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Peru: Lima sewage crisis due to poor water company management

Living in Peru
Israel J. Ruiz

The sewage crisis Lima is undergoing is not due to a lack of funds or investment projects, but is a result of poor management, said a report published in El Comercio daily.

According to the daily, SEDAPAL, the state-run water company that has proposed to dump raw sewage from 24 of Lima's districts in Callao's ocean, has not managed their funds appropriately.

In the past decade, SEDAPAL has spent 580 million soles on two water treatment projects that have been left incomplete. The fist is known as Mesías while the other is called Interceptor Norte.

Despite the money spent, 88 percent of the capital's wastewater is dumped into the ocean, reports El Comercio.

The Mesías project consists of one treatment plant that is working at 50 percent its capacity, while the Interceptor Norte project was begun without knowing if there would be enough money to complete the second stage: the treatment plant.

The Interceptor project had been designed to treat 60 percent of Lima's wastewater. Unfortunately, it is not complete.

According to Javier Prado, a former member of the SUNASS board of directors, SEDAPAL spent money on the two projects and did not invest in improving the treatment plants that were already in operation.

It has been reported that in some parts of Callao, the level of lead, cadmium and iron is already registered over environmentally safe limits.

The National Fishing Society has revealed that the level of lead is 31 percent over its limit.

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# jb says :
21 April, 2008 [ 17:10 ]

Privatize it.  Dump the cronies and cousins on the payroll.

# Really? says :
21 April, 2008 [ 19:02 ]

This is due to poor water management? "Ya Think?"

# Brian says :
22 April, 2008 [ 06:42 ]

I am shocked that SEDAPOL would even be allowed to discharge untreated waste into the ocean. This used to be a common practice in the US in communities along the coasts many years ago, although the discharge occured thru a pipe 5+ miles away from the shore. I design and construct wastewater treatment systems for a living, and 580 million soles could have provided Lima with a decent, workable treatment system. Of course, how much of that money went into someones pocket, is anyones guess.  Anytime one drop of untreated sewage hits the Pacific Ocean in Los Angeles, the media is all over it and the City is getting fined or taken to court and forced to fix the problem.
Will it take a viral outbreak in Callao to force something to be done?Maybe this is why I get sick every time we go to visit my in-laws in Lima?

# CapitanDan says :
22 April, 2008 [ 15:12 ]

I agree Brian. When I fuel my boat in the states. Lord help me If one drop of Diesel finds it way into the water. Also if you dump any sewage. The Coast Guard will be all over you like the Vultures on a road kill. So now we know the air is bad and the fish have a high lead contact. Soon all these fish we are trying to export will be banned from foreign markets. Maybe the Minister who was saying we could export more fish didn't smell the water lately. Or could it be he had his head up someones Behind.

# Carlos says :
24 June, 2008 [ 02:17 ]

Its so easy for ignorant wealthy Westeners to criticise Peru.
Peru is not USA nor does it have its wealth.

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# carlos says :
26 June, 2008 [ 11:46 ]

The sewage crisis Lima is undergoing is not due to a lack of funds or investment projects, but is a result of poor management, said a report published in El Comercio daily.


This I think is a lie. Peru has a massive financial problem.
Tax Rich Westeners who live in Peru to solve poverty problems.
Peru should charge all visitors & Foriegners three times the price on everything as a way to set up welfare & social assistance programme to help the poor People with housing, food & education. 
And charge all foreigners twice the rate on Gasoline.
 Its about time Peru as a Country learns how to stick up for itself. And if People dont like Peru or the Peruvian lifestyle get out of Peru its that simple.