The government of El Nuevo Ecuador, through the Corporación Eléctrica del Ecuador (CELEC EP), has completed the third and final phase of a potable water system for the canton of El Pan in Azuay province. The project, managed by CELEC SUR, is intended to provide safe drinking water to thousands of families in both urban and rural areas.
This initiative was carried out under an agreement between CELEC EP – CELEC SUR and the municipal government of El Pan. The work began in 2018 and included three stages, all supported with funding from CELEC EP. With this last phase finished, the infrastructure for distributing potable water is now complete across neighborhoods such as Culebrillas, Turi Bajo, Huintul, and the town center, as well as rural communities including Tablahuayco, Ñuñurco, Zhalay, San Francisco, and Cuypamba.
The investment for this third stage totaled $1.1 million. Of that amount, CELEC EP contributed $739,488 while the municipal government provided $429,485.99 for studies, oversight, project management and technical or environmental components. Across all three phases since 2018, more than $2 million has been invested in bringing reliable water service to the region.
According to project information, over 3,000 residents will benefit immediately from the new system. It is designed to serve up to 4,000 people over the next 25 years as population grows. Authorities say this intervention improves public health conditions and supports local economic development by reducing disparities between urban and rural areas.
“This intervention represents an advance for cantonal development because it improves sanitary conditions and public health,” said officials from CELEC EP. “It strengthens local productive development and reduces gaps between urban and rural zones by ensuring access to potable water in sufficient quantity and quality.”
The effort forms part of broader actions promoted by CELEC EP in areas influenced by major hydroelectric projects like Paute Integral Complex. These actions are aligned with environmental management plans aimed at supporting sustainable community growth.
“With the completion of this project,” stated representatives from CELEC EP’s business unit CELEC SUR: “the Government of El Nuevo Ecuador reaffirms its commitment to continue promoting projects that contribute to population welfare and territorial development near strategic electricity generation sites.”
