Aqualogy submits environmental impact study for new desalination plant in Chile

Spanish water and wastewater company Agbar’s global technology and solutions division Aqualogy has submitted an environmental impact study (EIS) to build a new desalination plant in Chile.

The company will invest $200m into building the new plant in Copiapó in the northern region of Atacama.

Copiapó has witnessed severe water shortages after an overuse of water resources in the region, a consequence of granted water rights exceeding the natural recharge capacity of the local aquifers.

The local water utility Aguas Chañar and the government are also planning other measures to address the region’s water shortage problems, including construction of new wells, new treatment plants and other investments.

The existing infrastructure of Aguas Chañar can be utilised for the first stage of the plant’s construction. Extra infrastructure will be required during a second phase of plant construction.

Aqualogy has plans to build two elevation plants and an accumulation tank as part of the project.

The new plant will have a useful life of 25 years, which could be extended through new technology, according to the EIS.

If the project is approved by the region’s environmental evaluation service, work on the new plant is expected to begin in March 2015 and take 18 months to be completed.

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Image: Aqualogy’s new desalination plant in Chile’s Copiapó region is expected to address severe water problem in the region. Photo: courtesy of Walter J Pilsak.