Background

Ciudad Acuña does not have formal storm water collection and conveyance infrastructure. The city depends on natural drainage areas or basins to convey storm water out of the urban area and into the Rio Grande River. In the areas of Santa Martha and La Misión, natural drainage flows northeast into drains or channels named for the local subdivisions. The La Misión and Santa Martha storm water channels are severely deteriorated and, in the case of La Misión, the channel is also undersized. Soil and concrete debris caused by erosion along the channel banks are being deposited at the bottom of the channel or carried by the storm water flows to the river. Due to these conditions, the risks of flooding and stagnant water pose public health risks for the neighboring population.

Description

The project consists of improvements to the Santa Martha and La Misión storm water channels.

Objective

The purpose of the Project is to improve storm water management and prevent soil and concrete erosion by restoring the structural integrity of the open-channel structures, which will eliminate the risk of obstructed flows and water stagnation, and thus reduce the risk of waterborne diseases. Additionally, the Project will protect a critical sewer force main, which due to erosion in both channels, is vulnerable to collapse, thereby reducing the risk of direct discharges of untreated wastewater to the Rio Grande River, a binational waterbody.