Liebherr’s LRB 355 is executing the deep foundation work as part of an ongoing project to upgrading of the El Salitre waste water treatment plant in Bogotá, Colombia. The goal of the project pursues an environmental concept: to reduce the pollution of the Río Bogotá and sensibly reuse the treated water.

The project, dubbed “PTAR Salitre,” is guided by the mantra “no life without water,” recognizing that, though two thirds of Earth consists of water, it is necessary to utilize this most precious resource carefully. Through the expansion El Salitre, the desired outcome is to reduce contamination of the Río Bogotá through the treatment of waste water. The river’s waterfall, Salto del Tequendema, has become a famous attraction, spectacularly plunging 150 meters. Unfortunately, it is also one of the most contaminated rivers in South America.

With the population of Bogotá growing at a rapid pace, and 75% of all Colombians now living in towns, as opposed to rural settings, infrastructure must be considerably improved.

The waste water from about two million inhabitants of north and central Bogotá flows to El Salitre. With the current improvement efforts, the amount of water treated can be nearly doubled.,

The LRB 355, operated by local contractor, Botero Ingenieros, is installing 1,879 foundation piles using full displacement drilling equipment. By the time the project is complete, drilling will total a length of 62,000 meters, with a diameter of 600 mm, reaching depths between 31 and 36 meters. Relying of the strength of the LRB 344, the work, which began in March 2018, is expected to be completed in only eight months.

Upon completion of the project, contamination in the Rio Bogotá is expected to be reduced to a level that can be managed by the river itself. As a result, the water can be sensibly reused in future, for initiatives such as grazing animals or for agricultural purposes.

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