The Ministry of National Integration has released R$ 25 million for the works of the Agreste Aqueduct, located in Pernambuco. Executed by the state government, the project will expand the water supply of the São Francisco River Integration Project (PISF) in the state. The first phase of the work will benefit more than 1.3 million people in 23 municipalities in Pernambuco.
The start of the Agreste Aqueduct is located 256 kilometers from the state capital, in the city of Arcoverde (PE). The first phase is organized into five lots totaling 571 kilometers in length, including aqueducts, reservoirs, water treatment stations, among other engineering structures. Currently, this stage is 37% completed, with 68% of the pipes installed.
In addition to this section, the Agreste Aqueduct has three interconnections that will ensure water for 14 municipalities out of the 23 planned: to the Jatobá basin in Tupanatinga (PE) and in Ibimirim (PE), and to the Moxotó aqueduct. The Ibimirim (PE) stage has already guaranteed the supply of the municipality of Arcoverde (PE) since 2015.
Through the interconnection to the Moxotó Aqueduct, the water from the São Francisco Project will benefit the municipalities of Arcoverde, Pesqueira, Alagoinha, Sanharó, Belo Jardim, São Bento do Uma, and Tacaimbó. With the delivery of the East Axis of the PISF at the end of this year, the water from Velho Chico will flow through the channels in the first quarter of 2017 until it reaches these seven municipalities in Pernambuco.
The other interconnection of the Agreste Aqueduct in Tupanatinga (PE) will allow water supply in seven more municipalities: Iati, Águas Belas, Itaíba, Tupanatinga, Buíque, Pedra, and Venturosa. The forecast is to complete this section in December of this year.
The Agreste Aqueduct is considered a structural project for ensuring water supply in Pernambuco, as it will improve the quality of life of the population by distributing resources in a region that suffers from the greatest irregularity of rainfall in the state.
In total, the complete project of the Agreste Aqueduct will serve 68 cities and benefit more than two million inhabitants. The work will also be connected to the Agreste Branch of the São Francisco Project, which is currently in the bidding phase by the federal government.
Water guarantee for the Northeast
The two axes (North and East) of the São Francisco River Integration Project are 89.9% completed. When finished, the work will ensure regular supply for more than 12 million people in 390 cities in the states of Pernambuco, Ceará, Paraíba, and Rio Grande do Norte. The East Axis will be completed in December of this year, while the North Axis will be delivered in 2017.
Source: Portal Brasil