NEWA2

The initial situation

Water resources are being overexploited in many Peruvian cities. The main causes are rapid population growth, the impacts of climate change, and inadequate infrastructure for water supply and wastewater management. The situation in Lima is particularly critical. With around ten million inhabitants, the capital is one of the driest metropolitan regions in the world. Approximately ten per cent of the population is still not connected to the public water supply network.

Wastewater treatment facilities are also under strain. Many treatment plants are overloaded and fail to achieve adequate purification levels. This leads to environmental pollution and poses health risks. At the same time, the potential for water reuse remains largely untapped — even though treated wastewater can be an important resource in water-scarce regions.

The approach

The NEWA2 project builds on concepts and technologies developed in the predecessor project NEWA-LIMA. The focus is on two approaches for reusing treated municipal wastewater:

• Indirect reuse of wastewater through controlled groundwater recharge (Managed Aquifer Recharge, MAR),
• Direct reuse using membrane technologies such as Ultrafiltration (UF) and Reverse Osmosis (RO)

Depending on the process, the treated water obtained can be used either indirectly or directly for higher-value applications, for instance in industrial processes or even as drinking water.

The objectives and measures

The project adopts an integrated approach that combines technical innovation, field implementation, and capacity development. A demonstration plant will showcase efficient wastewater treatment in practice. Water quality will be continuously monitored and treatment efficiency evaluated.

Another key component is the training of local experts to ensure the long-term operation and maintenance of the facilities. In addition, workshops, dialogue events, and a technology forum will be organized to promote exchange among policymakers, researchers, and practitioners, and to disseminate project results.

Through these measures, NEWA2 contributes to improving Lima’s water situation and demonstrates how German environmental technologies can be successfully applied in practice.