Punta Cana water system planned as part of $400 million investment

A planned water project for Punta Cana will include more than sanitary sewers. It will also bring a multiple-use aqueduct to the fast-growing tourism area of Verón-Punta Cana.

Wellington Arnaud, director of the National Institute of Potable Water and Sewerage, said the broader plan represents an investment of $400 million in sanitation and drinking water. Congress has approved the project, and authorities are now prequalifying companies that could carry it out.

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Punta Cana is not only all the sanitary sewer system, but also the aqueduct, the multiple-use aqueduct with an investment of $400 million in both sanitation and water. That is already in process, it has already been approved by Congress and everything else, and companies are now being prequalified.

Arnaud made the announcement after Aníbal de Castro, Diario Libre’s founding president and director, argued during the program LA Agenda Semanal that the Punta Cana aqueduct should rank among the government’s pending priorities. “Punta Cana is not only all the sanitary sewer system, but also the aqueduct, the multiple-use aqueduct with an investment of $400 million in both sanitation and water. That is already in process, it has already been approved by Congress and everything else, and companies are now being prequalified,” Arnaud said.

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All of them have one component, some more than others. Around $7 million to $15 million, more or less, but each one does. But in the case of Verón, it is complete.

Arnaud added that sanitation projects in other coastal and tourist areas also include drinking-water components, although their investments generally range from $7 million to $15 million. Verón-Punta Cana, he said, has a more comprehensive package.

The discussion also turned to water losses in Greater Santo Domingo. De Castro cited former directors of the Santo Domingo water utility who estimated that about 70% of water reaching the capital is lost because of pipeline conditions. Utility director Felipe “Fellito” Suberví said better macro- and micro-metering and repairs were necessary, while also calling for greater storage capacity. He said a recent update of the utility’s customer records found a significant increase in registered users.

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I agree with the issue of macro-metering and fixing breakdowns. Macro and micro-metering are vital.