La Villa de Los Santos in Azuero is widely regarded as the cradle of Panamanian nationality and folklore. For decades, however, the town has faced a serious public health problem given its dependence on an obsolete sewer system, built in 1938. The town's urban development often even disregarded the original sewer's layout. Additionally, hundreds of thousands of gallons of sewage were spilled daily into the river dividing Herrera from Los Santos.
In 2002, the panamanian government, heeding the demands of the La Villa community, procures through tendering the design and environmental impact study for the new sewer. Samudio Arquitectos, through sister company CGC, becomes interested in the project and presents the winning entry. Together with the relevant government agencies and the local community, our team worked for over a year in the studies required to complete the design, which included reaching a consensus regarding the location for the treatment plants.
The final design today presents a modern sanitary sewer system which rightly recovers the quality of life of the people of La Villa, and thus the dignity of a town which is still a major cultural and historic treasure of Panama. |
