Water situation in the DR is critical
If measures are not taken, the situation will be much worse in 2025
SANTO DOMINGO. In spite of the fact that it is a land rich in water sources, The Dominican Republic has entered a critical phase of water supplies, and has serious supply problems. This has been put into evidence by the drought that is currently affecting a large part of the national territory. It has reduced the water supply to the city of Santo Domingo by 100 million gallons a day, and by 20% in most of the aqueducts around the country.
According to statements by Mariano German, the director of the National Institute of Potable Water and Drainage (INAPA), generally speaking the scarcity index of the country is between 52% and 49%, but it is much higher in the regions of the South Yaque River, where the decrease is at 86% while in the North Yaque River it is at 65%.
"Because of this, it is obligatory that in the Dominican Republic we begin to work with the issue of the demand on water consumption", he said during the celebration of the World Water Day, organized by the Ministry of the Environment.
German mentioned a study from 2006, carried out by the Dominican Institute of Hydraulic Resources (INDRHI) that indicated that if the population continued to waste water in the actual proportions, the country would see serious supply problems for its principle urban centers by 2025. Currently, the water consumption per capita is three times the world media and the availability of surface water per inhabitant is low, with respect to international parameters. Because of this, the director of the Santo Domingo Water and Sewer Corporation (CAASD), Ramon Rivas, called upon the population to make rational use of the water.
No regulations
Meanwhile, the vice-minister of the Environment, Rosa Urania Abreu, emphasized that in order to better the situation a greater investment of resources was needed, as well as the approval of the legal framework that established the mechanisms that would control the use of water. She reminded the reporters that the legislative proposal regarding a General Water Law has been dormant in the Congress for 17 years and the law on the reform of potable water and clean up has been there for 10 years awaiting approval. "We have the hope that this sector gets a little bit organized", said Abreu when she spoke in representation of the Ministry of the Environment.
Experiences in Puerto Rico
As part of the activities, the Ministry of the Environment invited engineer Juan Carlos Perez, from the Puerto Rico Aqueduct Authority, to speak on the experiences of that country in the management of "green aqueducts". Perez emphasized that in order to obtain efficiency in water management, it is necessary to bring about a change in the culture of the people.
He indicated that the Water Authority of his country has implemented a series of projects for making efficient and of recycling of bio-solids that are generated by the water treatment plants, which allows them to get rid of the waste in an environmentally secure manner.
According to statements by Mariano German, the director of the National Institute of Potable Water and Drainage (INAPA), generally speaking the scarcity index of the country is between 52% and 49%, but it is much higher in the regions of the South Yaque River, where the decrease is at 86% while in the North Yaque River it is at 65%.
"Because of this, it is obligatory that in the Dominican Republic we begin to work with the issue of the demand on water consumption", he said during the celebration of the World Water Day, organized by the Ministry of the Environment.
German mentioned a study from 2006, carried out by the Dominican Institute of Hydraulic Resources (INDRHI) that indicated that if the population continued to waste water in the actual proportions, the country would see serious supply problems for its principle urban centers by 2025. Currently, the water consumption per capita is three times the world media and the availability of surface water per inhabitant is low, with respect to international parameters. Because of this, the director of the Santo Domingo Water and Sewer Corporation (CAASD), Ramon Rivas, called upon the population to make rational use of the water.
No regulations
Meanwhile, the vice-minister of the Environment, Rosa Urania Abreu, emphasized that in order to better the situation a greater investment of resources was needed, as well as the approval of the legal framework that established the mechanisms that would control the use of water. She reminded the reporters that the legislative proposal regarding a General Water Law has been dormant in the Congress for 17 years and the law on the reform of potable water and clean up has been there for 10 years awaiting approval. "We have the hope that this sector gets a little bit organized", said Abreu when she spoke in representation of the Ministry of the Environment.
Experiences in Puerto Rico
As part of the activities, the Ministry of the Environment invited engineer Juan Carlos Perez, from the Puerto Rico Aqueduct Authority, to speak on the experiences of that country in the management of "green aqueducts". Perez emphasized that in order to obtain efficiency in water management, it is necessary to bring about a change in the culture of the people.
He indicated that the Water Authority of his country has implemented a series of projects for making efficient and of recycling of bio-solids that are generated by the water treatment plants, which allows them to get rid of the waste in an environmentally secure manner.
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