The La Chira Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP), developed and managed through a 25-year concession by a consortium led by ACCIONA in collaboration with the local firm AENZA, has achieved a significant milestone in enhancing the sustainability of its operations. It has become the first WWTP in Peru to integrate a photovoltaic system for self-consumption of electricity.
This renewable energy installation comprises 160 solar panels situated on the WWTP premises. These panels will generate 127 MWh of electricity annually, sufficient to meet 25% of the plant’s power needs, thereby preventing the release of 22,895 tonnes of CO2 per year.
Situated in the Chorrillos district, La Chira WWTP processes a quarter of the wastewater from 18 Lima districts like Miraflores, San Isidro, Santiago de Surco, Villa El Salvador, and Chorrillos, benefiting over 2.5 million residents in the capital city.
Processing an average of 6.3 m3/sec of wastewater, La Chira is the country’s second-largest wastewater treatment plant based on capacity. It features an advanced odor capture and elimination system using inorganic filters across the facility.
Additionally, it includes an over 800-meter tunnel at a depth exceeding 23 meters and a 3.6-kilometer underwater outfall to discharge treated water back into the sea.
The photovoltaic unit with 160 solar panels on the WWTP premises will generate 127 MWh of electricity annually, covering 25% of the plant’s power consumption.
Regarding environmental impact, La Chira WWTP has played a vital role in rehabilitating Metropolitan Lima’s beaches, enhancing the living conditions of nearby residents, and fostering coastal tourism and the local fishing sector.
The plant’s operations have facilitated the restoration of 17 kilometers of coastline that had been contaminated for years: from Las Cascadas beach in Barranco to Conchán beach in Lurín.
This effort has prevented approximately 80,000 tonnes of waste from being discharged into the sea, safeguarding the environment and elevating the coastal areas’ worth.
Since its commencement in June 2016, La Chira has processed over 1.3 billion m3 of wastewater, extracting significant solids, sand, floatables, and debris up to one millimeter in size.
Source: ACCIONA
