Chilibre, Panama – The National Institute of Aqueducts and Sewers (Idaan) initiated a major operational intervention on Saturday, October 25, deploying over ten technical teams to address chronic water losses and improve supply pressure in northern sectors of the capital. The operation, named “Chilibre sin fugas” (Chilibre Without Leaks), represents a significant effort by the state water utility to optimize its distribution network in key areas.
The large-scale maintenance work commenced from the Milla 8 area and will extend to communities within the districts of Chilibre, Caimitillo, and Las Cumbres. The initiative involves a coordinated series of tasks, including the repair of existing leaks, maintenance of critical valves, and comprehensive verification of distribution lines to identify and resolve systemic inefficiencies.
This action is part of a massive maintenance incursion coordinated by the Metropolitan Management, with support from the Commercial Management and local governments, [Translated from Spanish]
stated the Metropolitan Manager of Idaan, Engineer Isaac González. He further clarified the operation’s primary objective, adding,
The goal is to optimize the distribution system in sectors that present high rates of leaks, guaranteeing a more efficient service for users. [Translated from Spanish]
Targeted Sectors and Anticipated Service Impact
The Idaan has identified specific neighborhoods within the three districts for targeted intervention. In Chilibre, work will focus on Vía Madden, San Vicente, and Chilibre Centro. The Caimitillo segment of the operation will cover Praderas San Lorenzo, Nuevo México, Calzada Larga, and Caimitillo Centro. In Las Cumbres, crews will be active in Las Glorietas, San Andrés, Villa Grecia, Colonial Las Cumbres, and La Alhambra.
Residents and businesses in these areas have been advised to prepare for potential service disruptions. The entity officially warned that during the development of the repair and maintenance labors, low water pressure or temporary interruptions of the supply could be registered in the intervened zones. This is a standard consequence of working on live water mains and distribution systems.
The “Chilibre sin fugas” operation underscores a proactive approach by the Idaan to tackle non-revenue water—water that is produced and lost before it reaches the customer. High rates of water loss due to leaks and infrastructure issues have been a persistent challenge for the utility, affecting service reliability and operational efficiency. By concentrating resources on a defined geographical area, the institute aims to achieve measurable improvements in water conservation and service delivery.
This operational model, involving multiple technical squads working concurrently across a network, is designed to maximize impact in a shorter timeframe. The involvement of both the Commercial Management and local governments suggests an integrated effort that may also address customer billing concerns and community relations related to the water service in these sectors.
As the work continues, the Idaan is expected to provide further updates on the progress of the “Chilibre sin fugas” operation and its outcomes regarding the reduction of water losses and the stabilization of supply pressure for the benefiting communities in Panama City’s northern corridor.