Centre of Studies and Experimentation in Public Works

The Centre of Studies and Experimentation in Public Works (CEDEX) is an autonomous body that depends organically on the Ministry of Public Works, and functionally on this ministry and on the Ministry of Ecological Transition and Demographic Challenge (MITECO). Its purpose is to provide highly specialised technical assistance in the field of civil engineering and the environment.

Among the centres that make up the CEDEX is the Centre for Hydrographic Studies, a benchmark institution for studies on water planning, water treatment technologies and hydraulic works, with a long tradition of work in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Since 2012, CEDEX has been collaborating with the Water Fund through different collaboration instruments. In 2020, it has been working within the framework of a commission from the Secretary of State for Cooperation signed in January of this year.

Activities

As a continuation of the activities supported in previous years, in 2020, CEDEX has provided technical assistance in a series of projects and actions, among which the following can be highlighted:

BOLIVIA
- Support to the revision of the latest versions of the National Wastewater Treatment Strategy.
- Collaboration in the preparation of a guide on the implementation of wastewater treatment systems in Bolivia, work on which was completed at the beginning of the year.
- Monitoring and diagnosis of the operation of the programme’s wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) in small communities. The preparation of the diagnostic reports of the San Carlos, Santa Fe and Los Negros WWTPs has been completed.
CUBA
- Support for the drafting of the Havana Sanitation Plan. At the beginning of the year, the outline of the basic content document for the drafting of the Havana Master Plan was drawn up.
- Analysis of the hydrodynamic operation of the rehabilitation design of the Casablanca Pumping Station, located in Havana. The technicians of the Hydraulics Laboratory of CEDEX have carried out the hydraulic analysis of the installation (caballerias, siphon and Casablanca water pumping station), studying the hydraulic problems of the pumping station, after the 2007 refurbishment, and possible solutions. To this end, a numerical modelling and hydrodynamic simulation of the current configuration of the Casablanca station has been carried out, in the different operating scenarios considered. Based on these results, work has been carried out on the design of a baffle screen to make the flow more uniform and avoid the cavitation problems that currently exist.
GUATEMALA
- Within the framework of the regional strategy being promoted by the Water Fund, support has been provided in the revision of Guatemala’s discharge regulations. The review was particularly complicated, both due to the complexity of the Guatemalan regulation and the large number of modifications it had undergone over the years. After it was analysed, a series of recommendations were made for its possible improvement.
PARAGUAY
- Support for sanitation activities in Asunción. As a continuation of the programmes in the country, we have collaborated in the technical review of treatment plant projects in Asunción. In particular, there has been collaboration on the review of the Lambaré WWTP project.
- On the other hand, there has also been collaboration on the creation of a training itinerary in Paraguay. Together with the Water Fund and the public water company of Seville, EMASESA, a training programme in water and sanitation has been designed. The itinerary is divided into three modules: sectoral policy and planning; supply; and sanitation. The latter two include both the design and the operation and maintenance of networks and treatment plants.
EL SALVADOR
- CEDEX has collaborated in technical cooperation with El Salvador to support the development of sectoral regulations. The Salvadorian institutions have prepared draft guidelines on wastewater reuse and on the disposal of sludge from treatment plants, which have been reviewed and a series of observations and suggestions for improvements in various aspects have been submitted. In addition, a review of the discharge regulations was requested, which began to be revised at the end of the year.

DEVELOPMENT OF GUIDELINES AND RECOMMENDATIONS

In addition to these specific works in different countries, CEDEX supports different regional works with the aim of systematising the knowledge generated with the monitoring of different projects during the last decade. This makes it possible to bring together regional experiences in the specific context and its experience in the field of sanitation and wastewater treatment in particular.

CEDEX has also collaborated in the work being carried out for the preparation of a series of guides and recommendations, including the “Guide for the planning of sanitation and wastewater treatment projects”, adapted to the Latin American context, and the recommendations for sectoral planning in wastewater treatment.

REGIONAL STRATEGY ON SECTORAL REGULATIONS

CEDEX has continued to collaborate with the Water Fund in promoting the regional strategy of supporting countries in the review and drafting of sectoral regulations, so that they are adapted to national contexts and to the technologies available to the countries and are not merely a transfer of other international regulations that are difficult to comply with.

During this year, as mentioned above, it has collaborated with the institutions of Guatemala in the review of its dumping regulations and with those of El Salvador in the review of its proposed regulations on reuse and sludge. In addition, it has collaborated with the Fund in the organisation of a workshop, which is expected to be held in 2021, and has continued with the preparation of the document for the review of regulations, which is also expected to be published in 2021

DATABASE OF WATER FUND FACILITIES

CEDEX has provided support in defining the contents of the database of treatment plants built under the Fund’s programmes, which is being prepared with the basic support of Tragsatec. A general review has been carried out, but in particular, collaboration has been provided on aspects related to the implementation and maintenance costs and the monitoring of the operation of the facilities in order to be able to monitor the sustainability of the technology and to be able to draw conclusions for the future.