Guatemala Water Treatment Regulation
Government of Guatemala created the Regulation for Discharges and Reuse of Wastewater and Disposal of Sludge, which seeks the implementation of water treatment in 340 municipalities. All communities are required to install treatment plants, including generating pre-feasibility and environmental impact studies. In 2017, there were 84 treatment plants in rural areas, representing 44% of the total in the country. By 2019, the number of plants installed in Guatemala had risen to 500, but another 1,500 are still needed to reach the figure mandated by the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources at an expected $750 million cost of construction.
The rapid expansion and economic development of Guatemala City metropolitan region led to the creation of the Mancomunidad Gran Ciudad del Sur, which is made up of the municipalities of Guatemala City, Amatitlán, Mixco, San Miguel Petapa, Santa Catarina Pinula, Villa Canales and Villa Nueva. Each share the Lake Amatitlán basin. Demand for water treatment is impacted by three million inhabitants and industry, which discharges wastewater into the rivers that flow into the Villalobos River, which then flows into Lake Amatitlán.
Seven municipal councils that make up the Mancomunidad Gran Ciudad del Sur have drawn up proposals for the formulation of a master plan for the collection and treatment of wastewater. This plan seeks to build a network of mega collectors of sewage generated by the population of this region. These waters would be diverted to treatment plants before being discharged into the Lake Amatitlán basin.
The project will be financed through an international development bank, with a guarantee by the Government of Guatemala and would help address the environmental challenge of more than three million people living in the Guatemala City metropolitan region. In addition, it would reduce contamination of Lake Amatitlán, the only freshwater reservoir in the region and a reservoir for the generation of electricity. The total investment required for the project is estimated at $137.5 million, with an implementation period of six years.
In Guatemala there is no local manufacturing of equipment for the purification or treatment of water. Local production is limited to pipes for the conduction of water and fluids, so all technologies found in the market are imported. Also, equipment for flow measurement or control and liquid counting equipment also are imported into Guatemala.
These public sector opportunities are published as tenders on the government procurement website, http://www.guatecompras.gt/. It is advisable to any foreign company interested in engaging into a commercial relationship with an official or governmental entity to be associated with a local market participant. Foreign companies can participate in any government procurement modality without a local business associate but must show that the company has provisionally registered with the Mercantile Registry. If the foreign company is awarded a public contract, it must demonstrate that it is properly registered to operate in the country through an authorized entity or subsidiary.
For additional information go to:
• http://www.infom.gob.gt/nuestros-servicios/plantas-de-tratamiento/
• ICEX España Exportación e Inversiones
For additional details on potential opportunities, please contact Libby Mota at libby.mota@trade.gov.