QCOSTARICA — The Instituto Costarricense de Acueductos y Alcantarillados (AyA) = the Costa Rican state water utility – plans to build artificial lakes to ease drought and ensure water supply.
AyA’s deputy manager for the Greater Metropolitan Area (GAM), Alejandro Calderón, said the reservoirs would be in the northeastern sector of the city, replicating projects developed in other countries.
“Big cities worldwide are supplied by reservoirs, not directly from rivers. Water is drawn from those rivers and wells and conducted to big lakes to ease droughts,” he was quoted as saying by television news Teletica.com. “Having a big reservoir where you have four or five months of consumption secured and delivered when demand rises will give us a cushion.”
– Advertisement –
He also added that AyA continues to bet heavily on the protection of basins, a job that is carried out jointly with other entities such as the Ministry of Environment and Energy, and the National Service of Groundwater, Irrigation and Drainage, to deal with the shortage due to climate change.
Calderón added that these are not short-term projects but he believes the country needs to start moving towards that option.
He said the utility will continue to bet on basin protection, which is carried out along with other entities like the Ministerio de Ambiente y Energia (MINAE)—the environment and energy ministry—and the subterranean water and irrigation service to tackle climate change-related issues.
Last year, President Rodrigo Chaves said Costa Rican society needs to prepare to act given drought and a warmer climate. The government continues to look for ways to face hydric stress due to lower rainfall and higher temperatures caused by the El Niño phenomenon.
Currently, areas such as Coronado, Escazú, Alajuelita, Los Hatillos, and Pavas face many water resource rationing issues, due to climatic situations, especially in the dry season.
During the last week, unscheduled supplies were reported in Pavas, San Rafael Abajo de Desamparados, and San Felipe de Alajuelita, among others; due to the low level in the tank, according to the AyA.
– Advertisement –
These rationings are carried out between noon and 10:00 pm; however, there is annoyance among the residents, because it is the rainy season of the year and problems with water supplies continue.
– Advertisement –
Source link
Rico
