Have You Ever Worked on an Easy Wastewater Project?

I can’t speak for everyone, but in my over 40 years of working on wastewater projects, I’ve never encountered an easy or straightforward one. There are countless factors and circumstances that influence each project. From technical needs to community dynamics, there is an almost infinite number of variables at play. On the technical side, solutions are often site- and community-specific, making them unique to each situation.To add to the complexity, many wastewater projects we encounter are attempting to address outdated infrastructure and lingering issues.  

Alborada in Vega Baja, Puerto Rico has been struggling with its sewer system for the last 20 years. Initially, due to its remote location and limited options, the developer included an onsite wastewater management system for the project. Individual septic units were the original solution, but the area’s soil percolation rates were very low. This led to backflows, spills, and other related issues. After several unsuccessful attempts to fix these problems, the developer switched to a community collection system with a wastewater treatment plant that discharged to percolation fields. However, after a few years, the developer was out of the picture and the community was left to deal with the system. 

Understand the Issues 

Wastewater treatment is not just about flushing toilets. Even for an experienced professional, wastewater management can be a complex operation that requires planning and problem-solving. Now, imagine a community that lacks the technical capacity to manage such a system. Over the past 20 years, Alborada has gone through a series of trial-and-error solutions, resulting in false hopes and new problems. Unfortunately, the community has never received the formal assistance needed to address these issues. You might wonder how this happened—well, it’s not the first nor the last community to fall through the cracks. 

In the Caribbean, we’ve learned to live with natural disasters like hurricanes. However, the worst part comes after the storm has passed. Surviving without power, drinking water, and wastewater management becomes a reality under such conditions. Some people argue that it’s the price to pay for living in the tropics. While this may be true in the short term, wastewater problems are particularly difficult to bear, even if they only persist for a few weeks. Now, imagine the suffering when these issues persist for years or even decades, affecting public health, the environment, and the overall quality of life. Can you imagine enduring these conditions? 

Involve All Stakeholders to Help Form a Plan 

Taking the first step towards a solution should include all stakeholders. The first steps in addressing Alborada’s wastewater issues involved initial meetings with the community to improve organization and promote capacity development. During this process, the Municipality of Vega Baja also began assisting the community. The municipality funded an engineering preliminary assessment, which recommended connecting Alborada to the Puerto Rico Aqueduct and Sewer Authority (PRASA) collection system. The community also had an informal consultation with PRASA, who were receptive to the idea of a connection and even suggested a potential connection point. Although the assessment didn’t identify any other cost-effective solutions, connecting to PRASA, while straightforward in theory, would still require additional effort and funding. 

RCAP coordinated several meetings with the Puerto Rico Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) Manager, who provided guidance on the CWSRF program. Afterward, the Alborada community and the Municipality of Vega Baja agreed that the municipality would lead the CWSRF application process, with RCAP continuing to assist them along the way. Together, they worked on the initial application documents to include the project in the Puerto Rico Project Priority List. Several weeks later, the municipality was notified that the project had been included in the 2025 Project Priority List. While the project is moving in the right direction, it is still awaiting the completion of the final application documents and a presentation to an evaluation board. 

The Road Ahead 

Understanding the issues, involving all stakeholders, having an effective plan, and setting realistic expectations are crucial to ensuring that communities get on the right path. Though this wastewater project is only halfway toward a final solution, for the first time efforts to address long-standing problems are gaining momentum. The preliminary project schedule aims to complete the CWSRF application process in 2025. If approved, the next phase will involve 2 to 3 years of design and construction. In the meantime, the community is working on cost-effective upgrades to existing facilities that will improve wastewater treatment until the larger project is complete. For a technical assistance provider, it is just another complicated wastewater project; for the community, it’s a significant milestone on the road to improved public and environmental health and why we do this work.