What Departamento Provincial de Aguas (DPA) does

Departamento Provincial de Aguas (DPA) is an autonomous provincial organism (organismo autárquico) of the Government of Río Negro, Argentina, established by Law 285 in 1961 and reporting through the Secretaría de Energía y Ambiente. It is the exclusive water resource authority for the province, with statutory jurisdiction over water rights, irrigation concessions, and effluent discharge regulation. DPA's operational footprint spans approximately 140,000 hectares of irrigated land, 4,000 km of canals and drainage infrastructure, and 13,000+ registered users organized through 19 irrigation consortia (covering 86% of irrigated surface). The agency operates an Integrated Water Resource Management platform built around a hydrometeorological monitoring network of 100+ stations, GIS and CAD mapping systems, geophysical survey equipment (ABEM Electrical Resistivity Tomograph and PROMINAS drilling rigs), and a 30-year continuous water quality monitoring program that regulates industrial effluents under Decreto 1093/10 and Resolución 885/2015.

DPA executes its mandate through three Intendencias: Hidráulica y Saneamiento (led by Ing. Gonzalo Asensio), Riego (led by Ing. Gastón Guzzardi), and Recursos Hídricos (led by Ing. Fernando Bodoira). Operational execution of irrigation services is delegated to its wholly-owned subsidiary Generación y Riego SAU (GyRSAU), created in 1998 by Law N° 3184. Strategic planning is anchored in the Plan Maestro Hídrico, a 30-year master water plan developed with technical assistance from Israel's Mekorot, addressing climate change adaptation, glacier monitoring, and interjurisdictional basin coordination.

DPA is not a commercial enterprise. Revenue derives from provincial budget appropriations and irrigation/drainage fees (canon de riego) from registered users, plus multilateral financing from CAF Development Bank and ENOHSA for infrastructure capex. The agency serves agricultural producers (primary segment), municipalities, other provincial/interjurisdictional bodies, and industrial establishments subject to effluent regulation. Customer-facing channels include a central headquarters in Viedma, 8 irrigation district offices, 19 producer consortia, an 0800 hotline, and the digital Oficina Virtual. Notable ancillary operations include the Canal Pomona-San Antonio Oeste (194 km), the Plan Director de Desagües Cloacales, and the educational Museo Tecnológico del Agua y del Suelo (500+ annual visitors).

Name

Departamento Provincial de Aguas (DPA)

Legal name

Departamento Provincial de Aguas

Website

https://dpa.rionegro.gov.ar

Company type

Private

Founded year

1961

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

DPA is Río Negro Province's autonomous water authority managing 140,000 hectares of irrigation infrastructure across 19 consortia and 13,000+ users, with monitoring stations and regulatory jurisdiction over water rights and effluents.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Water Resource Management

NAICS

Water, Sewage and Other Systems (2213), Water Supply and Irrigation Systems (221310), Administration of Air and Water Resource and Solid Waste Management Programs (924110)

SIC

Water Supply (4941)

akta.pro primary industry

Water Supply & Wastewater Utilities Administration (BPAIACAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Water Resources Administration (Watersheds, Rivers, Groundwater) (BPAIAMAE), Indirect Potable Reuse (IPR) Utilities (Aquifer/Reservoir Augmentation) (EUANAGAB)

Keywords

• Water resource management
• Irrigation services
• Hydraulic infrastructure
• Water quality monitoring
• Provincial water authority

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

DPA is the autarchic provincial authority created by Law 285 in 1961 responsible for integrated water resource management in Río Negro Province, Argentina. It administers irrigation and drainage services across 140,000 hectares through 19 consortia and 4,000 km of infrastructure, executes hydraulic and sanitation infrastructure projects, and operates a hydrometeorological monitoring network of over 100 stations. The agency also enforces water quality regulations, manages groundwater studies, and regulates industrial effluent discharges under the provincial Water Code.

Product overview

Departamento Provincial de Aguas (DPA) is a provincial water management agency that operates a platform of interconnected services for integrated water resource management in Río Negro Province. The core offerings include: the Gestión Integrada del Recurso Hídrico system for comprehensive water administration; the Sistema de Riego y Drenaje managing 140,000 hectares through 19 consortia; the Intendencia General de Hidráulica y Saneamiento handling infrastructure projects; and the Intendencia General de Recursos Hídricos overseeing climate monitoring and conservation. Supporting services include the Canal Pomona - San Antonio Oeste (194km water conveyance), Plan Director de Desagües Cloacales for sewage infrastructure, and the Plan Maestro Hídrico (30-year strategic plan developed with Mekorot). The organization also operates the Museo Tecnológico del Agua y del Suelo for public education and provides digital services through its Oficina Virtual. Subsidiary company Generación y Riego SAU handles operational execution of irrigation services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Museo Tecnológico del Agua y del Suelo: Technology museum dedicated to water and soil education, showcasing permanent exhibitions on water characteristics, irrigation systems, and the history of water resource management in Río Negro.

