Multi-use of water: An example of shared infrastructure in Peru

This paper summarizes the industrial history of the Rimac river and describes its complex hydraulic system built over the course of the 20th century. It shows how the river flow was changed after the commissioning of the Yuracmayo dam, a dam designed to meet the freshwater needs of Lima’s growing population as well as to increase the output of the eight hydropower projects operating along the river‘s banks. The paper explains the main principles employed to share the costs of common infrastructure used for energy and freshwater. These multi usage assets illustrate the synergy that can be found between hydropower and other water usages.