On 4th May 2007, Biwater International signed a new contract with Instituto Nacional de Aguas Potables y Alcantarillado (INAPA) for the turnkey design and construction of the extension works to San Francisco de Macoris, with finance supported by USEXIM bank.

The 27 month project is located in the Salcedo region of the Dominican Republic and includes upgrading the existing water supplies to a design horizon of 2030.

The first scheme to the west of San Francisco, will service a projected population of 180,657 and involves the refurbishment of the existing Cenovi (0.4 cumec) and Salcedo (0.2 cumec) water treatment plants.  Works include the provision of a new pumping facilities, new ductile iron mains and new storage tank facilities serving the communities of Villa Tapia, Salcedo, Tenares and the towns of Maguey, Las Uvas, Hospital, Cayetano Germosen and Cenovi. Project scope also includes the optimization and the replacement of the existing distribution networks to San Francisco de Macoris and Salcedo together with the connection to new zones within the respective cities.

This contract also provides two years operation and maintenance support to our client INAPA, in the operation of the Mata Larga water treatment plant and pump stations.

These new works will involve several group areas of Biwater; Biwater International in the design, specification and vendor enquiry, Biwater USA in the purchasing and expediting, finance coordination and finally Biwater Dominicana for all local activities and project control.

Over the next few months, a team will be mobilised to undertake the completion of the final scope in conjunction with INAPA engineers, to develop a final and detailed design for a contract start later this financial year.

This contract maintains and further strengthens Biwater’s presence in the Dominican Republic with other major schemes currently in development.