Water Distribution and Drainage Systems of Aburrá Valley, Colombia - Empresas Públicas de Medellín E.S.P.

The purpose of this article is to present the water distribution and sewerage systems of the Aburrá Valley metropolitan region of Colombia, which serves around three million habitants in the following municipalities: Caldas, La Estrella, Sabaneta, Envigado, Itagüí, Medellín, Bello, Copacabana, Girardota y Barbosa. First we describe the distribution system and its respective subsystems, as well as its associated infrastructure and its main operative variables. As a relevant factor of service reliability, we include an explanation of the system's interconnectivity, with which 96% of total demand is attended. This interconnectivity was conceived in order to increase operational flexibility in normal conditions, or in case of contingency situations or maintenance requirements. Afterwards we describe the drainage system, including the recollection system configuration, the wastewater transportation and its associated infrastructure, and the main operative variables, tools, and operating schemes. We also include information concerning the principal operational performance indicators of water distribution and drainage systems. Finally we present the work scheme of the Water and Sanitation Operational Integrated Unit, its main subdivisions, and the Water Distribution Control Center from which the remote operation is performed, the control of local interventions, the monitoring of variables based on Scada technology, and the management of protocols in alarms, alerts, and events in the water distribution and drainage systems [1-5].