Jumapa, the water distribution company of the city of Celaya, in Guanajuato, Mexico, used to have a problem: they could only pump water from four in the morning to six in the afternoon. Now, more than 11,200 inhabitants of one of the city’s sectors have access to water almost around the clock. How did they do it? Keep on reading.
The utility has been through a process of modernization, supported by a World Bank project. It has a new regulation tank that allows it to control the amount of water pumped into the system to one of its sectors according to the average usage at that time.
Late night, for example, less water is administered, according to Jumapa.
This allows the utility not only to eliminate unnecessary pressure on the pipes, but also to offer longer services. Before, the system had to be shut down during the night, because the amount of water pumped would be the same as during the day, hence representing a waste of energy and too much pressure on the pipes.
The construction of the regulation tank was accompanied by an optimization of the network to facilitate the detection of losses, and the installation or replacement of about 14,000 micro water meters that allow the company to better measure how much water is consumed where and when and allow the clients to better control their own consumption.
Similar actions have been undertaken in other sectors of Celaya, benefiting more than 50,000 additional people. Also, new projects are being considered in other areas of the city.