Servicios de Abastecimiento y Saneamiento - La Tribuna del Agua

SERVICIOS DE ABASTECIMIENTO Y SANEAMIENTO
TRANSFORMATION IN THE PROVISION
OF AQUEDUCT AND SEWER SYSTEM
SERVICES IN CARTAGENA DE INDIAS
Gustavo Robledo and John Montoya Cañas
ABSTRACT:
In June 1995, the Aguas de Cartagena Company
(with 50% participation on the part of the
District) took control of the provision of aqueduct
and sewer system services in the city of Cartagena
de Indias in conjunction with its Operating partner
– the AGUAS DE BARCELONA Company.
Upon beginning operations, the infrastructure
and its service were going through a major crisis –
with a deficit of 60,000 m 3 /day and losses within
the network of around 65% – as they were over
30 years old and 30% of it was unusable. Investment
was minimal and income was not covering
expenses. The commercial management was deficient,
there was little information, minimal measurement,
few controls and the collections came
to only 45%.
In just a few years, an improvement in the
quantity, quality and continuity of the services
was achieved: within just a short time high
standards had been reached thanks to having an
adequate legal framework, great support from the
District and from Aguas de Barcelona – a specialised
and experienced operating partner – who
provided quick technology transfer.
Coverage by aqueduct went from 73.1% to
99.9% with a continuity of 100% and that of
the sewer system went from 60.6% to 81.9% –
to the benefit of nearly 500,000 users, most of
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them lower class. In order to achieve these levels
of coverage, it was necessary to develop major
investments, increasing production capacity from
165,000 m 3 to 270,000 m 3 ; enlarging the distribution
network from 789 km to 1,528 km; and extending
the sewer system from 541 km to a total
of 978 km.
Micromeasurement reached 99% – with a reading
that is 100% trustworthy. The waiting time
for customer service has fallen from 45 minutes to
12 and there is the possibility to pay through the
whole banking network, supermarkets and from
other spots. This has meant a collection efficiency
of 95%. At the same time, losses in the networks
have dropped from 65% to 40%.
The above mentioned achievements are thanks
to the joint effort between the private and public
sectors which has allowed an investment plan in
the region of $240 million (US) to be undertaken –
with the country as guarantor and the support of
the BID and the World Bank. The company took
on 35% of the investment through taxes and the
District assigned its investment capacity through
commitments taken on.
After 12 years of management, we can confidently
state that the model in Cartagena de Indias
has been a success.