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Water May Cause Illnesses in Nosara Schoolchildren
Nosara ASADA says it has no money to replace pipes

By Marvin Castillo

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.

 
After the earthquake on September 5, members of the ASADA found cracks in
one of the water tanks.
   
 

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).


 

More Regional News

Drought Will Hit Communities with Water Shortages

Starting now, several communities in the Canton of Nicoya will have to have patience as water rationing will be the order of the day since this past rainy season left a 25% shortage of water, according to Water and Sewer (AyA—Acueductos y Alcantarillados).

New Law Could Bring Salary Changes to Wait Staff Served

A decision by the constitutional court in San Jose, in a 6-1 vote, made to streamline income and collect taxes on it, could mean the loss of millions of colones for serving and wait-staff across the country.

Increase in Crime with Return of Tourists

During the first 15 days of November, the beginning of tourist season, the tourist police reported an increase in the number of crimes against property. At the same time, Jeison Vargas, tourist police chief in Guiones, assured that this is what the tourist police are here for and that they are visiting the area businesses every day.

Costa Rica Scores More or Less On Corruption Index

Costa Rica ranks 48th in Transparency International’s 2012 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) which measures perceived public sector corruption in 176 countries. Costa Rica’s score in the 2012 survey is 54 on a scale of 0 (perceived to be highly corrupt) to 100 (perceived to be very clean).

Thieves Steal Boat Engine in Garza

On the morning of Monday, November 19th, Juan Rafael Hernandez Salguera (known as Juan Mora) of Garza received a phone call that his boat was missing. The anchor had been cut.

Archeologists Didn’t Find Indian Remains in Front of Colonial Church

Nicoyans have expressed divided opinions over the construction of a new plaza in front of the Colonial Church. One of the concerns manifested by some is about the existence of indigenous remains en the area where they are moving earth. 

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