2023-06-13 06:35:25
WASHINGTON, DC, April 27, 2023 –
The World Bank (WB) today approved US$100 million in financing for the “Water Sector Resilience Project in El Salvador”, which will help improve the quality, reliability and efficiency of water supply services. in selected areas of the country and, in the event of an emergency associated with natural phenomena, it will allow a quick and effective response.
The work areas would be those of the San Salvador Metropolitan Area that receive water from the Torogoz water treatment plant, which includes the municipalities of San Salvador, Apopa, Ciudad Delgado, Cuscatancingo, Ayutuxtepeque and Soyapango.
“We are pleased with the support of the World Bank with a focus on climate change and resilience to advance access and sustainable management of limited water resources.“, He said Finance Minister Alejandro Zelaya. “It is transcendental for our country to promote the rational use of water so as not to compromise or put its availability at risk for future generations.”.
With this Project, consumers will receive higher quality water supply services through a more reliable, continuous and higher pressure supply, which will contribute to improving people’s health and economic well-being.
The project will increase the quality, reliability, and efficiency of water services by financing works, goods, and services that improve the resilience of water supply infrastructure. and the provision of water services for populations that are at risk in the urban and peri-urban areas of San Salvador. The execution of a program to reduce physical and commercial losses of non-revenue water in the area of influence of the Torogoz water supply system, which supplies water to approximately 40% of the population of the Metropolitan Area, will also be financed.
In addition, the National Administration of Aqueducts and Sewers (ANDA) will be strengthened in its modernization process to improve the provision of climate-resilient water supply and sanitation services; and support will be provided to the institutional management of the project, including technical assistance for capacity development and support in financial, procurement, environmental and social management, as necessary.
“We consider it vitally important to work for Salvadoran families exposed to droughts, storms and floods who continually suffer from the interruption of their water services”, highlighted Carine Clert, Country Manager for El Salvador and Costa Rica. “By integrating climate risks into the design and rehabilitation of infrastructure to improve the reliability of water services, women will be particularly favored, who as heads of household and as caregivers are among the most affected by the impacts of change. climate”.
The Project includes a contingent emergency response component (CERC), with which an eligible crisis or emergency can be addressed immediately; that is, one that has caused, or is likely to cause, an adverse economic or social impact associated with natural or human-caused phenomena.
The US$100 million operation, financed by the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (BIRF), has a final maturity of 25 years, including a 5-year grace period.
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