By Ángela Ávalos Rodríquez

This is AyA’s response to inquiries from residents of Tibás, Goicoechea, and Moravia wondering why they still lack water despite promises of no cuts with two new wells.

On March 11th, the Costa Rican Institute of Aqueducts and Sewers (AyA) announced to the over 107,000 residents of Tibás, Moravia, and Goicoechea that the water shortage would be resolved with two new wells that would have started operating that same day.

AyA reported at that time that the addition of these new sources would allow the Guadalupe aqueduct to reach 350 liters per second. This represented an increase of 130 liters per second compared to production prior to the emergency caused by hydrocarbon contamination in January.
Juan Manuel Quesada, AyA’s executive president, assured in March that this amount of liquid would be sufficient to cope with the dry season and the deficit. However, the 24/7 continuity of the drinking water service lasted no more than a week in these three cantons of San José.

This Tuesday, La Nación consulted AyA authorities about what happened to those wells. Alejandro Calderón, deputy manager of Management of Systems in the Greater Metropolitan Area (GAM), assured that the two wells are incorporated into the system and are operational.

“The one in Guadalupe was incorporated in March with 95 liters per second. The San Blas well was also partially incorporated in March through an electric generator because we did not have the connection from the National Power and Light Company.

“Last Friday we achieved the definitive connection, so it will start operating with an output of 75 liters per second 24 hours a day,” explained Calderón.
For his part, AyA’s executive president, Juan Manuel Quesada, rejected the notion that the wells only functioned for a few days. “We have been making improvements to not only incorporate the 50 (liters per second) but increase it by 50% with pumping mechanisms and electrical service that make our service much more efficient and continuous,” explained Quesada.

Both officials participated in a press conference this Tuesday entitled “What’s happening with the water?”
In response to that question, AyA stated that a phenomenon like El Niño, which has led to a more intense and prolonged summer, has reduced the flow of the sources from which the systems draw water for drinking by up to 85% on average.

AyA has implemented palliative measures to ensure supply for a few hours to affected communities. However, according to Quesada, the definitive solution will come from public works projects that expand the capacity to meet demand. These projects are still underway.

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