Water & Waste: The week in 10 stories

BRAZIL

São Paulo state water utility Sabesp accepted a US$300mn loan from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) to finance the fourth phase of its program to clean up the Tietê river.

China Gezhouba Group Corporation (CGGC) agreed to acquire the São Lourenço water system, which recently opened to expand supply in São Paulo state.

The federal government released 217mn reais (US$58mn) for infrastructure projects in Natal, capital of northeastern Rio Grande do Norte state.

CHILE

The senate's agriculture committee approved the creation of a legislative working group to accelerate discussion about the upcoming amendments of a water reform bill.

A project to install a US$500mn desalination plant in the northern Atacama region is gaining traction and construction could begin in the first quarter of next year.

COLOMBIA

The attorney general opened a disciplinary investigation into the presidents of state-owned oil firm Ecopetrol and hydrocarbons agency ANH over an oil spill in Barrancabermeja.

HONDURAS

Representatives of German development bank KfW signed an agreement with local and national authorities to fund a climate change adaptation initiative in Tegucigalpa.

MEXICO

Construction works on the Guaymas-Empalme desalination plant in the northern state of Sonora are expected to begin in July or August.

GACM awarded the contract to build a storm water drainage tunnel for the future Mexico City international airport.

PANAMA

The housing ministry has received four bids for a contract related to the construction of a marine outfall system for Colón, a port city on the Pacific coast.