Background
In 2007, wastewater collection coverage in Agua Prieta was estimated at 75% of the community. Residents whose homes were not connected to the sewer system, disposed of their wastewater in latrines and cesspools, which posed a serious risk for contamination of groundwater sources, as well as the transmission of diseases associated with untreated wastewater. At that time, the sewer system was collecting an estimated 145 liters per second (lps) or 3.30 million gallons a day (mgd) of wastewater, which was treated by means of a facultative lagoon system with a design capacity of 200 lps (4.56 mgd). Approximately 86% (125 lps) of the treated effluent was conveyed to the local power company for reuse, while the rest was discharged into the Agua Prieta River. .
Project Scope
The project consisted of extending the sewer system to the southeast area of the city and included installing 12,814 linear meters (42,041 linear feet) of 20-cm (8-inch) diameter Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) piping and 778 new connections.
Benefits
Implementation of this project provided first-time wastewater services to an unserved area of the city through 809 new connections, thus reducing the potential for groundwater and surface water contamination by eliminating the use of cesspools and latrines. As a result of this project, wastewater collection coverage was increased to approximately 79% of the community.
