Design comprehensive treatment capacity
Conceptual design covers three phases, with Phase I including chemical assisted primary treatment, sludge digestion, biogas energy recovery, and biosolids production.
Practices
Markets
Flagship project for river recovery and urban transformation
In CDM Smith’s first international project in the 1960s, the company developed Bogotá’s first wastewater master plan, identifying the need for a cityscale treatment facility. Today, the Canoas WWTP represents one of Colombia’s flagship environmental projects, with an average daily flow of 16 m³/s. It complements the Salitre WWTP, which since 2010 has treated only a third of Bogotá’s wastewater. The Canoas plant is a cornerstone of the Bogotá River cleanup scheme, comparable to major river recovery efforts in Europe such as the Seine and Thames.
Improve public health and urban quality
River cleanup reduces disease, lowers public spending on health, and enhances quality of life for communities along its banks.
Create environmental and recreational value
Recovery of the river boosts property values, enables green spaces, and supports ecological trails for families.
Enable future agricultural reuse
Phase II will allow treated river water to be used for irrigation in the lower basin.
The Canoas WWTP project promotes a culture of environmental respect and civic pride, turning the Bogotá River into a natural attraction for the city. With its phased design and advanced treatment technologies, the project will deliver high-impact gains in health, sustainability, and urban development. Once complete, Bogotá will move closer to its vision of becoming a cosmopolitan city with clean waterways, new recreational spaces, and expanded opportunities for investment and employment.
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