Nov '22 Project Status Update: Approval Progress and Cost Estimates

Throughout the month of November, Vera Aqua Vera Vita has continued working with the Piura Regional Government (GRP) and various other governing bodies to secure final approval and construction cost estimates for Las Mercedes KM11’s clean water solution. The Planning and Engineering team - lead by Executive Director Jacob Niemeier and Peru Projects and Programs Director Ricardo Arbulu Guerra - have been working directly with these governing bodies to expedite our final approval. 

This month, the team was excited to receive from the Piura Regional Government (GRP) the first draft of the final opinion for probable construction cost (OPCC) for the entire project ! Our team is continuing to work with the GRP next month to revise and finalize the OPCC based on our specific knowledge of the project. To help with this effort, VAVV was able to submit revision 3 of the Construction Drawings on Nov 23.

Our team also received quotes for an Environmental Impact Report which will be necessary to get approval from the Ministry of Transportation (MTC) for our crossing under the Pan-American highway. We’ve identified the best option for our needs, and are now working with the engineer to finalize the project’s price. We also continued the preparation of the Right of Way (ROW) application to the MTC, which will give us approval to run our proposed water pipeline underneath the Highway. 

Our team was relieved when, at the end of November, they had addressed every one of the local water authority’s (ALA’s) 20 observations and were able to resubmit the revised Water Rights request (TUPA 13)! It’s important for us to work with the ALA to ensure that VAVV has the legal authority to use enough water to provide for the entire community of Las Mercedes KM11. After receiving results from the field hydraulic measurements, as well as information about local water demands, we were able to send the revised version with confidence.

Early next month, the team hopes that they will be able to solidify the most accurate cost estimate for construction with the GRP so that we can use those numbers to begin efforts to secure capital funding for the project! We also hope that we’ll receive approval for our TUPA 13 Water Rights request so we can submit the next step, TUPA 14. Lastly, we hope to receive approval from the Ministry of Transportation to pass the pipeline underneath the Pan-American Highway. 

Our team is reminded, through their tireless efforts, that this time of Advent is a time of patient waiting. Pray that through patience and perseverance, our team is able to bring clean water to Las Mercedes KM11 as fast as possible!

Over in Monte Castillo, the two volunteers on the ground in that community have gathered 38% of the data needed for the Post-Project Impact Survey. We are looking forward to sharing this data with the whole VAVV family to close out a year of great progress by communicating the true impact of Monte Castillo’s three years of clean water!