Santa Marta Invests Over $1.6 Trillion to Revamp Water and Sewage Systems

Santa Marta, Colombia, is embarking on its most significant infrastructure intervention in decades, committing over 1.6 trillion Colombian pesos to overhaul its aging water and sanitation systems. For years, the city, home to over 550,000 residents, has grappled with persistent public health and urban development challenges stemming from overflowing sewers and a lack of reliable potable water, issues that have lagged behind population growth.

The first tangible result of this ambitious plan is the successful rehabilitation of the EBAR Norte wastewater pumping station. This facility, considered the "heart" of Santa Marta's sanitary system, received an investment exceeding 31 billion pesos. The upgrade aims to permanently resolve the chronic sewer overflows that have plagued emblematic areas like the Historic Center, Pescaíto, Bellavista, and the public market for nearly thirty years. The rehabilitation involved replacing all pumps, electrical systems, valves, pipes, and control panels, along with civil works, ensuring the infrastructure can operate for at least the next 25 years.

Mayor Carlos Pinedo Cuello emphasized that restoring the pumping station was a top priority upon taking office, citing the unacceptable environmental damage and unpleasant odors caused by the previous system, especially in the Historic Center. He highlighted the collaborative effort with the national government to secure the necessary funding for this critical project.

While the wastewater system shows signs of recovery, Santa Marta faces an escalating crisis regarding potable water scarcity. The intense dry season has severely depleted the water levels in the rivers that supply the city's aqueduct. To address this, the city plans to construct two new water plants, including a desalination plant and a treatment plant, as part of its broader strategy to transform the water and sewage infrastructure. These projects represent a crucial step in modernizing the city's essential services and improving the quality of life for its residents.

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It was not possible that in the middle of the Historic Center we had these odors; it was not possible that environmental damage like the one being done was occurring.