2005 - 2006 - Pinsent Masons Water Yearbook 2012

[4] Argentina: Serving the Salta Province through a local company
26
PART 1: 2005-2006 OVERVIEW
Latin Aguas was founded in 1990 and in 1991 it became the first company to gain a water
concession in Argentina. Latin Aguas is owned by the Chamas family, who specialise in
construction work in north east Argentina. The company is the largest privately held Latin
American water company and three concessions serving 1.7 million people have been gained to
date.
Aguas de Salta
The 30 year concession for water and wastewater services for the General Administration of
Water of Salta (AGAS) in Salta province was awarded to Latin Aguas’s Aguas de Salta in 1998.
The concession covers 100 municipalities, with 36% of the population originally having
inadequate water and wastewater service coverage. The concession set tariffs according to the
costs of providing service, and has sought to promote universal access through direct subsidies
from the provincial government where needed. Restrictions on water supply to 160,000 people
have been removed to date along with a capital investment of US$ 32.7 million. Customer
numbers have been increased by 31%, through enlarging service coverage improved tariff
collection. Revenues collected rose from 22.8 million Pesos in 1998 to 47.7 million Pesos in
2003, with the bill collection rate rising from 68% to 92.1%. The number of water connections
rose from 171,405 in July 1998 to 239,336 by December 2003, or an increase from 67% of the
population to 97%. Sewerage coverage rose from 54% to 71% during the same period.
Between 1998 and 2002, the percentage of water samples meeting physical, chemical, and
bacterial standards rose from 75% to 99%, with service interruptions falling from affecting 32%
of the population to 8%. Water provision rose from 130 million m³ pa in 1998 to 165 million m³
pa in 2002.
In 2004, a US$44 million, 5 year investment plan was agreed with the regulator in return for a
Peso 48 (US$15.6) pa increase in water bills for all but the poorest 20% of its customers. Since
1998, the number of people served rose by 289,248 to 1,017,179, with the near universal water
service resulting in an emphasis on connecting the poorer areas.
Sources:
Latin Aguas web site (www.latinaguas.com) accessed 27th July 2005
Salatiel, Gustavo (2003) La Participacion Del Sector Privado En Los Servicios De Agua Y Saneamiento En La Provincia
De Salta En Argentina. In Banco Interamericano de Desarrollo, Departamento de Desarrollo Sostenible. Washington,
DC, USA
Pinsent Masons Water Yearbook 2005-2006