The Chilibre plant is the main source of potable water to Panama City and areas to the east of the Panama Canal. The treatment process utilises flocculation and sedimentation using settling tubes, and final polishing through sand and anthracite filters. The treated water will be distributed using two sets of 6 pumps each of 2000hp. The existing Chilibre WTP was constructed in the mid-seventies at a capacity of 321 Mld, Biwater then constructed the first extension of 170 Mld in 1992 raising the capacity to 474 Mld. When the new extension and refurbishment are complete, the present day capacity of 474 Mld to 948 Mld will be doubled.

The project involves constructing a new potable water treatment plant sized at 474 Mld output and once built and in service, the existing plant is to be taken out of service and remodelled to produce the same output of 474 Mld. The new plant will emulate the original plant in process type and will involve the construction of five baffle flocculators and five lamella tube sedimentation tanks and eighteen rapid gravity filters that utilise dual media. A new 23,000m³ clear water reservoir built on the site of the new plant will allow six 2000HP pumps to deliver potable water (at 473 million litres/day) to Panama City for consumption.

Once the new plant is in service, the existing plant will be remodelled and completely refurbished to make the process basins similar to the new plant with the same output. Six further 2000HP pumps on the remodelled plant will also have the ability to forward potable water to Panama City for consumption. Both plants will have a SCADA system for ease of operation and new chemical dosing, MCC’s and transformers will be provided. The existing intake will have the six existing pump spaces equipped with double the current size of pump that will remove water from Lake Alajuela, a tributary lake of the Panama Canal System.