WASH News Latin America
News feed maintained by information specialists from IRC and partners.
Jamaica: Rural Water Supply Master Plan being developed
25 May 08
Water and Housing Minister, Dr. Horace Chang, announced that a master plan is being developed to achieve the government’s goal of providing drinking water to all rural communities by 2015. This initiative is being implemented by the Rural Water Supply Company, formerly Carib Engineering Corporation Limited (CECL). According to Dr. Chang, less than 50 per [...]
Guatemala: EU loans € 20 million for environmental management in Huehuetenango
25 May 08
The EU has loaned 20mn euros for environmental management in the 32 municipalities of Guatemala’s Huehuetenango department. The official launch of the Desarrollo Rural y Local project was scheduled for 12 May 2008. The Guatemalan government is providing 5mn euros as counterpart funds. The project includes much needed basic infrastructure services for solid waste, potable [...]
Chile: Government to implement integrated geographic information system
23 May 08
The Chilean government plans to launch an integrated geographic information system, known as geoportal, in June/July 2008, the commercial manager of ESRI Chile, Juan Enrique Silva, told BNamericas.[...]Some of the information to be available through geoportal includes data regarding water resources, glaciers, land and urban centers. The system will therefore be used in the planning and [...]
Jamaica: National Water Commission disappointed with new rate adjustment
23 May 08
Jamaica’s National Water Commission (NWC) is unhappy with the 23% adjustment in rates approved by the Office of Utilities Regulation (OUR). The NWC was hoping to increase charges by 44% to reflect the real cost of providing potable water and sanitation services across the country. Deteriorating infrastructure coupled with increasing demand for improvement and expansion [...]
Guyana: National Water Council launched
23 May 08
Minister of Housing and Water Harry Narine Nawbatt has officially launched the National Water Council which is expected to facilitate the promotion of an integrated water resource management approach in Guyana. The idea for its establishment emerged during consultations when it was suggested that there should be a merger of the former water companies - [...]
Guatemala: Congressmen promote new law for wastewater treatment
23 May 08
A group of members of the Guatemalan congress is promoting a bill proposal to treat wastewater, reuse residual waters and eliminate organic waste. The bill seeks to establish a legal framework to regulate water quality monitoring and water source protection from discharges from domestic, commercial, industrial and agricultural activities. It will also make it mandatory [...]
Bolivia: Zapatero, Lula to announce potable water support fund
19 May 08
Spanish Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero and Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva were scheduled to announce a plan to support the expansion of potable water services in Bolivia on 16 May 2008. Bolivia is one of the countries included in a support programme to be launched by the two heads of state [...]
Peru: Government announces 60-day sewage emergency in Lima, Callao
19 May 08
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 [...]
Peru: New water authority to have 14 nationwide offices
19 May 08
Peru’s new water authority ANA (Autoridad Nacional del Agua) will have 14 decentralised branches around the country, said Carlos Pagador, head of water resources at the natural resources institute, INRENA (Instituto Nacional de Recursos Naturales). He added that authorities are currently designing the organization and functions of the new entity, which should be ready by [...]
Paraguay: President-elect to prioritize water, infrastructure works
19 May 08
Paraguay’s President-elect Fernando Lugo is holding meetings with a number of specialists to prioritize infrastructure and water works, among others, an official from Lugo’s office told BNamericas.One of the first steps to be taken by Lugo will be to declare the country’s health system in a state of emergency. This will help obtain funding for [...]
