The Peruvian government began the second phase of the Comprehensive Drinking Water and Sewerage Project (PIAA) Juliaca with a symbolic pipe-laying ceremony on March 28. The event marked the start of construction that will provide improved basic services to 217 neighborhoods in the districts of Juliaca and San Miguel, located in the Puno region.
The initiative is significant because it aims to address longstanding issues with access to quality water and sanitation for more than 370,000 residents. After four decades without such infrastructure improvements, local officials say this project will have a direct impact on public health, safety, and development opportunities for families in these communities.
During the ceremony, attended by Peru’s president, cabinet members, and regional authorities, representatives from the Ministry of Housing said: “Señor presidente, usted ha asumido un compromiso con la región Puno y hoy lo estamos cumpliendo: después de cuatro meses, trabajando con los alcaldes para destrabar este proyecto, su palabra se hace realidad al iniciar la segunda etapa. Esta obra, la más grande en la historia del Perú, beneficiará a más de 370 mil hermanos de Juliaca y San Miguel. Tras cuatro décadas de espera, hoy usted lo está haciendo posible. Si uno lucha, todos luchan; si uno gana, todos ganan.”
Construction work will be carried out by Consorcio Juliaca—a partnership between Colombian firms Ingecol Sucursal de Perú and Lydco Ingeniera S.A.S.—with an investment exceeding S/125 million. The second phase includes installing over 25 thousand household water connections as well as new reservoirs and upgrades to existing systems. In addition to potable water infrastructure improvements such as pipelines totaling nearly 100 kilometers in length overall (primary and secondary networks), there will be over six thousand new sewer connections installed along with several kilometers of primary collectors.
In parallel activities during their visit to Puno region authorities signed an agreement known as Convenio 025 with local government entities including EMSA Puno municipal sanitation company. This separate project is funded through a loan agreement between Peru’s government and the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (BIRF), signed on March 20 at Government Palace for more than S/990 million—of which S/808 million are earmarked for this effort.
Plans under Convenio 025 include expanding drinking water treatment capacity through construction at Chimú III intake point plus upgrading treatment plants using automation technology; sewage system improvements involve building five pumping lines with associated chambers as well as replacing or adding thousands of household connections throughout urban areas.
Upon completion these combined efforts are expected to benefit more than half a million residents across Puno by providing modernized basic service infrastructure.
