In Guatemala, Dutch Clean Tech will build a water treatment plant to purify 150,000 to 170,000 m3 of sewage water daily. This sewage comes from Guatemala City and currently flows untreated into the Rio Las Vacas. This is causing major problems, including massive pollution and water scarcity. The Guatemalan Ministry of Environment and the municipalities of Guatemala City and Chinautla have asked Dutch Clean Tech to provide a design for the plant. This is obviously good news for Dutch Clean Tech, as confidence among stakeholders in Guatemala leads to concrete steps. But, residents of Chinautla have the prospect of good, clean water!

Along the village of Chinautla, not far from Guatemala City, flows the Rio (river) Las Vacas. It is a seriously polluted stream with lots of untreated sewage, plastic, and other waste. Not only the villagers of Chinautla are affected by the pollution. The Rio Las Vacas empties into the Rio Montagua, which in turn flows into the Gulf of Honduras. This makes polluted water the problem of millions of citizens in this country, as the water is unfit to be used for irrigation, let alone to make drinking water. In addition, marine life has all but disappeared.

The Guatemalan government is eager to do something about this. The Ministry of Environment, with the full agreement of Chinautla and Guatemala City, has asked Dutch Clean Tech to participate in this project, contributing technical knowledge, expertise, and money.

Wastewater of millions

Dutch Clean Tech will design an installation for 150,000 to 170,000 m3/day of wastewater, which will be treated before flowing into the river. That is equivalent to the wastewater of 1 to 1.13million people and involves an investment of some €100 million. The plant is scheduled to be commissioned in 2025. Its completion will have a major positive impact on nature and people.

Once clean water is discharged into the river, the restoration of the natural water balance will start. In time, flora and fauna will return and people will again be able to use the river as a source for drinking water production, for agricultural purposes, and for recreation.

Small footprint

Now that the project is really getting off the ground, things are moving fast. The land on which the plant is to be built has already been allocated. It involves more than 20 hectares. That is too much for Dutch Clean Tech’s installation, which is characterized by a small footprint. DCT will eventually make suitable proposals to build a biogas plant on the land, perhaps with solar panels and small, efficient wind turbines to make the plant energy-neutral.

dutch clean tech rio-las vacas

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