Products and services

• Sistema de Riego y Drenaje (Irrigation and Drainage Service) Administration and governance of irrigation and drainage services for agricultural producers across Río Negro Province. Regulates 19 irrigation consortia managing approximately 140,000 hectares with 4,000 km of canals and drainage infrastructure serving over 13,000 registered users, with 86% of irrigated surface under consortium administration.
• Servicios de Hidráulica y Saneamiento (Hydraulic and Sanitation Services) Execution of water infrastructure studies and projects including irrigation works, flood defenses, sewage systems, and drainage services. Responsible for elaborating studies and projects by contract or direct administration across the province's localities.
• Servicios de Recursos Hídricos y Monitoreo Climático (Water Resources and Climate Monitoring Services) Oversight of water resources including interprovincial relations, water resource conservation implementation, hydrological planning, glacier identification, and continuous climate monitoring through a network of over 100 stations providing standardized precipitation indices, climate perspectives, monthly rainfall maps, and sudestadas alert services.
• Canal Pomona - San Antonio Oeste (Water Conveyance Service) A 194 km water canal supplying potable water to San Antonio Oeste, Las Grutas, Puerto San Antonio Este, and industrial use for ALPAT, with agricultural water points along its route.
• Plan Director de Desagües Cloacales (Sewage Master Plan Implementation) Comprehensive sewage and drainage master plan covering wastewater treatment with effluent reuse, collector systems, treatment plant upgrades, and pumping stations across multiple localities in the province.
• Museo Tecnológico del Agua y del Suelo (Water and Soil Technology Museum) Educational museum with permanent exhibitions on water characteristics, irrigation history, and sustainable resource management. Receives over 500 visitors annually with free admission and guided tours for schools and the public.
• Oficina Virtual (Virtual Administrative Office) Online platform enabling users to manage irrigation fees, file crop declarations, and process administrative procedures remotely for water services.
• Servicios de Hidrogeología (Hydrogeology Studies) Groundwater exploration and hydrogeological surveys using ABEM electrical resistivity tomography (Swedish-made) and PROMINAS rotopercussion drilling equipment (Brazilian-made) for groundwater mapping and water well exploration across 60,000 km² (30% of provincial territory).
• Registro de Usuarios de Cuerpos Receptores Hídricos (Industrial Effluent Registry and Monitoring) Registry created by Decreto 1093/10 for industrial effluent discharge users. Includes requirements for effluent quantification, treatment systems, and sampling chambers, with continuous water quality monitoring for 30 years to protect rivers, lakes, and streams under provincial Water Code regulations.
• Obras de Corte - Reparación y Mantenimiento de Sistemas de Riego (Annual Irrigation Repair and Maintenance) Annual irrigation system repair and maintenance services conducted during irrigation shutdown seasons, including canal reconstruction and infrastructure improvements to maintain operational efficiency.

Quantifiable outcome

• 86% of irrigated surface under consortium administration with 19 active consortia
• +1 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• COHIFE (Consejo Hídrico Federal)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDPA participates in the Federal Water Council, an interjurisdictional organization for shared basin management at the national level.
• COIRCO (Comité Interjurisdiccional del Río Colorado)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDPA represents Río Negro Province in the Interjurisdictional Committee of the Colorado River, managing shared water resources with other provinces.
• AIC (Autoridad Interjurisdiccional de Cuencas)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDPA participates in the Interjurisdictional Basin Authority for Limay, Neuquén, and Negro rivers, coordinating water management across multiple provinces.
• ACRA (Autoridad de Cuencas del río Azul)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDPA participates in the Azul River Basin Authority for regional water coordination.
• COHIRCHU (Cuenca del Chubut)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDPA participates in the Chubut Basin organization for water resource coordination.
• Ente Presa Embalse Casa de PiedracoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDPA participates in the Executive Entity of the Casa de Piedra Dam, a multipurpose hydroelectric project shared between Río Negro, La Pampa, and Buenos Aires provinces.
• GyRSAU (Generación y Riego SAU)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerState-owned enterprise created in 1998 by Law 3184 (formerly ARSE), responsible for operating and maintaining provincial irrigation and hydroelectric infrastructure under DPA supervision.
• ARSA (Aguas Rionegrinas Sociedad Anónima)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerProvincial water and sanitation company responsible for potable water supply and sewage services, with DPA as the regulatory authority.
• Mekorot (Israeli Company)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIsraeli technical assistance company that helped develop the 30-year Master Water Plan for Río Negro Province.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Aysa (Agua y Saneamientos Argentinos): Largest water and sanitation concessionaire in Argentina serving Buenos Aires; comparable as a state-influenced water utility, though at much greater metropolitan scale.
• California Department of Water Resources: U.S. state-level water agency responsible for planning, infrastructure, and regulation; comparable as a public-sector entity managing integrated water resources at sub-national scale.
• Subsecretaría de Recursos Hídricos de la Nación (Argentina): National-level Argentine water resources authority under which DPA coordinates; comparable as a higher-tier public-sector entity administering interjurisdictional water policy.
• Mekorot: Israel's national water company that assisted DPA with its 30-year Master Water Plan; comparable as a state-owned integrated water utility combining planning, infrastructure, and operations.

Regional players

• OSSE Mar del Plata: Argentine state-owned water and sanitation utility serving Mar del Plata; comparable as a municipally-structured water operator in Argentina, though smaller in irrigation scope.
• Instituto Correntino del Agua y del Ambiente (ICAA): Provincial water and environment authority in Corrientes, Argentina; comparable as a similarly structured provincial organismo with water management and environmental oversight functions.

Direct peers

• Aguas Rionegrinas (ARSA): Provincial water and sanitation company operating in the same Río Negro geography as DPA; comparable as the operational utility counterpart to DPA's regulatory and resource-management mandate.
• Dirección General de Aguas (DGA Chile): Chile's national water authority responsible for water resource administration, rights allocation, and monitoring; comparable as a public-sector water resource management and regulatory agency.
• Departamento General de Irrigación (Mendoza): Autonomous provincial water authority in Mendoza managing irrigation districts, water rights, and infrastructure; highly comparable in mandate, structure, and scale to DPA.
• Generación y Riego SAU (GyRSAU): Wholly-owned state enterprise created by Law 3184 to operate irrigation and hydroelectric infrastructure under DPA's supervision; directly comparable as a state-owned irrigation and energy operator.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/dparionegro
• Facebookfacebook.com/dparionegro
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/departamento-provincial-de-aguas-dpa-

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Departamento Provincial de Aguas (DPA)