El Carrizal Aqueduct Restored: Water Supply Normalization Underway in La Paz

Successful Repairs Amidst Adverse Weather Conditions

The director general of OOMSAPAS La Paz, Abimael Ibarra Abúndez, announced that the repairs on the El Carrizal Aqueduct have been completed successfully. This restoration comes after significant damage caused by heavy rains and increased runoff in the area. To ensure the aqueduct's functionality, two sections of 18-inch diameter pipes, totaling 12 meters in length, were replaced.

"We have restored the flow and sufficient water volume; now the system will stabilize gradually as the scheduled water distribution progresses,"

stated Ibarra Abúndez.

The repair work faced challenges due to ongoing rainfall in the El Carrizal region, but the team managed to complete the necessary tasks by Friday, allowing the aqueduct to resume operations immediately. This restoration is critical for the water supply in the southern part of La Paz, which has been significantly affected by the recent weather conditions.

Impact of Recent Storms on Water Supply

The recent thunderstorms led to the temporary shutdown of eight wells, including those at El Carrizal and San Pedro, resulting in a reduction of approximately 20 to 25 million liters of water daily. This decrease represents about 20% of the total water entering the city's system. In response, OOMSAPAS La Paz implemented selective water distribution schedules to manage the available supply effectively and ensure that affected neighborhoods received adequate water.

Ibarra Abúndez elaborated on the situation, highlighting the areas most impacted by the reduced water flow.

"The decrease in flow primarily affected the area supplied through the San Ramón Tank, including neighborhoods such as Camino Real, Ayuntamiento, La Fuente, Valle del Mezquite, and surrounding sectors, where residents experienced low water pressure and, in some cases, complete water shortages."

Despite these challenges, he noted that by Saturday, 95% of the wells were back in operation, enabling the normalization of water distribution schedules.

Steps Toward Stabilization

As the aqueduct's operation is restored and water sources are replenished, OOMSAPAS La Paz is committed to improving the service gradually. Ibarra Abúndez emphasized that after several days of reduced water volume, it will take time to refill tanks, cisterns, and distribution networks. The organization will continue monitoring the situation closely until the system stabilizes fully.

"Recovering our water sources and the operation of the El Carrizal Aqueduct will allow the service to improve gradually with each distribution cycle,"

he concluded.

The residents of La Paz can expect a gradual return to normalcy in their water supply as OOMSAPAS La Paz works diligently to restore full service across the affected areas.