The Paraguayan Sanitary Services Company (Essap) began works to upgrade the drinking water distribution networks and the sanitary sewage system in Concepción, after months of complaints from residents and local authorities. The lack of water and the collapse of the sewage system in neighborhoods such as Itacurubí, San José Olero, Inmaculada, and Calaverita prompted successive requests to the state-owned company.
On Monday, Essap president Luis Fernando Bernal promised to attend an extraordinary session of the Municipal Council held in front of the company's treatment plant, but did not show up. Via videoconference, he claimed that the plane could not take off from Asunción due to weather. The next day, he also missed the meeting at the Council headquarters, justifying that he had a meeting with President Santiago Peña about the problems in Concepción.
The absence sparked outrage among councilors and residents. On Tuesday afternoon, Bernal finally arrived in the city and participated in the session. During his speech, he stated that Essap is working to improve water distribution and that 1,200 meters of sewage collectors will be replaced at critical points. Essap's regional manager, Juan Celso López, who had already been at the previous session, said that a technical team from Asunción is working in the most problematic areas and that the company will not leave until all issues are resolved.
Residents now await the fulfillment of the promises.