San Antonio, Texas, March 29, 2001 — The North American Development Bank (NADB) will provide a $467,531 grant from its EPA-funded Border Environment Infrastructure Fund (BEIF) to the small rural district of El Sasabe, Sonora, located in the municipality of El Saric, Sonora, Mexico, approximately 75 miles south of Tucson, Arizona.
El Saric municipality is spearheading this project to provide El Sasabe residents with access to wastewater collection services. Presently, wastewater is discharged through the use of latrines, septic tanks and uncontrolled ground runoffs. More than 300 households will receive hook-ups as a result of this project.
Additional project elements include the installation of a system of sewer lines, a collector, and an influent sewer main. This effort will complement the municipality's comprehensive wastewater treatment project. Through the BEIF, the Bank will provide $452,531, or 50 percent of the total project cost, for construction assistance. Another $15,000 will be allocated for construction management assistance to hire a project management consultant to help ensure adequate implementation of the project.
The remaining financing for the project will be provided by a grant from the Comision Nacional del Agua (CNA), coupled with Mexican state and local funds. "El Sasabe is just one of many small communities along the border whose citizens live without wastewater services," said Raul Rodriguez, NADB's managing director. "We must collectively do what we can to continue to bring basic services to places like El Sasabe." Project construction is slated to begin in September, with completion scheduled 12 months thereafter.
The Border Environment Cooperation Commission (BECC) certified this project on March 27, 2001.
FACT SHEET
Project: Construction of a Wastewater Collection System Cost: $905,062 Sponsor: El Saric Municipality is the sponsor of the project. The co-sponsor is the Sonora State Department of Urban Infrastructure and Environment, Secretaria de Infraestructura Urbana y Ecologia del Gobierno del Estado de Sonora (SIUE).
Location: El Sasabe is a rural district located in the municipality of El Saric, in the northeast portion of the State of Sonora. It shares a border with Sasabe, Arizona and lies approximately 75 miles south of Tucson. El Sasabe also neighbors Nogales to the east, Tubutama to the south, Altar to the west and the municipality of Magdalena to the southeast.
Background: In El Sasabe, the entire community has access to potable water; however they do not receive wastewater collection services. Disposal of wastewater from houses is carried out through latrines, some septic tanks and uncontrolled ground runoffs.
Description: This project is part of the municipality's comprehensive wastewater treatment project. Specifically, it will consist of a system of sewer lines, a collector, influent sewer main and 310 household hook-ups. This effort will serve to complement the wastewater treatment facilities, which are currently under construction with grants from the State of Sonora. The treated wastewater will be used for agricultural purposes.
NADB Funding: Border Environment Infrastructure Fund (BEIF)
Grant Assistance: Construction Assistance: $452,531; accounts for 50 percent of the project cost Construction Management Assistance: $15,000
Institutional Development Cooperation Program (IDP): The Bank is working with the municipality of El Saric on developing a management information system.
Other Funding Sources: The remaining 50 percent of the project cost will be covered by the Comision Nacional del Agua (CNA) and other Mexican state and local funds.
Benefits: This project will provide sewer and sanitation services to the entire community of El Sasabe, Sonora. These actions will protect public health and the environment by eliminating potential human-health hazards and environmental contamination associated with the inadequate disposal of wastewater.
The project will also benefit Sasabe, Arizona, and the Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge.
