Veolia wins 20-year contract to modernize Cúcuta water infrastructure
- About €100 million average annual revenue over a 20-year contract, implying an estimated €2 billion backlog.
- Operations for Cúcuta start in July 2026 and cover 866,000 inhabitants.
- Target to reduce water losses from the current 42% to below 30%.
- Program includes supply security, storage expansion, treatment upgrades, network renewal and advanced leak detection (He Tracer).
Contract and scale
Veolia will modernize Cúcuta’s water and sanitation infrastructure under a 20‑year contract that represents roughly €100 million in average annual revenue and an estimated €2 billion backlog. The project covers services for 866,000 inhabitants and is entrusted by the municipality, with operations starting in July 2026.
Operational objectives
The programme aims to strengthen resilience and environmental security by securing supply, expanding storage capacity, modernizing treatment facilities, renewing distribution networks and upgrading sanitation systems. A central target is to reduce non-revenue water from 42% to below 30% to approach the performance of Latin America’s most efficient utilities.
Planned measures
Measures listed include systematic leak detection using He Tracer, hydraulic sectorization, dynamic pressure control, network renewal, cadastral updating and meter replacement. These steps are intended to improve resource efficiency, relieve pressure on natural ecosystems and deliver more sustainable, resilient services for the city.
Source: Veolia
