The event was presided over by the Chihuahua Governor, Maria Eugenia Campos, along with Mario Mata, General Manager of Junta Central de Agua y Saneamiento de Chihuahua, John Beckham, NADBank managing director, and Sergio Nevárez, General Manager of JMAS Juárez.
With a total investment of US$26.9 million, the full project is being financed through a combination of sources: a US$11.5 million grant provided through NADBank's Border Environment Infrastructure Fund (BEIF)—funded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and administered by the Bank—, a US$4.5 million loan, which was used by JMAS to carry out the initial construction, and the remaining US$10.9 million will be covered by local matching funds from Mexican sources.
NADBank has disbursed approximately US$8.27 million of the BEIF grant to cover the entire length of the 60-inch HDPE pipe needed for the rehabilitation of the Norzagaray collector. To date, approximately 2,858 meters (9,377 feet) of the pipe has been installed, representing over 50% of its rehabilitation. NADBAnk is also funding the construction management contract.
This critical project will benefit more than 240,000 residents by improving wastewater management, reducing the risk of environmental contamination, and enhancing public health in Ciudad Juárez.
“This project is an excellent example of how cross-border collaboration, strategic infrastructure investment, and a combined financial solution generate lasting improvements in public health and environmental quality,” said John Beckham, CEO of NADBank. “Together with our partners, Chihuahua Governor Maru Campos, JMAS, and EPA, we are proud to support Juárez in its efforts to rehabilitate its wastewater treatment system, which positively impacts the well-being of its residents.”
The four sewer mains, originally built more than 40 years ago with reinforced concrete pipes, have reached their useful life and are no longer adequate for current service needs. The overall project involves the replacement of approximately 18,540 meters (60,827 feet) of the four deteriorated sewer mains in the northern service area of Ciudad Juárez. It also includes the construction of sedimentation boxes designed to prevent the accumulation of trash and debris, which has historically led to system blockages and overflows.
The start date for the rehabilitation of the three remaining sewer mains: Las Viboras, El Mimbre, and Nadadores has yet to be determined.
These improvements are expected to significantly reduce the risk of waterborne disease and protect surface and groundwater resources by preventing leaks and failures in the system. Once fully completed, the rehabilitated sewer mains are expected to prevent the discharge of up to 1,000 liters per second (22.8 million gallons per day) of untreated or inadequately treated wastewater into the Rio Grande River.
Media Contact:
Jesse Hereford
(210) 231-8000
jhereford@nadb.org
###
NADBank is a financial institution established and capitalized in equal parts by the United States and Mexico for the purpose of financing environmental infrastructure projects along their common border. As a pioneer institution in its field, the Bank is working to develop environmentally and financially sustainable projects with broad community support in a framework of close cooperation and coordination between Mexico and the United States. For more information about NADBank, visit www.nadb.org.