The city of Montevideo, capital of the Republic of Uruguay, and its Metropolitan Area, rural Montevideo, San Jose Prefecture, Canelones Prefecture Florida Prefecture and Lavalleja Prefecture, form the Santa Lucia River Basin. The area comprehends approximately 10% of the national territory and holds a population of approximately two million, representing over 60% of the whole nation population, that concentrates in this basin.

The water quality in this area begun to deteriorate because of increasing domestic loads, industrial discharges produced by the concentration of industries, illegal dumping of solid wastes in urban zones, and agricultural activities that uses fertilizers and chemicals, heavily affecting drinking water sources in the rural areas.

To face this environmental deterioration, the Government of Uruguay, with the support of the Government of Japan, decided to impulse a Project of Institutional Strengthening.

The prime objectives of the Project were; to improve the river water quality in Montevideo and the Metropolitan Area; improve the public consciousness on environment hygiene; and, prevent future water pollution.