As low water levels limit movement across the Panama Canal, a potential solution is in the works to mitigate the effects of future droughts. The Canal’s board of directors submitted a proposal to the Panamanian government to advance the process of pursuing a set of solutions. The proposal calls for defining the Canal’s watershed and modifying or expanding the limits established in the 2006 law, as well as eliminating some restrictions on the canal for the construction of new reservoirs.
Panamanian authorities have long sought a solution to increase the supply of freshwater to the Canal, which would allow them to avoid future restrictions on its capacity during dry seasons. A potential project involves the construction of a multipurpose reservoir on the Indio River.
Meanwhile, Canal authorities are also working on short-term solutions to improve fresh water supply to the Canal’s locks. One of them involves the construction of a new raw water intake in Gamboa as well as an abduction line to connect Gamboa to Paraíso.
Source: hellenicshippingnews.com