‘Biggest’ treatment plant to rescue 2 rivers at a cost of 55M euros

Santo Domingo.- The cleanup of some 80 dry creek beds and theconstruction of 13 sewage treatment systems in Greater Santo Domingo forms partof the project to recover the Ozama and Isabela rivers, declared a national priorityby a president Danilo Medina executive order.

The facility being currently built at a cost of 55 millioneuros for the two rivers is the country’s largest wastewater treatment plant, alsocalled La Zurza, and spans the watershed around Santo Domingo North.

The government said it will be operating within 24 months.

The project, part of the Sewerage Master Plan of the SantoDomingo aqueduct utility (CAASD) will treat runoff from neighborhoods of the northernNational District, and Santo Domingo Norte.

The plant will also recycle the water now spilled by 54industries into the Isabela river.

CAASD senior official Luis Baez said the plant will treat1.2 cubic meters of wastewater per second from 450,000 inhabitants in barriosand slums of the National District, Santo Domingo Norte and of the Villa Mella subdivision.