The Latin American Development Bank approved a loan to finance projects to improve the drinking water distribution system in the country’s metropolitan area and other provinces.

The Board of Directors of the Latin American Development Bank (CAF) approved a USD 200 million loan to the Republic of Panama to support the National Investment Program for the Water and Sewerage Sector (PRONAISA). This program aims to improve the coverage, quality and reliability of drinking water supply services in the metropolitan area of Panama and in the province of Colon, reaching nearly one million inhabitants, and to improve sanitary and environmental conditions in the provinces of Bocas del Toro and Chiriqui, through the construction, expansion and optimization of sewage and wastewater treatment systems, which will have a positive impact on nearly 40,000 people.

The press release of the institution explains that, in addition to improving the supply of drinking water services, PRONAISA includes demand management components to reduce water losses and make the management of systems more efficient. The project will also support the effective connection of the inhabitants to the built sewerage systems and the optimization of drinking water systems, complementing previous CAF interventions.

The program includes six projects: two to complement the sewerage and sanitation systems in Changuinola and Puerto Armuelles, and four drinking water projects: i) Construction of the Sabanitas II drinking water plant in Colón; ii) Gamboa drinking water plant; iii) projects to optimize the aqueduct systems of West Panama; and iv) monitoring and control points (nodes) in the matrix network system of the Panama City aqueduct.

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