Global Gateway: Local authorities together with European cooperation guarantee safe water for the rural area of Portoviejo

Global Gateway: Local authorities together with European cooperation guarantee safe water for the rural area of Portoviejo

The objective of this joint effort of local authorities and international cooperation is to ensure safe, sustainable and quality drinking water for rural parishes in the canton, through a joint effort of international cooperation, within the framework of the actions of the European Global Gateway initiative.

EU Ambassador to Ecuador Jekaterina Doródnova; the Mayor of Portoviejo, Javier Pincay; the Ambassador of Spain to Ecuador, Enrique Yturriaga; the Representative of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), Ignez Tristao; and the head of the Public Sector for Ecuador of the European Investment Bank (EIB), Álvaro Bernar participated in the start-up and start-up of tests of the Mancha Grande Drinking Water Treatment Plant (PTAP), in the parish of San Plácido de Portoviejo.

The objective of this joint effort of local authorities and international cooperation is to ensure safe, sustainable and quality drinking water for rural parishes in the canton, through a joint effort of international cooperation, within the framework of the actions of the European Global Gateway initiative.

The program has repayable financing from the IDB (USD 27.5 M), the EIB (USD 59.89 M) and AECID (USD 17 M) through the Spanish Fund for Sustainable Development (FEDES); as well as funds provided by the Municipality of Portoviejo. In addition, it is complemented by non-reimbursable resources from AECID through the Cooperation Fund for Water and Sanitation - FCAS (USD 3.89 M) and a donation from the European Union (USD 12 M) financed through the LACIF instrument and delegated to AECID for its management.

Jekaterina Doródnova, Ambassador of the European Union, said: "European cooperation supports decentralised cooperation for the territorial development and well-being of rural communities. This project demonstrates that when we pool resources, knowledge and political will, the results are truly transformative."

For his part, Javier Pincay, Mayor of Portoviejo, said: "The start of this stage represents a substantive step forward in reducing historical gaps in access to drinking water. This joint effort with international cooperation guarantees a sustainable service that will benefit more than 80 thousand people (25 thousand families), consolidating a management model oriented to the quality of life".

The PTAP will contribute to bringing European technology and sustainable solutions to the service of the population and will increase the coverage of drinking water in rural areas from 25% to 85%. The project also includes a 10-12 MW power substation key to its operation. After the start of testing and calibration of the systems, it is planned to progressively start the supply of drinking water during the first quarter of the year.

This infrastructure is a concrete expression of the Global Gateway initiative, through which the European Union promotes quality infrastructure, sustainable solutions and responsible financing. With projects like this, we seek to connect territories, strengthen essential services and build long-term resilience.