Water is essential for the survival and well-being of all humans. Costa Rica has a dense water network distributed in two slopes that allow to manage the availability of water in the national territory; the Caribbean and the Pacific slopes.
The water resource is subject to a growing demand at a global level, which is why in our country, the distribution and management of water have to follow certain regulations.
UNESCO places Costa Rica as one of the countries with the best access to improved water sources; 99.4% of the Costa Rican population has water service for human consumption distributed in aqueducts.
83.4% of the population receives drinking quality water, while 76% of the population served receives water subject to quality control. This suggests that not all the population supplied with water necessarily receives it of drinking quality.
Availability of water in the Pacific area
The Pacific zone of Costa Rica is a coastal region that occupies the southern part of the Nicoya Peninsula and the narrow coastal plain of the Pacific Ocean coast.
Being a coastal area, the availability of water depends on the location of the property and its uses. Water can be obtained through one of the following options:
Asadas
The ASADAS are local entities constituted as associations by delegation of the Costa Rican Acueductos y Alcantarillados (AyA). They administer, operate, maintain and develop the aqueduct and sewerage systems in those communities in which neither the AYA nor the respective municipality provide drinking water supply and sanitation services.
The Asadas are made up of the neighbors of the community who benefit from the service. In Costa Rica there are approximately 1500 local operators of aqueduct systems that are responsible for supplying almost 30% of the population.
As for the aqueduct service, the ASADAS must guarantee that the quality of the water they offer is suitable for human consumption, according to the standards established by the health authorities. This means ensuring that water sources and recharge areas are properly protected, in accordance with current environmental legislation.
Aqueducts and Pipes
Aqueducts and Pipes
AyA’s supply system maps are pipes that provide drinking water to different communities in the country.
Unlike the Asadas, these aqueducts are administered directly by the AyA; they also include sanitation services for wastewater and other components.
The current coverage in the Pacific area corresponds to town with a greater concentration of population, such as Puntarenas (including the center and the sector of El Roble-Barranca), Jacó, Quepos and Esparza, and its surroundings.
These systems have an area that gather the urban quadrants, as well as some branches that go to peripheral areas, given that these populations are in continuous growth and development.
People interested in obtaining this type of water, should make the application in the AyA directly.
Artisanal Wells
Artisanal Wells
In Costa Rica, groundwater belongs to the nation. When they are extracted through artisanal wells, for exclusively domestic uses carried out on the same farm where the well is located, it is not necessary to have a water concession, but it is necessary to register the use.
This model of water availability is commonly used in areas near the mountain however these are some considerations that you should take into account if you want to obtain water through an artisanal well:
- Water can only be used for domestic uses.
- The well must be WITHIN the property it provides.
- In Costa Rica, the water well must be made through a specialized private company. You can consult the list of registered well drilling companies HERE.
- The number of liters and flow depend on the type of well that is excavated.
- The well must be registered with property number, exact address, cadastre plan, farm number and other specifications that you can see here.
You can make the inscription of your artisan well HERE.
If you want to invest in the Pacific area of Costa Rica or if you are interested in knowing more about the availability of water in the area where your property is located, do not hesitate to contact our specialized advisors.
