Aguascalientes - Mexico Water and wastewater service

Before the charge to a public-private partnership, the city had to address several issues, the city had to address several issues. For example, a centralized organization: service agents concentrated within two sites, with clients having to go to the head office to pay their bills. The network was dilapidated as well, with high levels of water losses and insulated supply systems that did not allow for access to water services in every district.

• Improving the upkeep and maintenance policy for drinking water and wastewater service;
• Increasing service coverage in the city;
• Improving customer service by focusing on local presence;
• Developing a water culture to encourage better management of the resource.

An efficient water service

• Operational territory divided into five operating sectors responsible for producing and distributing water and collecting wastewater. This setup helped to optimize water production, divided among 181 drilled wells throughout the city.
• Modernized tools: the network was digitalized, a geographical information system implemented and an automatic flow aintenance plan established.
• Access to water expanded: the proportion of users receiving service 24 hours a day increased from 40% in 1989 to more than 85% in 2007.

Closer proximity with customers

• Customer management decentralized: 10 local agencies have been created since the start of the contract. They allow subscribers to take out a subscription, pay their bill and request information about water quality.

A water savings policy

• Macro metering on the network was rolled out on a broad scale and meters were installed or replaced. 94% of subscribers now have meters.
• Operations to seek out and reduce leakage were launched and new network maintenance and replacement/rehabilitation techniques introduced (video surveillance on wells and identification of leaks). Leakage was reduced by nearly 50%.

New economic performance

• Operating costs were reduced by 20% during the first two years of the contract.
• Quality of service for consumers was improved: no more waiting lines at the central office, and a 96% collection rate for bills.

Martin Orozco Sandoval, Mayor of Aguascalientes

"In our Municipality, we have excellent coverage rates, both for drinking water and wastewater.We have achieved very good results in supplying water 24 hours a day to areas that had no access to water. The coverage rate in the Municipality is one of the highest in the country; currently 98% of the population has access to drinking water and 97% to wastewater service."