| Work Detail |
The Las Heras commune explained that the work that will bring drinking water to 64,000 Mendoza residents living in El Challao is included in the 2025 Budget
The ups and downs of the economy and the closure of public financing entities have raised doubts on more than one occasion as to whether the works promised by the Nation will be carried out. This is the case of the Pedemonte Norte aqueduct to supply drinking water to 64,000 residents of Mendoza who live in El Challao.
However, sources from the Municipality of Las Heras assured that the work will continue and will be completed in 2025.
This mega-project, which costs approximately $13 billion, would receive financing from Enohsa, but the National Entity for Water Works and Sanitation no longer exists. President Javier Milei closed it through decree 1020/24. This could complicate its implementation since all the documentation had been submitted to that agency and the execution agreements were also signed there.
The people of Las Heras have taken for granted the development of the project, which is already underway. The works have already started at the beginning of September and the Nation has committed the funds, although the municipality has not yet received them.
In any case, the work is included in Las Heras 2025 budget.
What stage of construction is the El Challao aqueduct in?
According to information provided by the municipality of Las Heras, the work that began in September has continued with the expansion of the Alto Godoy plant, located in the General San Martín Park.
It is, therefore, in its first stage. What has been done so far is the movement of soil to expand the capacity of the plant. After this stage is concluded, progress will be made in laying networks that cover lands that are owned by different owners: some belong to the City of Mendoza, others to the IPV, AYSAM and UNCuyo.
However, when consulted by this newspaper in September, the mayor of Las Heras, Francisco Lo Presti, assured that they were working in collaboration with all these entities.
This is the area of ??the Mendoza foothills that will be supplied with drinking water with the construction of the Pedemonte Norte aqueduct.
This is the area of ??the Mendoza foothills that will be supplied with drinking water with the construction of the Pedemonte Norte aqueduct.
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Which national entity will provide the funds
? Regarding which entity will be in charge of the works of the former Enosha, the Minister of Economy, Luis Caputo, clarified through his X profile that the works will be financed by the Undersecretariat of Water Resources and this was confirmed by sources from the Municipality of Las Heras.
The municipality stated that the commitment of the Nation with Las Heras is still in place, the documentation presented to the former Enohsa is valid, but to date, the Nation has only paid the proportional advance and has not yet received the funds for the 5 certificates that have already been sent.
However, the municipality has no doubt that the funds will arrive.
The project is one of those planned to be inaugurated in the first half of 2025, but all these complications could delay its completion.
The works on the Pedemonte Norte aqueduct have already begun and, according to the Las Heras municipality, they will not stop.
The works on the Pedemonte Norte aqueduct have already begun and, according to the Las Heras municipality, they will not stop.
Details of the work to bring water to El Challao
The Pedemonte Norte aqueduct project is made up of three pumping stations that raise the water to reach the highest point of the system, called the Challao Reserve, with a capacity of 1,500 cubic meters. This is due to the characteristics of the foothills.
The three remaining reservoirs will be located, one at the Alto Godoy water treatment plant, which will have a capacity of 550 m3, then another one will be built at the Marista Reserve with a capacity of 1,500 m3 and finally the reserve called Rotonda de la Iglesia del Challao with a capacity of 3,500 m3. The total capacity of the reserve to be built is 6,550 m3.
The Alto Godoy water treatment plant will provide an average of 27,744,000 liters of water per day, and 39,271,000 liters of water at its maximum capacity, to provide the system with the resources necessary for its operation.
The project was designed to supply water to 64,000 people and covers a total of 1,416 hectares. |
