Argentina receives US$200 million in financing for potable water and sanitation program

The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) has approved a US$200 million loan to expand potable water and sanitation services in the Buenos Aires metropolitan area and suburbs.

This project is part of a wider expansion program which seeks to add 1.5 million users to the water service and 1.4 million to the sewer system between now and 2011.

This is the first loan within a US$720 million conditional credit line for investment projects (CCLIP) approved by the IDB’s Board of Executive Directors.

The expansion of potable water and sanitation services includes the construction of a collector sewer with corresponding pumping stations in the municipality of Tigre, which will enable the system to serve an additional 220,000 residents; and the construction of sewage networks in the municipalities of Tres de Febrero, Hurlingham and Ituazingó, wich will service 108,000 residents.

The project also includes a plant for a plan to reduce unaccounted-for water in order to minimize losses and make the best use of the distribution system, saving nearly 100,000 cubic meters of water daily; and the reconditioning of the San Martín potable water plant, which supplies 4.8 million people.

The loan will be executed by Agua y Saneamientos Argentinos S.A. (AySA).