1. Cuba Water/Wastewater Infrastructure Assessment Committee Water and Wastewater Priorities and Cost-Benefit Considerations: A “Work-In-Progress”
To: Association for the Study of the Cuban Economy (A.S.C.E.) Miami, Florida
August 1, 2009
By: Armando I. Perez, Roberto Cardona, Luis Locay and Helena Solo-Gabriele

2. Disclaimer
The opinions expressed in this presentation are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of their employers or of their sponsoring engineering societies.
Authors’ knowledge of Cuba is based on limited information available mostly on the Internet and personal communication with Cubans now living in Florida.

3. Outline of Presentation
“Big Picture” water resources issues
Eight (8) Priority watersheds
Almendares/vento watershed issues
Protection of water sources from wastewater
Treatment and distribution of potable water
Cotorro case study: cost-benefit considerations
Conclusions

4. Source Water Total water use (potential $1 to 4 billion/yr industry)
5.2 billion m3 (Cereijo ed. 1992)
1.6 billion m3/yr (11.5 M people at 100 gpd)
64% groundwater (Cereijo ed. 1992)
Groundwater predominates in western provinces, surface water in eastern provinces
Susceptible to saltwater intrusion
Use approaching “safe yield” (sustainable supply)

5. Eight (8) Watersheds of National Interest
15 % of Cuba’ Surface
40 % of Cuba’s Population
60% of Cuba’s Fundamental Economic Activity
11 Provinces (Some Straddling)
6 Have Watershed Councils (Handle Straddles)
Source: Jorge Mario Garcia Fernández (Director Watershed INRH), “Cuban Experiences in the Institutionalization of Integrated Management of Watersheds, “Voluntad Hidráulica (INRH Journal), No. 98, pp 15-28

6. Ariguanabo (90K): Contamination of Rivers (connection to groundwater supply). Deforestation. Poor drainage.
Almendares-Vento (570K): Contamination of Almendares River (connection to groundwater supply). Erosion
1420 /km2
480 /km2
175 /km2
122 /km2
Toa (12K): Ecological diversity. Contamination (29 sources). Deforestation. Erosion
Cuyaguateje (40K): Poor drainage, salt water intrusion. Erosion
Hanabanilla (7K):
Erosion
Zaza (264K): Contamination (94 sources). Deforestation. Erosion
Cauto (1,170K): Contamination (652 sources). Poor drainage. Erosion
Guantanamo-Guaso (410K): Drought. Salt accumulation

7. Identify/ Protect Water Source
Hierarchical Approach to Water Management Cycle
Treatment and Distribution
Protect Water Source
Potable Water
Distribution
Wastewater
Collection
Treatment
Effluent
Disposal
Identify/ Protect Water Source
Treat Water to Prevent
acute illness
long-term illness and
improve aesthetics

8. Source Water: Almendares-Vento
Vento Aquifer serves 47% of Havana Population
Located directly
beneath the Almendares River
ALMENDARES RIVER
VENTO AQUIFER
RESERVOIR

9. Major Contaminant Sources
Papelera Nacional Cubana Near Puentes Grandes
Almendares River
Vento
Aquifer
Reservoir

10. Sanitary Sewer Networks
Alamar (96K)
No Treatment
Cotorro (20K -75K)
Lower Almendares (103K)
Maria del Carmen (23K)
Primary and Secondary
Central (945K)
Primary
Puentes Grandes ?(200K)
San Pedro Pump Station
1946, Sewer Construction
U.Miami Photo Archive
Planta Quibu,
Cubagua 2007

11. Wastewater Priorities
Central (945K)
Primary
Rehabilitate & Expand Sewer Lines
San Pedro Pump, 2008
Investigate Puentes Grandes and Lower Almendares Networks
Investigate Industry
Pre-Treatment
Repair and Expand
Cotorro WW(75K)
Domestic + Industrial
San Pedro Pump Station, 2008
Maria del Carmen
(23K 73K)
Primary and Secondary
Repair and Expand
Calle 100
Landfill
BMP Agriculture
Antillana de Acero

12. Water Rations (Perez Martinez 2003) Water Distribution Map
Central (817K)
5,2 m3/d
West (447K)
3.3 m3/d
South (370K)
2.0 m3/d
East (546K)
5,0 m3/d
Water Rations (Perez Martinez 2003)
Water Distribution Map
for Havana, 1899

13. Water Priorities
Repair Chlorine Production Facility at Sagua la Grande
Trucks/fuel to transport chlorine
Repair leaks in transmission and distribution system. Adding valves and metering Improve interconnectedness of the networks.
Back up electricity and pumps (with surge suppressors).
Repair chlorination equipment.

