MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Chile combats hepatitis and cholera.

The largest sewage treatment plant in Latin America capable of recycling some 75% of metropolitan Santiago wastewater and controlling water-spread diseases was inaugurated Wednesday by Chilean President Ricardo Lagos.

The Aguas Andinas company, controlled by a French-Spanish consortium, invested $315 million in the construction of the plant located in southwestern Santiago.

According to consortium officials, the plant is not only the largest in Latin America, but ranks fifth in the world. Among other benefits, it will allow for the irrigation of 130,000 hectares (almost 400,000 acres) of crops.

"Now we can tell the world that this small country complies with international standards and that we are working to fulfill them at all levels," Mr. Lagos said at the inauguration ceremony.

Mr. Lagos said that since 1997 Santiago had been capable of processing only 25% of its sewage, while now it can recycle 75%. The president added that by 2009, the city will be treating 100% of its sewage.

President Lagos underlined that the people of Santiago would now see a remarkable change in their quality of life with a dramatic drop in the incidence of water related diseases such as hepatitis and cholera, endemic in Chile.

One of the main causes of these diseases is that in water short Chile, polluted water is extensively used in crops irrigation.

Over five million people live in metropolitan Santiago.