Araucanía, Chile launches $3 billion sewer upgrade and power‑restoration effort

Aguas Araucanía is investing more than $3 billion to rehabilitate sewer networks across 20 communes in the Araucanía region. The plan uses trenchless technology that avoids digging up roads, has already reached 52 % completion, and is scheduled to finish in December 2026. The work involves over 11 km of new pipelines and targets municipalities such as Temuco, Villarrica, Angol and many others.

Following a recent severe weather event, electricity providers CGE and Frontel have been deploying hundreds of workers to restore power in the same region. By mid‑July 2026 they had recovered electricity to about 85 % of affected customers, restoring service to more than 24,000 households. Restoration crews remain active in communes including Cunco, Freire, Imperial, Villarrica and Temuco, while special assistance is being provided to patients dependent on electrical equipment.