On November16th, Serapio López School filed a complaint with the Ministry of Health after several children had health problems, apparently caused by water consumption in their facilities. Officials showed up at the school, took water samples for analysis and conducted an inspection of the water system, checking tanks and wells. At press time, they were awaiting the results of the studies.
The administrator of ASADA in central Nosara, Luis Bermudez, said there are very frequent complaints from users regarding the quantity and quality of water, but there is little that he and the plumber, Julio Noguera, can do to improve these aspects. For them, the problems are a result of the piping and collection tanks being too old.
This ASADA serves 587 subscribers, covering the center of Nosara, the San Carlos neighborhood, the ??Hollywood area and Los Arenales. Subscribers in Los Arenales represent approximately 60% and have fewer water quality problems because the pipe and storage tank are in better condition and the system is not as old as the one that feeds into the center.
For those in charge of the aqueduct, what is needed is simply money to modernize and upgrade the entire network. They are clear about what needs to be done, but the income generated from the water supply only covers operating expenses. |
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After the earthquake on September 5, members of the ASADA found cracks in
one of the water tanks. |
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The monthly income for water consumption and other revenue is on average 2.4 million colones ($ 4800). Subtract from that about 900,000 ($ 1,800) for payment of electricity bills, 675,000 ($ 1,350) for mortgage to Banco Popular, 600,000 ($1,200) for wages, 250,000 ($ 500) for insurance and policies, more fees, maintenance, raw materials, etc., and there is nothing left to invest and make improvements.
VON visited the collection tank that supplies the school sector, which is located on a hill near the Ebais. The old metal frame was placed there some 40 years ago and since then constantly receives water from an old well, located about 40 feet below. The water that comes out looks crystal clear and fresh, indicating that the contamination problem originates in the tank and consequently is in the pipes, which according to Noguera, are overloaded with residue that has been accumulating for years. VON could observe the reduction of the inner diameter of the pipe created by the residue, which in some cases is almost 50%. Furthermore, following the earthquake of September 5, the tank was severely damaged and needed immediate attention. They made two patches on the already corroded bottom.
The President of the ASADA, Christoph Hubmann, says he is looking to revamp the entire system of supply and storage, find new sources of potable water, legalize the status of the association and unify all ASADAs in the area, but he recognizes that bureaucracy and requirements make it difficult to get help. With these goals and the intention of forming a new board of directors, there will be a general assembly on December 7th at 5 p.m. in the FUCAN building and Hubmann encourages all subscribers to attend.
Meanwhile, if you are a consumer of water in Nosara, it is better to take certain precautionary measures, such as boiling and cooling water that you will ingest and using water wisely.
Rates of drinking water in Nosara
In Super Nosara, one liter of bottled water costs 600 colones, while for one liter of water in the house, ASADA Nosara charges 0.11 colones.
That means that if you consume one cubic meter of water supplied by ASADA, they will charge 110 colones (about 22 cents U.S.). In comparison, one cubic meter of water supplied by bottling companies would cost 600,000 colones ($ 1,200).
An average family of Nosara consumes 18 cubic meters per month and pays 1,980 colones ($ 4). If you bought this amount of bottled water, you would pay 10.8 million colones ($ 21.600). |
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