Central American Bank funds lake restoration studies in El Salvador

The Central American Bank for Economic Integration (BCIE), together with El Salvador's National Administration of Aqueducts and Sewers (ANDA) and the Salvadoran Water Authority (ASA), signed a cooperation agreement providing US$1,229,250 for comprehensive studies of Lakes Ilopango and Coatepeque. The financing, backed by the European Union and Germany's development bank KfW through the Climate Change Investment Project Preparation Fund, will support a three‑phase program: an integrated diagnostic of the lakes’ environmental condition, prioritisation of intervention projects, and feasibility studies for solutions such as solid‑waste management, wastewater‑treatment plants and climate‑adaptation measures. Local partners—including municipal authorities, the Red Cross, the Lutheran University of El Salvador, and community groups—participated in cleanup efforts and will aid implementation of the proposed actions to improve water quality and ecosystem resilience.

The initiative aims to deliver a technical baseline that guides concrete measures to mitigate environmental challenges, strengthen climate resilience and support sustainable development for the populations that rely on the lakes.