By the A.M. Costa Rica staff
The Institute of
Aqueducts and Sewers Tuesday inaugurated a new water
main in the community of Paso Bolaños, in La Cruz, Guanacaste*, at a
cost of ¢ 198 million colones (about $327,086).
The institute reports that improvements were made in
8.2 kilometers of the pipes lines to increase water
capacity, new water distribution lines, new pipes,
new hydrants, and a storage system, plus a security
officer’s cabin among other items.
"The construction consisted of implementing a deep
well to pump flow to a storage tank. The project
includes the necessary disinfection systems to
guarantee the potable water," said the institute in
its statement.
Lucrecia Pastrana , president of the Committee of
Communities of Liberia and La Cruz, said, "now
people have the drinking water service they
deserve."
The new water main was inaugurated by Harys Regidor,
president of the Institute of Rural Development, who
said that "in Guanacaste, the water issue is
fundamental for the quality of life of people, since
in times of drought like the one we are now in, this
is one of the most historically affected sites."
This is the third water main that opening this month
in Guanacaste. As A.M. Costa Rica reported on March
4, the government is also completing construction of
$3 million water main in Sardinal.
The Institute of Aqueducts reports that it has
finished the second stage in the construction of
water pipes that will provide potable water service
to the communities of Sardinal*, El Coco* and Ocotal* in Guanacaste. The
total cost of the project is ₡1,823 million colones
(about $3,005,126) and was financed by the
Institute.
"This type of project is proof that, with
political will, it is possible to advance to further
development for the area and we will continue to
encourage institutions to walk forward with this
vision," said President Carlos Alvarado.
The Institute said that the new water pipes will
benefit the 34,000 habitats of these communities and
should be adequate for the next 25 years.
The pipelines and the land for the new water
storage tank were donated by private companies
through a trust fund. The trust fund developed the
first phase of the piping in 2011 and then
transferred it to the institute.
The new main will provide 70 liters of water per
second to the communities and is made up of three
components: the field of wells and equipment, the
pipes and impulsion line, and a 2,500 cubic meter
storage tank.
The Coco and Ocotal Beaches draw their water from
coastal aquifers. According to the Institute, during
the intense period of drought 2014-2016, salt
intrusion threatened that water supply.
The source used by the new water main is located
in the Sardinal aquifer and has very safe healthy
conditions. The water there has been analyzed by
four government institutions: the Water Directorate
of the Ministry of Environment, the National
Groundwater Service and the Institute of Aqueducts,
the University of Costa Rica and the National
Meteorological Institute.
In 2008, a group of private companies opened an $8
million trust for a new project. The people of the
Sardinal area complained that the new project would
leave them without water.
In 2009, the Constitutional Chamber stopped the
progress of the project and canceled the first study
of environmental viability.
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Institute of
Aqueducts and Sewers courtesy photo
The new water main in the
community of Paso Bolaños, in La Cruz, Guanacaste,
at a cost $327,086.
Then, in 2016, the water institute conducted more
studies to confirm that there was a way to insure
sufficient water for human consumption.
In 2017, the institute filed complaints at the
Prosecutor Office of Santa Cruz in Guanacaste
because a team of specialists was attacked by a
group from Sardinal and there was vandalism that
affected project facilities. With the new water
main, it is hoped that all will be satisfied.
A second water main for Las Trancas-Bahía in
Papagayo in the canton of Carrillo in Guanacaste* was
inaugurated by President Alvarado. The total
investment in that project was ₡4,080 million
colones (about $6,725,680). According to the
Institute of Public Aqueducts, the water main will
provide 120 liters or water per second, which will
supply 14,250 people from the communities of
Carrillo.
The water main includes 15 kilometers of pipes and a
3,000 cubic meter water storage tank.
The project was carried out in a tripartite
agreement with the Tourism Institute, the Institute
of Public Aqueducts and the Grassland Enterprise
Company.
The total investment came from the Institute of
Aqueducts and the Tourism Institute with Grassland
Enterprise donating the storage tank.
"Only together, working from what unites us, we can
promote equitable development in each of the
territories, always seeking the welfare of people,"
said President Alvarado.
According to the Tourism Institute, the new water
main will provide water service in quality and
quantity to the community, but is also important for
the tourist development project, Golfo de Papagayo
Tourist Pole.
The Institute of Aqueducts said this project is a
permanent solution to the water scarcity problems in
communities of Playa Panama* and Playa Hermosa*.
The Las Trancas-Bahía de Papagayo water main is one
of the 54 government projects intended to provide
potable water to the province of Guanacaste.
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Do you know of another
area where the drinking water supply needs
improvement? We
would like to know your thoughts on this story.
Send your comments to: news@amcostarica.com
*Link to reach the
place on map.
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