGENTINA

The former concessionaires of Buenos Aires water services will receive US$380mn in bonds from the Argentine government to end the legal dispute started in 2006 over the end of the concession.

CHILE

Chile’s construction chamber CChC warned that the country needs to triple its current flood control investment levels to reach the goals set in a 1997 law.

Desalination projects are facing rising costs in northern Chile due to geographic challenges.

EL SALVADOR

The environment and climate change committee of El Salvador’s congress began discussing a new waste management bill that would promote recycling.

PERU

The largest water utility in Perú, Sedapal executed nearly 87% of its budget in the first quarter as a rate increase boosted net income.