14. Background: Cotorro, Cuba
~ 50% of land used for agriculture
Approximate land area is 65.7 km2
The town's population comprises approximately 74,500 inhabitants 14

15. Location Of Proposed Wastewater Plant For Cotorro
San Pedro Pump Station

16. 4 Phase Design for Cotorro WWTP
Repair Pump Station
Phase 2
Screening
Grit Removal
Sedimentation
Disinfection
Phase 3
Biological Treatment
Phase 4
Tertiary Treatment
$2.3 Million
For selection of treatment processes looked at tropical islands with similar weather patterns
We used Puerto Rico Aqueduct and Sewer Authority Rules and regulation for design standards
Phase I: Preliminary, Primary Treatment and Disinfection
The construction of preliminary and primary treatment processes for the proposed Wastewater Treatment Plant, as well as disinfection. The sludge treatment processes will also be included in this phase.
Phase II: Secondary treatment
The addition of biological treatment to the plant for further biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) removal so that the effluent water meets the national total suspended solids (TSS) and BOD discharge standards, and the necessary characteristics for future nutrient removal.
Phase III: Tertiary Treatment- Nutrient Removal
Tertiary treatment addition to the wastewater treatment plant so that the highest effluent quality standards are met. This additional treatment is recognized as a very futuristic plan.
$24 Million
$18 Million
$3 Million

17. Top View Schematic of Cotorro Plant
Phase 2
Phase 3
Phase 4

18. Cotorro Wastewater Costs and Benefits
Alternative
Description
Cost
(U.S. $)
Benefit to San Francisco River
Benefit to Cojimar River
Comments A
No action (discharge without treatment to San Francisco River)
$ 0
(but cost of alternative supply high)
Status quo: threat to drinking water and ecology
N/A
Not acceptable B
Diversion to Cojimar River without treatment
$ 2.3 M
($330K for electric controls)
Removal of public health threat
Impairment: threaten even Class “C” uses (transit and irrigation), against “environmental justice” (dumping) C
Diverison with Primary Treatment
$ 26 M
Impairment: may not meet Class “C” uses, against environmental justice
Acceptability questionable D
Diversion with Secondary Treatment
$ 44 M
Allow Class “B” uses: transit, irrigation, consumption of raw products, recreation
Acceptable E
Diversion with Tertiary Treatment
$ 47 M
Allow Class “A” uses: Class “B” uses plus public water supply, industrial use for food processing

19. Methodologies for Incremental Benefits to San Francisco River/Vento Aquifer Watershed
Methodology
Data Needed
Removal of public health threat (value of work productivity loss avoided in “nuisance” case).
Productivity loss avoided = average income*average work days*percent work days missed*area population*percent of population in work force (a)
Income
Work days per year
Percent work days missed (from survey of experts)
Area population served by Vento Aquifer
Percent of population in work force (from demographic studies)
Removal of public health threat (cost avoided of alternative supply in “extreme” case).
Cost avoided of alternative water supply/treatment (potentially desalination)*probability of occurrence
Flow supplied by Vento Aquifer to service population
Cost of desalination facilities for that flow
Probability of ruining aquifer (survey of experts)
(a) Reference: “Cost-Benefit Analysis for Implementing the West Coast Sewerage Project Under a Public-Private Partnership Arrangement,” Final Report to Barbados Water Authority, CDM, May 2008.

20. Methodologies for Incremental Benefits to Cojimar River Watershed
Methodology
Data Needed
Allow Transit
Assign economic value to incremental transit activities (if any) enabled by diversion of flow
List of current transit activities
Estimate of additional transit activities from new flow
Economic value of additional activities
Irrigation
Cost avoided of use of potable water
Irrigation demand in Cojimar watershed and quality required
Comparison of demand vs. diversion supply and quality
Cost of treating offset amount of potable water
Consumption of Raw Products
Assign economic value to products
Number of days per year consumption would be prohibited (survey of experts)
Economic value of raw water products (fisheries studies)
Recreation
Economic value of beach closings avoided
Number of days per year beach would be closed otherwise (survey of experts)
Tourist visits and “willingness to pay”
Resident visits and “willingness to pay”
Public Water Supply
Cost avoided of use of current potable water less cost of polishing this diversion flow
Population and water demand in Cojimar watershed
Comparison of demand with diversion flow
Treatment costs for current supply and diversion flow
Industrial Use for Food Processing
Industrial demand and quality requirements in Cojimar watershed

21. Conclusions and Recommendations
8 priority watersheds (15% of country’s area)
Almendares-Vento watershed (Havana) is best documented
Highest wastewater priorities:
Upper Almendares cleanup: Protect water source
Mid-Almendares: Repair Maria del Carmen Wastewater Plant
Northern Coast: Rehab outfall pipe
Highest water priorities:
Repair chlorine (disinfectant) facility at Sagua
Upgrade electrical service (backups): Avoid pressure losses
Repair chlorination equipment
Upgrade pumps and surge suppressors
Repair leaks (costly)
Improve benefit-cost analysis with local data: Guide to refine priorities

22. Questions? Acknowledgments Juan Belt of USAID
Pete Robinson of Hazen and Sawyer
U.Miami Student Groups, Cristina Ortega, Karen Kajder, Reshma Ramoutar, Omar De Leon, Jose Cueto, Tommy Kiger, Bader Alessa
CA-ACE Board Members: Rod Rodriguez, Victor Pujals, Rafael Robayna, and Maria Porrata

23. Helena to Add Google Map Full Scale

24. Role of Committee Before and During a Political Transition
U.S. AGENCIES ONLY
U.S. AND CUBAN AGENCIES
ADVICE
ADVICE
DATA INTEGRATION PHASE
ANALYSIS PHASE
ADVISORY PHASE
COMMITTEE’S WORK …
BEFORE TRANSITION
TRANSITION

25. Purpose of Presentation
Summary of island-wide priorities
Focus on Havana area issues
Sample of cost-benefit methodology as guide for setting priorities
Conclusions on Havana area priorities