The imminent operation of a new water treatment plant is expected to reduce contamination in the Isabela or Ozama river, according to the head of the Santo Domingo Water and Sewer Corporation (CAASD), Alejandro Montas.
The water treatment plant is based in North Santo Domingo, near Villa Mella in La Zurza, and can process some 27,000,000 gallons of sewage per day. Many barrios of the north part of the National District and in North Santo Domingo release untreated wastewater into the two rivers. There are also some 254 companies that are operating in the river area who need to connect to the processing plant.
Montás added that the facility will be inaugurated in August or September 2019. He also said that most of the major construction work has been completed and workers are now installing the 50hp pumps, the filters and digging the tunnels needed to connect with the sewers.
The CAASD says that a few companies whose waste contains chemicals need to be tackled differently. Furthermore, the CAASD says it is working on cleaning up 17 streams and creeks that also feed into the rivers.
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El Nacional
3 June 2019