Residents across Panama and San Miguelito districts must prepare for an 18-hour water service suspension this Saturday. The National Institute of Aqueducts and Sewers (IDANN) announced the planned outage for critical maintenance at the Federico Guardia Conte water treatment facility in Chilibre.
Service will halt from 5:00 a.m. on Saturday, January 31, until 11:30 p.m. that evening. Officials stated the work is essential for long-term system reliability and involves connecting new infrastructure. The agency urged the public to store sufficient water for domestic needs during the interruption period.
Major Infrastructure Upgrade Drives Shutdown
IDANN Director Rutilio Villarreal explained the primary task involves integrating the new Eastern Hydraulic Ring. This project, managed by the National Advisory for sustainable development, aims to optimize water supply to eastern sectors of the capital. The interconnection requires the complete shutdown of the water purification plant.
“This scheduled work on the Eastern Hydraulic Ring interconnection is crucial for improving water distribution to the Eastern water area,” Villarreal said. [Translated from Spanish]
Crews will also perform concurrent electrical substation maintenance and replace key valves in the capital’s network. The Panama Canal Authority will conduct a separate inspection of the lake suction well that feeds the plant. Combining these operations minimizes the need for future disruptive outages.
Gradual System Recovery Expected
Plant operations are scheduled to restart at midnight on Sunday, February 1. Officials caution that full system recovery will not be instantaneous. Water pressure and supply will return gradually across the network over an estimated eight-hour period.
Areas at higher elevations in San Miguelito and Panama City will likely experience the longest delays. Residents in these zones may see low pressure or intermittent service until the system fully recharges. The agency’s social media channels will provide real-time updates on the restoration progress.
This maintenance impacts the Federico Guardia Conte plant, a critical component of the metropolitan water supply. The work underscores the ongoing challenges of maintaining aging infrastructure while expanding capacity for a growing population. Authorities describe the short-term inconvenience as a necessary step for a more resilient water system.