Representatives from Mexico’s water and sanitation sector visited Kemira to share views on the development of their industry.
In September, a delegation representing the interests of the water treatment industry in Mexico visited the Kemira offices in Helsinki. The visit provided an opportunity for the company to strengthen cooperation with state and municipal officials and to showcase its wastewater treatment solutions.
Currently, Mexico is in the midst of expanding its wastewater treatment capacity. In July 2007, Mexican President Felipe Calderón committed his government to an ambitious plan to raise investment levels in key infrastructure areas. The National Association of Water and Sanitation Utilities of Mexico ANEAS is committed to the Government initiative and has developed additional strategies to support the water sector. ANEAS is in charge of water and sanitation services to more than 80 million Mexican inhabitants.
Pictured: Emiliano Rodríguez, director general of the Drinking Water and Sewerage Systems of the city of León (SAPAL), Tuomas Rinne, managing director of Kemira de México, and Oscar Hernández, director of the Water Authority of the State of Mexico (CAEM).
A new legislation
Nowadays, ANEAS is promoting a new water and sanitation law. This new piece of legislation will determine a framework that will promote the establishment and preservation of financial, human and institutional capacities of water utilities.
On the other hand, this law will also establish a regulatory framework that enables a clear allocation of responsibilities and processes to determine both the objectives for the water utilities and the resources that will be made available to achieve these objectives.
“Today, about 40 percent of wastewater is collected into treatment plants in Mexico, although only about 15 to 17 percent of it is properly treated,” said Roberto Olivares, Director General of the National Association of Water and Sanitation Utilities (ANEAS).
While Olivares points out that the water sector is in need of an additional 800 billion pesos (48 billion euros) in investment funds, there have been clear successes in some states and municipalities.
“In the city of León, we have today almost 100 percent wastewater coverage,” noted Emiliano Rodríguez, Director General of the Drinking Water and Sewerage Systems of the city of León (SAPAL). “It is in the rural areas where our biggest challenges lie.”
Mexico's ambassador to Finland, Agustín Gutiérrez Canet, Kemira's CFO Jyrki Mäki-Kala, director general of the National Association of Water and Sanitation Utilities (ANEAS) Roberto Olivares, director general of the Drinking Water and Sewerage Systems of the city of León (SAPAL) Emiliano Rodríguez, director of the Water Authority of the State of Mexico (CAEM) Oscar Hernández and Tuomas Rinne, managing director of Kemira de México, at a roundtable discussion.
Water for irrigation needs
An important objective of the visit was to exchange ideas on how biological and chemical applications could further enhance mechanical processes in wastewater treatment. Oscar Hernández, Director of the Water Authority of the State of Mexico (CAEM), drew an important link to wastewater treatment and agriculture.
“Besides the Atotonilco wastewater treatment mega-project now underway in the Tula Valley near Mexico City, other treatment plants in the area may need to chemically treat wastewater in order for us to provide sufficient water for irrigation needs.”
The delegation also noted Kemira’s active role in Mexico’s water treatment industry. Today, Kemira is the largest supplier of water treatment chemicals there.
“Kemira is an important player in the water treatment industry here as a supplier of flocculants and coagulants,” Roberto Olivares said.
“This visit was important because it gave us an opportunity to exchange experiences and deepen business relationships.”
Mexico's ambassador to Finland, Agustín Gutiérrez Canet, attended a luncheon held in honor of Kemira's visitors from Mexico. On the background is Kemira's CFO Jyrki Mäki-Kala.
Text Michael Larkin
Photos Rami Lappalainen