Environmental, social and spatial impact assessment. Bocana estabilizada Ciénaga de la Virgen (Cartagena de Indias, Colombia).
The Ciénaga de la Virgin laguna is located in the north of Cartagena and has a surface of about 2000 ha. The borders of the Cienaga de la Virgen laguna have been intensively urbanized in the south since the early 20th century. In consequence, about 114.000 m³ untreated sewage water is deposited in the laguna, creating large environmental and health problems for the surrounding urban residents. In 1995, Royal Haskoning of the Netherlands commissioned an impact assessment in order to look for acceptable solutions for the problem. Joris Scheers was engaged by Haskoning to take care of a general spatial development analysis of the southern area and of the spatial and social aspects of different possible technical solutions.
Six years later and following the results of the EIS, a canal and a set of 6 locks were built, benefiting about 300.000 inhabitants in the urban area.