Streets: The ERB will have street access to all lots. The streets will be made of layers of compacted gravel, with a pavement of cobblestone or asphalt. Most streets will be two ways, with exception of streets 4, which is one way only. The street width varies from 10.00 to 14.00 meters with from 5.00 to 7.00 meters of driving width. The streets will have a convex surface to direct rain water into the ditches on each side, and then into the rivers. The streets will have sidewalks from 1.50 to 2.50 meters wide.
Electricity: The ERB will have airborne electricity on poles, with access to all lots. There will be public illumination for all streets and park areas. The electricity system will consist of mono-phase medium voltage (13,000V) and mono-phase low voltage (110V) with public transformers that will give an average of 5kVA for each property, which is sufficient for a residential home. For those that require more electricity, they can install their own transformer (mono-phase) and hock it up to the medium voltage grid.
Potable water: The ERB will have a potable water pipe grid following the streets, with access to all lots. All lots will have a ½” potable water pipe connection. The water grid is connected to the potable water grid in the Canoa village. The public water grid has a limited capacity. For this reason we advise all owners to construct a water cistern for storing water, with a minimum capacity of 10m3.
Other options for acquiring water are by buying it from one of the many tanker trucks circulating in the Canoa area, pumping water from the river or constructing a well (brackish water) or collecting rain water.
Sewer system: There is no sewer system in Canoa, nor will one be built in any foreseeable future. The solution in the ERB is a separation of gray and black water, giving an adequate treatment of the water so the resulting odorless stream does no harm to the environment and can be used for gardening purposes. The septic tank system design is approved by the county government, and will have to be constructed on an individual basis by each lot owner.
Telephone, Cable TV, Internet: There is full cell phone coverage in Canoa by either Claro or Movistar. The fixed line telephone grid in Canoa is very limited though and there are not enough lines. Direct TV by satellite dish has full coverage in Canoa. There are two Internet Service Providers in Canoa; Mundo Digital and Genesis Net.
The current status of development (June 2015):
The ERB area, initially a shrimp farm with large pools, have been filled in, leveled and compacted with some 70,000m3, elevating the level of the entire area between 0,50 and 1,50 meters.
Stage 1 (See illustration): We have constructed the streets with sub base and base class 1 materials, from the main entrance, curving towards street 2, all of street 2, the alley between sector D and E, and the alley between lots C4 and C5. Since the streets will rise some 0.80 meters above the leveled area, we have filled up the surrounding area to an equal level. Potable water pipe grid and the electrical system have been installed. The main entrance portal has been constructed. In this stage we have urbanized 19 lots in total (C1-C8, D1-D4, E1-E3, F1-F2). The streets are paved with asphalt.
Stage 2 (See illustration): We will construct the streets with layers of sub-base and base class 1 materials, joining the street from the main entrance to street 7, then construct the streets 3, 4, 5, 6. Since the streets will rise some 0.80 meters above the leveled area, we will fill up the surrounding lots to an equal level. Potable water pipe grid, have been installed, and the electrical system is partly be installed. In this stage we have urbanized 25 lots in total (B1-B15, C9-C15, I3-I5).
Stage 3 (See illustration): Recently we started the development of this stage. The area has been cleaned, the boundaries have been gated and an access gate to the public beach is under construction.
Houses: There are three residential homes constructed or under constructing.
Beach Park: El County Government is developing a recreational park in the beach in front of the ERB, with paths, green areas, and areas to practice sports and a bridge over the Canoa River to access the village.
Please have a look at our blog at http://manglaresecovillage.blogspot.com for the latest developments.
Development schedule:
- Development of access control to implement a semiprivate community; Access gates for vehicles and pedestrians for the entrance gate. Gated boundaries at the beach, with an access gate.
- Finish urbanize stage 2; Paving the streets with asphalt, electrical grid fully installed.
- Infrastructure for stage 3; Construction of streets, portable water and electrical grids.
- Construction of the recreational park. Path between the green areas to connect the park to the public beach.
- Construction of curbs, gutters and sidewalks for stage I.
- Construction of curbs, gutters and sidewalks for stage II.