An environmental impact study (EIS) has been submitted for the construction of a 1,000 L/s (86,400 ³/d) seawater reverse-osmosis desalination plant in the coastal town of Chañaral, near the city of Caldera in Chile’s Region III.
The EIS for the Atacama Potable Water Plant, estimated to cost US$ 300 million, was carried out by Environment Aqualogy Chile SA for Chile Agbar Group SA, both subsidiaries of the Spanish supplier Aguas de Barcelona.
The project proposes two phases of 500 L/s each. The first phase will use existing infrastructure and buildings owned by Aguas Chañar.
The second implementation phase proposes the construction of a pipeline parallel to the existing one, with a capacity of 500 L/s, using a strip of Aguas Chañar easement, which runs from Caldera storage reservoir to the reservoir in the Piedra Colgada sector of Copiapo.
The desalination plant’s output will be used to supply drinking water to the towns of Caldera, Bahía Inglesa, Calderilla, Copiapó, Paipote, Tierra Amarilla and Chañaral, plus any future clients. The project will take 18 months to construct and its estimated life is 25 years.
The EIS is currently with the Servicio de Evaluación Ambiental for approval.