Empresa de Servicios Sanitarios de los Lagos S.A. (Chile)

Chilean water utility company. Essal provides potable water and sewerage services to some 160,000 clients in regions X and XIV, in the provinces of Valdivia, Osorno, Llanquihue, Chiloe and Palena. Empresa de Servicios Sanitarios de Los Lagos was established in May 1990 as a legal successor of the National Sanitation (SENDOS) which was created in 1977, replacing the then Directorate of Sanitation under the Ministry of Public Works. The jurisdiction includes ESSAL Lakes Region (X) and part of the Region of Rivers (XIV), covering an area of ​​66,997 km2 and serving 32 locations belonging to the provinces of Valdivia and Ranco in the case Rivers Region and Osorno, Llanquihue, Palena Chiloóe and in the case of the Lake District, arriving with their services to a population of over 630,000 inhabitants. The areas of operation of the company concentrate major agribusiness activities, forestry, fishing and port, along with a growing business, residential and service. Under the framework of the privatization of water companies promoted by the State of Chile, took place in 1999, the tender of 51% of the shares of Company Health Services of Los Lagos, ESSAL. This block of shares, owned by the Chilean Economic Development Agency (CORFO), dated July 15, 1999 was awarded by Iberdrola Energía de Chile. On July 10, 2008 the Aguas health, primary industry company with operations in Chile, through a public offering (IPO) took over ESSAL to buy the 53.6% of Iberdrola Energia de Chile and minority shareholders.