• Achievements
ECAPAG is in charge of the protection of users’ rights (equity, transparency, and independency of the service provider) and controls how Interagua respect its commitments (sustainable management of services and tariffs, realization of new investments, etc). At the end of the first 5-year period, Interagua fulfilled all its operational commitments as set out in the initial plan.
Population covered with potable water services rose from 61% in 2001 (1,355,861 inhabitants) to 85% (2,186,778 inhabitants) in 2008, all equipped with a water meter.
The efficient management also led to a substantial reduction of the potable water tariff (24%) in 2007 (from 0.59 to 0.48 USD / m3) Furthermore, registered potable water consumption raised by 80% between 2001 and 2008 without increasing the volumes of raw water pumped from the Daule River.
The percentage of population that benefits from sewerage services rose from 45% (876,876 inhabitants) in 2001 to 63% (1,611,450 inhabitants) in 2008.
Interagua forecasts that 96% of the local population will be supplied with potable water services by 2011 and 81% with sewerage system.
Regarding the rainwater services, 171 new channels (123 km) have been built.
Two commercial agencies have been set up in Guayaquil, equipped with modern IT tools: call centre, public information point, and invoice payment facility.
• Impacts
Expand access to basic services to reach the “bottom of the pyramid”
To support low-income users, Interagua recently conducted socioeconomic analyses and deployed a specific programme (February 2009) with a series of tailor-made solutions, ranging from debt cancellation for the poorest households to payment facilitation measures.
The “Condominium Model”, designed in partnership with the World Bank, relies on the design and installation of affordable sanitation infrastructures. It covers technical aspects (smaller layout, lower excavation, lower costs…) and social aspects (participatory approach, definition of responsibilities…).
Empower the civil society and educate future generations
Interagua pays special attention to the involvement of local civil society groups, e.g. the Comité Cívico Único Comunitario de Bastión Popular COCUCBAP-T or FOPAX (Federation of organized popular organizations). Awareness programs aim at reinforcing citizens’ environmental education and building a common “water culture” focusing on women and students (100 schools, 5,000 children).
Interagua and UNESCO organize the “Around the World in 2009: Our planet, our future” event to increase environmental awareness (damages caused to biodiversity by human activities). Through environmental trainings, workshops, lectures, and a drawing competition, 20,000 children in all Latin America will outline tomorrow’s solutions to environmental challenges. The winner will be rewarded with a pedagogic visit to the Galapagos Islands at the occasion of the “Wold Day of Environment”.
