Sanitation of the Bay of Panama Moves On

Sanitation of the Bay of Panama Moves On

Story by Sherly Diaz / The Panama Post


Cost of the project is US $ 460 million The creation and expansion of health networks, as well as the installation of manifolds and a large interceptor piping is included

The works on the project of sanitation of the city and the Bay of Panama are moving at a good rhythm, whose cost amounts to US $ 460 million and aims to improve health conditions in low-income neighborhoods and reduce the pollution of urban rivers and channels in Panama City by extending the sewer system.

This mega project of sanitation is the responsibility of a coordinating unit ascribed to the Ministry of Health - called- Coordinating Unit of Sanitation Project of the City and the Bay of Panama, in which institutions such as the Institute of National Aqueducts and Sewage (IDAAN) participate. Also the National Environmental Authority (ANAM), the Ministries of Public Works (MOP), Economy and Finance (MEF), Trade and Industry (MICI), the municipalities of Panama and San Miguelito.
The mega project includes three main aspects: the creation and expansion of health networks in marginal urban areas, home to over 16,000 families, and the construction of about 47 kilometers of manifolds in different rivers of the city flowing into the bay to collect wastewater discharges.

It also includes the implementation of a large interceptor pipe near the coastline, leading the water to a treatment plant in Juan Díaz, through pumping stations.

The project aims to prevent 200 million gallons of wastewater from falling daily into the Bay of Panama, said Juan Antonio Ducruet, general coordinator of the Coordinating Unit of the Sanitation Project of the City and the Bay of Panama.

Progress
The project is currently under its first phase of execution. It involves the construction of sanitary collection pipes that are installed at the edges of rivers and collect wastewater discharges of the rivers that come from health networks.

Also under construction are the new sewerage networks in places where they were non-existent in the district of San Miguelito, such as Nueva Libia, Rogelio Sinán, Barriada 2000, El Vallesito and 9 de Enero. In addition to other sectors that will benefit too such as: Tocumen and Nuevo Belén. Over 80,000 people will be benefitted.

The collectors are also being built in major rivers such as Tocumen, Río Abajo, Matías Hernández, Juan Díaz, Río Palomo, Quebrada Santa Rita, and Espavé, among others.

In this project four national and international companies are participating: Constructora Urbana S.A. (CUSA), Copisa, FCC and Hidalgo-Hidalgo (Ecuadorian company).

These works are part of the first phase of the project with a loan from the Interamerican Development Bank (BID) of US $ 45 million, US $ 5 million of local contribution and an additional contribution of US$ 17 million from Tocumen S.A.

The second phase of the project is also being built upon the construction of the collector in Avenida Balboa in conjunction with the Cinta Costera project.

In coming days, the contracts for the construction of interceptor pipes (a collector tunnel)are expected to start. They extend from the Cinta Costera to the Corredor Sur in Costa del Este.

The contract for the treatment plant that will allow the establishment of a pumping station from where the collector tunnel ends to the district of Juan Díaz is also pending. These two contracts will be funded through the International Agency of Japan's Cooperation for an amount close to US $ 200 million.

Also the East interceptor that runs from the Tocumen area through the Corredor Sur collecting all waters of the townships in this area to the wastewater treatment plant in Juan Díaz.

These projects go along with a collector being built in Las Lajas to begin at the intersection of Santa Rita's Creek with the Las Lajas River and end interconnected with the collector of Juan Díaz.

This work is being done with funds from the European Investment Bank which provides US$ 45 million. At the end of the project they will be working with five sources of funding to bring an investment of nearly US $ 460 million (see box: Sources of Funding).
Recently, the MEF received the approval of the Cabinet Council to process additional funding for the second phase of the Sanitation Project of the City and the Bay of Panama for more than US$ 149 million, to cover part of the construction of the wastewater plant and the driving end of these wastes.

Projection

Major works of collection, transportation and treatment of sewage from the Old City to the Airport of Tocumen are expected to be completed by 2013.

Ducruet noted that the projection is to have the system of sewage running by 2013. "Everything has gone according to schedule and it has even been possible to expand the coverage area of the original plan, reaching the Tocumen Airport that was not included", he said.
The current government administration has developed this project very positively giving it priority investment due to the impact it has on society, health and especially since it is anti-cyclical from the economic point of view, because it can generate over 3,000 direct jobs.

Tourism
Ducruet said that the fact of collecting wastewater achieves two objectives. The first one is that rivers are no longer sewers and have better quality as the Curundú River, Abajo River, Matías Hernández, Juan Díaz River and Tocumen.

The second goal is to restore the Bay of Panama that has great potential and there is even a project of islands in this area, as well as marinas. "The only way to do this is to decontaminate the Bay", he said.
The project coordinator said that the tourism benefits go hand in hand with the investment being made in parallel with the project. The project is a priority for the country and the city as well as its impact is important because it will benefit more than 100,000 people who did not have a sanitary sewer system.

Ducruet said that this is about making the Bay a place for fishing, with recreational activities related to tourism, spas, hotels and others.

On his part, Ernesto Orillac adviser to the Minister, Salomón Shamah, of the Tourism Authority of Panama (ATP), indicated that the sanitary project of the Bay means a lot to the organization because "it is the image and the face" of Panama, and once clean it would add value to what already exists in the city.

Orillac said they are assessing how the project would be with those involved agencies. "Panama is positioning itself as an ideal destination for travelers and it would be great to have a breakwater that makes us feel proud", the official said.

For Bosco Ricardo Vallarino, Panama Mayor, the sanitation project of the Bay will release a sea of clean water to all inhabitants of the City of Panama and will be a key factor in improving the quality of life of all inhabitants of the district as well as of business and tourism.

While the Central Government completes this first world work, the City Hall of Panama will do its part to keep the city clean. In turn, it will implement an environmental education program to raise awareness among citizens of the importance to properly dispose waste, Vallarino said.

Industry, trade and all productive sectors must understand that in the extend the city transforms, with an impressive architectural and commercial growth, the challenge of complying with salubrity standards is vital.

Sources of Funding

- Local contribution: US $ 153 million
- Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA): US $ 200 million
- Inter-American Development Bank (BID): US $ 45 million
- European Investment Bank: US $ 45 million
- Tocumen Airport: US $ 17 million