Network Failures Caused the Water Crisis in Panama this Year According to the Director of Idaan

The director of the National Institute of Aqueducts and Sewers (IDAAN), Rutilio Villarreal pictured above, explained the reasons why communities in the Panama East and San Miguelito sectors currently remain without access to drinking water, following the completion of maintenance at the Federico Guardia Conte water treatment plant in Chilibre last Sunday, July 13.  Once this stage was completed, technical personnel began the network pressurization process. It was at this point that damage was detected on the Oriente line, which serves parts of San Miguelito, Tocumen, 24 de Diciembre, Don Bosco, Las Acacias, and Costa Sur.

Villarreal was appointed by President José Raúl Mulino to replace current director Juan Antonio Ducruet. During the interview period, Villarreal said they have a plan to eliminate contracts with water trucks. This will be done by addressing the issue of water networks, since as water networks are established to deliver water to communities supplied by water trucks, they will cease to operate. He explained that a $5 billion investment is needed to bring Idaan back to optimal operating levels, but it will be difficult to do so in five years.

The designated director stated that their short-term goal is to bring water to the people immediately.  Regarding the water service rate, he said it needs to be reviewed, since it hasn’t been evaluated since 1982, but to address the issue of rates, they first have to deliver water to the people.  “We’re moving forward with this plan to bring water to the people so we can later determine the true production costs, and then consider whether or not to increase rates,” Villarreal emphasized.  He clarified that the rate increase doesn’t necessarily mean an increase in funding, but rather can be a gradual process.