DRINKING WATER

Drinking water for your subdivision in Paraguay

Connection to the ESSAP network, a sanitation board or your own system with an artesian well and tank. Design, paperwork and works.

Last updated: September 29, 2026

Elevated water tank
Photo: Vraj Acharya / WELL Labs, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
OPTIONS

Three ways to supply water to a subdivision

Connection to the ESSAP network

If your land is within ESSAP's service area, the network extension is designed and processed with the company.

Sanitation board

In rural communities, SENASA provides technical assistance to the sanitation boards that run the system.

Own system

Artesian well, elevated tank and internal network to each lot, when there is no public network nearby.

Combinations

Sometimes you start with your own system and prepare the network to connect to ESSAP later. We evaluate it with your case.

WHAT WE DO

Design, paperwork and works

  1. Survey. We check whether an ESSAP network is nearby, the number of lots and the conditions of the land.
  2. Design. We define the supply solution and lay out the internal network on the subdivision plan.
  3. Paperwork. We file the request with ESSAP or SENASA as appropriate, and with MADES whatever the use of groundwater requires, regulated by Law 3239/07 and its implementing Decree 7017/22.
  4. Works. Drilling, tank, pipe laying and connections to each lot, coordinated with the paving and the power grid.
  5. Handover. We coordinate the necessary inspections and leave the system documentation.
THE PROVIDER

Who provides the service depending on the area

In urban areas and Greater Asunción the service is provided by ESSAP, regulated by ERSSAN under Law 1614/00. In small rural communities SENASA and the sanitation boards are involved. Where there is no network, the subdivision can have its own well-and-tank system. What is required before the subdivision is accepted is defined by each municipality's ordinance, and the technical conditions of the network are set by the provider. We check them in each project.

HOW MUCH IT COSTS

What the cost depends on

It depends on the chosen solution: meters of pipe, number of lots, depth and flow of the well if there is one, tank capacity, and the distance to the ESSAP network if one exists. We quote by item after the survey. We do not give prices per lot without knowing your land.

COMMON MISTAKES

What is discovered too late

Drilling without checking the paperwork

The use of groundwater is regulated by Law 3239/07. MADES must be consulted before drilling.

Assuming an ESSAP network exists

Confirm feasibility with ESSAP before selling lots using water as an argument.

Laying the network after paving

Trenches must be dug before paving.

Sizing only for today

A tank or well that is just enough for the first year falls short once all the lots are occupied.

FAQ

Before hiring drinking water services

Does the law require providing water to a subdivision?

The subdivision chapter of Law 3966/10 does not list water among the works the owner must do after approval. The municipality's ordinance may require it, and for selling lots it is a decisive argument. We confirm what your municipality asks for.

Who provides the drinking water?

ESSAP in the areas where it operates, SENASA and sanitation boards in small rural communities, or your own system with a well and tank where there is no network.

Do I need a MADES permit to drill a well?

The use of groundwater is regulated by Water Resources Law 3239/07 and its regulation (Decree 7017/22). We handle whatever is required with MADES before drilling.

How much does water cost for a subdivision?

It depends on the solution (network, board or well), the meters of pipe and the number of lots. We quote after the survey.

Can you start with a well and switch to ESSAP later?

In some cases, yes. The internal network is designed so it can be connected later. We evaluate it based on the distance to the ESSAP network.

Is it done together with paving and power?

Yes, and it is best done that way. Pipes and poles go in before paving so the finished street does not have to be opened.

MORE SERVICES

Complete the infrastructure

GUIDES

To understand the topic in depth

Drinking water in a subdivision: ESSAP, board or well

Blog guide. Read →

Does your subdivision have water?

Tell us where the land is and how many lots it has and we will tell you which water solution fits.

Notice. Informational content. The rules, deadlines and values cited are indicative and may vary by municipality and service provider (ANDE, ESSAP, SENASA, MADES). Always confirm with the relevant body or municipality. It does not constitute legal, tax or engineering advice, nor a promise of profitability. Sources: Law 3966/10 Municipal Organic Law and its amendments (Laws 4198/10, 4715/12 and 5346), Decree 453/13, SET General Resolution 35/2020, ANDE standard No. 01.03.13 Rev. 1 and ANDE commercial procedures manual. Consulted on 09/29/2026.