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Published Monday, May 11, 2020
The $422 million
metropolitanarea pipeline project advances The project to improve drinking water service in the country was declared a public interest by the government. It is planned to distribute 2,500 liters of water per second from the Orosi area in Cartago Province to the metropolitan area of San José Province According to the Institute of Aqueducts, this is a project that cost $422 million and is in its design stage. "This pipeline project will provide drinking water to 600,000 people in the Metropolitan Area until 2041," said Yamileth Astorga, president of the Institute. It also includes the construction of 42 km of pipes, 8.6 km of tunnels, a new water treatment plant and four storage tanks of 10,000 cubic meters each. The declaration of public interest allows the Ministry of Environment to authorize the construction of infrastructure to supply drinking water from the State's natural source. The current drinking water business is a monopoly of the government. In the case of this project, this authorization was necessary to install some of the pipes, build the entrances and exits of the tunnels and work on part of the land of the new water treatment plant. According to the institute, the construction of pipelines will begin in 2021, which will also generate more than 600 jobs. The project is expected to be completed in 2025. In addition to this project, the institute announced progress in other 23 pipelines improvement projects also in the metropolitan area, at a cost of $54,756,594 for distributing drinking water to the inhabitants. According to the institute, the deficit in drinking water service in San José province is due to the fact that there have been two consecutive years of little rain, which has affected rivers and water wells, between 6% and 85 percent. People in communities affected by constant cuts in drinking water service are at a disadvantage for following the Ministry of Health recommendations to be constantly washing hands and following clean habits. Access to water and sanitation is a human right, according to a United Nations resolution made in 2010.  In April, the court known as the Constitutional Chamber, ordered the government, through the Institute of Aqueducts, to restore drinking water services in the communities where this public service was suspended for a period not exceeding one month. The court order comes after a claim was accepted of an elderly woman from the Hatillo-2 District of San José Province. According to the claim, the woman alleged that she had received drinking water services for less than two hours a day and at the time the claim was filed, she had more than 40 consecutive hours without receiving the vital liquid. Representatives of the court, in an investigation made in the community of Hatillo-2, verified that on March 9, water service was provided from 4:15 p.m. to 6 p.m. The next day the drinking water service was not restored. "This situation, of which damage is notoriously aggravated by the covid-19 pandemic, requires the intervention of this court because, despite the fact that the shortage of problems in the country has been reflected since 2017, AyA has lagged behind infrastructure investment, as well as an important waste of water, for example, leaks," said the court in its statement. The court orders the institute "to make what is necessary within the scope of its powers so, in the event of prolonged interruptions in the water service, taking into account the covid-19 pandemic, the affected population is guaranteed sufficient supply of this liquid so that it can supply their basic needs and implement the hygiene recommendations that the health authorities have issued." In addition, the order pointed out that the distribution of water by means of water tanks trucks has been insufficient, and, in the middle of this pandemic, the supply of drinking water is essential to prevent the spread of the virus and protect the health of the inhabitants. --------------------- Have you heard of drinking water services being cut in your community? We would like to know your thoughts on this story. Send your comments to news@amcostarica.com |
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