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Projects without a sewer connection in Argentina: how to get started.

In Argentina, water falls under the jurisdiction of each province: the national government sets minimum standards and the provincial authority decides on discharge or infiltration. That is why the first question is always where the treated water will go. With the basic data on the site and the project we carry out an initial assessment; the final solution is then developed with the relevant professionals and permits. This page is general guidance and does not replace legal advice.

Legal framework reviewed on 5 October 2026
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Common practice today

What exists in Argentina where there is no sewer connection.

Almost 4 in 10 Argentine households (38.7%) do not flush their toilet into the sewer network.

What AQUATO does differently

Legal framework

What applies in Argentina.

  • Constitución Nacional, arts. 41 and 124

    The provinces hold original ownership of natural resources, including water. The national government issues the minimum standards for environmental protection and the provinces supplement them.

    Source: Constitución Nacional on InfoLEG

  • Law 25,675: Ley General del Ambiente (General Environmental Law)

    National framework of minimum standards. Works that may significantly affect the environment require an environmental impact assessment (art. 11).

    Source: Law 25,675 on InfoLEG

  • Law 25,688: environmental management of water

    Discharging substances into water counts as a use of that water, and every use requires a permit from the competent authority (arts. 5 and 6).

    Source: Law 25,688 on InfoLEG

  • Province of Buenos Aires: Res. ADA 336/03 and RESOC 1746/25

    The Autoridad del Agua (ADA, the provincial water authority) sets discharge limits depending on where the water goes; the values are measured in the sampling chamber. The procedure for works suitability and the permit for wastewater management has applied since November 2025. The other provinces have their own regulations and authorities.

    Source: Autoridad del Agua, resolution RESOC-2025-1746-GDEBA-ADA

  • ENOHSA: design criteria for sewage drainage

    Technical criterion for projects submitted to ENOHSA (the national water and sanitation works agency): the effluent goes into the soil or, once treated, into a watercourse, depending on the measured permeability of the soil. It also requires a distance to the groundwater table and to water boreholes (chap. 7).

    Source: ENOHSA, study standards, design and project submission criteria (download)

The route

From the site to the approved plant.

The usual order, from the site to the plant in operation. Each province has its own procedure.

  1. 01

    Basic data and preliminary assessment

    Using the checklist below, Ektennsa and AQUATO look at the capacity, which system suits the project (PUMP, STABI-KOM or ORKA), its location and where the treated water will go.

  2. 02

    Authority and site survey

    The provincial water or environmental authority (in Buenos Aires, the ADA) and the municipality are identified. A soil absorption test, the level of the groundwater table and the distance to boreholes determine whether the water goes into the soil or into a body of water.

  3. 03

    Project and permit

    A registered professional draws up the project, using the AQUATO technical documentation, and applies for the discharge permit or equivalent; where applicable, also the environmental impact assessment.

  4. 04

    Construction, commissioning and monitoring

    The plant is installed with a sampling chamber. The authority may require periodic analyses and renewal of the permit; in Buenos Aires, generally every four years.

To get started

This information is enough for an initial assessment.

Leave blank anything you do not have yet. Nothing more is needed to get started.

  • Location

    Province, district or municipality and cadastral reference

  • Site

    Area and title deed

  • Project

    Type of project and number of homes or units

  • Users

    Approximate number of users and expected maximum occupancy

  • Sewers

    Is there a sewer network? How far away?

  • Site conditions

    Absorption test, level of the groundwater table and distance to water boreholes

  • Available documents

    Site plan and any permits already obtained

  • Treated water

    Infiltration into the soil, discharge into a body of water or storm drain, or reuse

First step

Tell us what you want to develop.

With the basic details of the site and the project, Ektennsa and AQUATO carry out an initial assessment.

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or directly: WhatsApp · contacto@ektennsa.com