USTDA Supports Launch of New Wastewater Treatment System for Cartagena
November 23, 2011
(USTDA)
CARTAGENA DE INDIAS, COLOMBIA – Today, USTDA awarded a grant to the Cartagena
Water and Sewerage Company (known as ACUACAR) for technical assistance on the
start-up of the new, comprehensive wastewater treatment system for the city of
Cartagena. The grant was signed on behalf of USTDA by Senior Commercial Officer
Cameron Werker, and on behalf of ACUACAR by General Manager Francisco Pérez
Tena.
USTDA Director Leocadia I. Zak stated, "USTDA is proud to partner with ACUACAR
on this project, which will leverage U.S. expertise to have a tangible impact on
public health and the environment in this key tourism destination and port
city."
ACUACAR is a public-private enterprise, which provides potable water and
sewerage services in Cartagena. The $513,000 grant will support the integration
of existing wastewater subsystems; the startup of a new wastewater system; the
creation of an environmental water quality baseline assessment; and the design
of an ongoing water quality monitoring program, including recommendations for
environmental remediation in an adjacent sea inlet. Additionally, it will also
assist with designs for the expansion of the water and wastewater treatment
system in the city, especially as it relates to automation and control,
monitoring and equipment necessary for operations.
ACUACAR plans to contract for the design and subsequently the construction of a
new potable water plant immediately south of Cartagena, which would have a
capacity of 160,000 cubic meters per day, thus increasing the system's capacity
by more than a third.
This technical assistance activity will provide significant opportunities for
the involvement of U.S. firms in the expansion of the water and wastewater
treatment system in the city of Cartagena. The selected contractor will organize
a workshop in Cartagena to disseminate best practices in water and wastewater
treatment in Colombia, with an emphasis on modern treatment technologies,
automation, control, monitoring, and engineering and environmental services.
Further information about submitting a bid for the opportunity to conduct this
technical assistance will be posted on USTDA's website (www.ustda.gov) and on
the Federal Business Opportunities website (www.fbo.gov).
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