The construction of a water treatment plant in Lake Ilopango commenced today, marking the beginning of a transformative project supported by a $40 million non-reimbursable technical cooperation from China. The initiative, led by the National Administration of Aqueducts and Sewers (ANDA) and the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China, aims to provide clean and potable water to more than 250,000 residents across seven municipalities.
The event, presided over by ANDA Director Rubén Alemán and Chinese Ambassador Zhang Yanhui, emphasized the significance of this collaboration in addressing water stress in historically challenged regions surrounding Lake Ilopango.
Ambassador Yanhui underscored the positive diplomatic relations between El Salvador and China, culminating in this joint effort. He expressed his honor to attend the groundbreaking ceremony and conveyed warm congratulations on behalf of the Chinese government and embassy. The ambassador attributed the project’s inception to the support of Presidents Xi Jinping and Nayib Bukele during the latter’s state visit to China in 2019.
«I extend my warmest congratulations to all for the start of this significant project that will benefit thousands of Salvadorans. This project was planned and agreed upon by the two heads of state during President Bukele’s state visit to China,» stated Ambassador Yanhui.
Highlighting his confidence in President Bukele’s new term, the Chinese diplomat predicted further successful collaborations between the two nations, fostering additional projects for the well-being of the Salvadoran population.
The water treatment project, a first of its kind in El Salvador, involves the drilling of eight wells in the vicinity of Lake Ilopango. The extracted water will undergo conventional treatment processes, including flocculation, sedimentation, filtration, and disinfection, ensuring the water’s quality.
ANDA stated that the project’s uniqueness lies in its utilization of water from a battery of wells near a body of water, a departure from traditional water treatment methods in the country.
Director Alemán explained, «We are initiating an important project in the Guluchapa-Joya Grande system, supplying 30% of the Greater San Salvador, including municipalities like Soyapango, Ilopango, San Martín, San Marcos, Santiago Texacuangos, and San Francisco Chinameca—areas historically characterized by water stress.»
Anticipating a production rate of 306 liters per second, the project aims to alleviate water supply challenges in the specified regions. The three-year initiative, funded by China’s $40 million non-reimbursable technical cooperation, covers the construction and equipment of the water treatment facility.
The construction and oversight are entrusted to Hebei Construction Group and the Institute of Design and Research of Urban Construction in China (CUCDI). These entities have already initiated preliminary stages, including material importation, land leveling, perimeter wall construction, and the establishment of a camp for Chinese and Salvadoran personnel.
A specialized multidisciplinary team from ANDA will collaborate with the Chinese delegation, ensuring compliance with Salvadoran technical standards, particularly those related to water quality. This collaboration underscores ANDA’s commitment to delivering water services that strictly adhere to potabilization parameters.