Copahue: Heated Streets

The installation of a heating system in the streets of Copahue, in the northern part of the Province of Neuquén, and famous for its hot springs, continues. This is the first experience in the world of its kind, using steam to heat the streets.

It uses the raw material from a geothermal well, without affecting the local ecosystem and probably permitting the extension of the tourist season by avoiding snow accumulation in the streets.

The work implies changing the present pavement layer with radiating slabs with serpentines in carbon steel tubing.

The project is being implemented in several stages, including one involving the perforation of a new geothermal well with a depth of 1,300 meters.

The works were executed by a local company using leading edge technology and demanded an investment close to $6,000,000.