Corsan to seek WB funds for waterworks projects

Vitor Bertini, president of Brazil's Rio Grande do Sul state water utility Corsan, will travel to Washington DC in coming days to seek World Bank (WB) funds for waterworks projects, the state government reported. Bertini will seek advancement of a US$150mn loan package for a project to increase water supply in the Gravataí basin in light of the area's dry spell. Although emergency works have been carried out to guarantee supply, a more permanent infrastructure must be implemented, according to Bertini. "We cannot simply wait for the next dry spell," he said. A second project calls for carrying out a feasibility study on plans to implement a type of waterworks franchise, which would serve close to 150 small municipalities whose systems are not operated by Corsan. The idea is make the utility's technology available to these municipalities. Corsan will seek US$500,000 to carry out the study for the US$40mn project. Further, the utility will present the WB a proposal to continue the first phase of the Pró-Guaíba environmental management program that concludes this July. The continuation would involve some US$70mn. The program entails expanding coverage of sewerage systems and treatment plants; implementing a soil management program; reforestation; pollution control, including liquid and gas emissions; and managing residential and industrial solid waste. A second phase for Pró-Guaíba carries an estimated price tag of US$178mn. Corsan provides drinking water and sewerage service to more than 6 million residents (two-thirds of the state's population) in 342 municipalities.