4th Quarter 2011
Making Every Drop Count!
Water & Wastewater Solutions Worldwide 		BergerWorld Index
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Inside
President's Message
Clean, Sustainable and Integrated Water Solutions in Africa
Improving Access to Clean Water and Adequate Sanitation in Latin America
Upgrading Water and Wastewater Infrastructure in North America
Enhancing Water and Wastewater Infrastructure in Europe
Addressing the Rapidly Growing Water and Wastewater Demands in Asia
 

Latin America is commonly recognized as the territories of Mexico, Central America, South America and the Caribbean. The region covers an area of approximately 21 million square kilometers and is populated by more than 590 million residents. Water supply and sanitation in Latin America is characterized by insufficient access and generally poor service quality. An estimated 9 percent of the Latin American population does not have access to clean water supply, while 23 percent lack access to sufficient sanitation services. For those with access to water supply, poor quality of service—such as intermittent supply and low water pressure—is a common occurrence. In response, a number of Latin American countries are currently implementing programs to improve access to clean water supply and adequate sanitation. The Berger Group of Companies, who has worked in the region since the 1960s, has undertaken a number of water and wastewater assignments throughout Latin America in recent years. The Team has provided a variety of services related to the improvement of water and wastewater infrastructure in Colombia, Haiti, Nicaragua, Panama and Peru, amongst other locations.
Haiti LBG was selected by the Inter-American Development Bank (IADB) and Haiti's Ministry of Finance Executing Unit to conduct a preliminary study of the existing water supply and sewage systems in Cap Haitien—a city comprised of approximately 190,000 people located in northern Haiti—and to provide recommendations for implementing water and wastewater infrastructure at the site of a proposed $250 million, 150-hectare industrial park in the city. The Team first undertook a variety of studies to evaluate the potential water demand of the industrial park and its surrounding communities, determine water availability and assess water quality. Based on these and other studies, LBG determined storage needs, defined supply network needs and prepared designs for the sanitary sewer and industrial wastewater collection system. The Team also prepared designs for the wastewater treatment plants located at the industrial park, including the size and layout of each plant as well as ancillary facilities such as administrative offices and chemical storage buildings.


In Les Cayes, Haiti, Louis Berger provided various consultancy services for the rehabilitation and extension of the city's existing water supply system as part of the IADB-funded Emergency Infrastructure Rehabilitation Program. The Team's duties included reviewing water demand forecasts, evaluating existing water resources, assessing the condition of the existing water supply system, preparing designs for new system facilities as well as the rehabilitation of existing facilities.



Panama's water supply and sanitation are characterized by relatively high levels of access in comparison with other Latin American countries. Currently, approximately 97 percent of the nation's population has access to potable water supply and basic sanitation. However, challenges remain, as access in rural areas is generally insufficient.

LBG began its first water and wastewater assignment in Panama in 1994, when the Team conducted feasibility studies and prepared designs for water system improvements in the urban areas of Arraiján, La Chorrera and Colón. Since then, LBG has completed a number of additional water supply and sanitation assignments throughout the country.

In the Darién Province of Panama, along the Pan-American Roadway, a number of communities lack access to quality drinking water. In response, LBG was selected to evaluate the feasibility of developing an integrated system using the Chucunaque River that would supply the demand of these communities until the year 2020. The Team's duties involved updating technical and economic studies and assessing their technical, economic, social and environmental viability; identifying, analyzing and proposing additional alternatives; preparing designs for the selected alternative; preparing operation manuals for the integrated system; evaluating existing distribution networks and preparing plans to incorporate them into the new system; and preparing designs for the new networks. LBG also performed raw water quality analyses and prepared designs for ancillary structures, storage tanks and control and monitoring systems.

In addition to LBG's previous work in the Darién Province, the Team was also selected to provide inspection and supervision services for the construction of water supply systems for the communities located along the Darién Roadway. The project comprised developing water supply systems and treatment plants in Villa Darién and Yaviza. LBG's duties involved assisting in the construction of two intakes into the Chucunaque River as well as two associated pumping stations, conduction lines, the two water treatment plants, 15 storage tanks in various communities along the roadway, six booster stations and more than 100 kilometers of pipeline.

The sewer system in Chitré, the capital of the Panamanian province of Herrera, does not serve a majority of the population. Furthermore, most of its wastewater collects in a natural basin and continues into the Villa River without any treatment. In response, LBG was selected to perform a feasibility study in order to identify collection and treatment options for the wastewater of Chitré. The Team's duties involved developing an integrated wastewater management solution that would guarantee 30 years of adequate and efficient service; evaluating the existing sewer system and preparing a plan to incorporate it into the new system; preparing designs and specifications for the recommended works, including a new wastewater treatment plant; and developing operation manuals for the integrated system. The improvements included 70 kilometers of pipes, six pumping stations and a seven-million-gallon-per day wastewater treatment plant.

In Panama City, LBG provided a variety of consultancy services for the optimization of the existing water supply network. The Team's duties included assessing infrastructure, evaluating water quality, projecting future demand, identifying improvements and assisting in the implementation of the upgrades. LBG's field work consisted of surveying 77,000 network connections, 160 kilometers of sewage pipes and 2,700 kilometers of water supply pipes. The assignment also involved a comprehensive hydraulic modeling effort; repairing 280 leaks; installing valves and real-time-reading macro-meters for 11 hydraulic sectors; and preparing a master plan until the year 2030, including the associated investment needs.

Finally, in the Chiriquí Province, LBG prepared designs for the construction of the Bugaba Water Treatment Plant, which would supply drinking water to four communities located in the Bugaba District. The Team's designs for the 10-million-gallon-per-day water treatment plant included a raw water intake; ductile iron pipeline with push joints between the intake structure and the plant; treatment plant, administration and chemicals buildings; a one-million-gallon storage tank; drainage, sewerage and water systems; treated water pumping equipment; and a 24-inch-diameter ductile iron pipeline from the plant to the city of Concepción.