Sanitation Updates

Peru’s government has declared a 60-day state of emergency in the sewerage system in capital Lima and neighboring Callao, to speed up repairs and new construction works. The executive decree will allow the La Perla pipeline to start operations, in spite of the local population’s protests; works to stabilise the retaining walls of the San Miguel pipeline; works to reduce the smell of the sewage; and once La Perla is working, authorities will close the interceptor norte pipeline for repairs. Additional works will include construction of a jetty to guide an underwater pipeline that will connect the San Miguel and La Perla ducts. The wastewater will receive biological pre-treatment before its disposal on the coast.

The emergency situation in Lima’s sewerage network was provoked by state-owned water utility Sedapal’s inability to prevent the collapse of the Costanero sewage pipeline, in San Miguel district, in February 2008. The pipeline channels sewage from almost 24 districts in Lima and, since its collapse, the sewage is being dumped directly onto the beach. Sedapal has been accused of poor management by spending money on badly planned new wastewater projects and did not investing in improving the treatment plants that were already in operation.

Earlier, the president of national environmental council Conam, Manuel Bernales, said that a remediation plan to solve the pollution of Lima’s coastal waters by untreated wastewater, required an investment of about US$ 1 billion. The plan would be based on the wastewater treatment and reuse of part of the treated effluent to irrigate public areas.

Sources: BNamericas (subscription site), 21 Apr 2008 ; BNamericas,  18 Apr 2008 ; Living in Peru, 21 Apr 2008