2162 3.3 Society and Territory: Expanding Well-Being Water security enabled the provision of potable water to more than 350,000 people through the Miguel de la Cuba Ibarra Treatment Plant and supported the expansion of 5,000 hectares of agricultural land within the Chili River basin. In parallel, the La Enlozada wastewater treatment plant - made possible under the same institutional framework—treats 95.5% of Arequipa’s wastewater, restoring the Chili River and improving the overall ecological quality of the basin. 3.4 Industrial Circularity: Mining Integrated into the Water Cycle With the regulatory foundation established by Pillones, Cerro Verde incorporated approximately 1 m³/s of treated wastewater as process water, decoupling its growth from freshwater extraction. This scheme enabled more than USD 5 billion in subsequent investments, consolidating mining as an integrator within the water cycle rather than a competitor for the resource. In parallel, the treatment and diversion of wastewater—particularly through the La Enlozada plant—contributed to the cleanup of the Chili River, reducing pollutant discharges and improving water quality conditions downstream. This environmental recovery was associated with improved public health indicators, including a reduction in water-related gastrointestinal diseases among the local population. 3.5 Cumulative Impact and Structural Legacy The progressive interconnection of these loops—water security, renewable energy, social development, environmental restoration, and industrial reuse—generated a multiplier effect in the regional economy, associated with the creation of more than 200,000 direct and indirect jobs over the past two decades. International recognition through the Climate Positive Award 2022 confirms that the model was not an isolated project, but rather a replicable framework for territorial development based on strategic infrastructure.
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