The Gamboa drinking water treatment plant, built by Tedagua, visited by Panama President Juan Carlos Varela

Gamboa's "José 'Pepe' Fierro" drinking water treatment plant, one of the largest water treatment facilities commissioned by the Instituto de Acueductos y Alcantarillados Nacionales (IDAAN) of Panama, was visited by the President of the Republic, Juan Carlos Varela.

The works have already allocated 41% of the 239 million dollar total budget and are expected to be completed by July, 2020. The President showed great interest in knowing the current state of the project, which employs over 300 workers and will bolster the water supply 24 hours a day for a population of over 235,000 residents of Panama City.

TEDAGUA, which is currently responsible for the performance of 100% of the contract as a consequence of its consortium partner (Consorcio Agua para Gamboa) going bankrupt, performs the design, construction and commissioning and exploitation of the facilities for a period of three years.

The project includes an intake facility located on the Chagres river, where a pumping station will be built that will lift the water toward the drinking water treatment plant via an 11-kilometer 1,800 mm (72") conveyance pipeline made out of ductile cast iron. The plant will have a capacity of 227,100 m3/day (60 MGD) with the possibility of being expanded up to 302,800 m3/day (80 MGD) and will connect to the existing water network of Panama City by means of a 19km pipeline with similar characteristics as those of the conveyance pipeline.