Although Costa Rica has plenty of precipitation, water is not a renewable resource; the fact is that in Costa Rica culture has not educated regarding water resources with estimates that Costa Rica waste 30% of their daily water consumption.
The Water Resources Center for Central America and the Caribbean National University (HIDROCEC) conducted a study focusing on the cost of water. Currently it is estimated that on average Tico consumes 180 liters of water a day, which is more than the average 80 liters (50 to 100 liters) recommended the World Health Organization (WHO).
“Many people think you have to have free water. Water is in the public domain and has no price, but there are certain actions such as distribution and purification that do have money and that is not included in the water bill, “said Andrea Suarez, of HIDROCEC.
According to experts, it is not only the household sector makes wasting water resources, but companies and large companies as well. Despite the high cost of water in their production processes, the rate they pay is the same as a common home. For HIDROCEC the country needs to reform tariffs for companies, whichmeaning they should pay more because “if we compare with household water footprint water footprint of agriculture or industry is quite small compared to (business and agriculture )spending,
The president of the Latin American Water Tribunal (TLA), Javier Bogantes said, that the most important thing is that the country should establish joint planning for the protection of water ecosystems. Furthermore, ensure that national policies are not contradictory and that a standard for everyone to pay actual and not a flat rate per liter, as it is currently.
There has to be balance regarding charges for the use of luxury or waste water. For example, if any company wants to have a golf course, you should pay more for water than what the city resident pays for consumption.
The TLA President said that in Costa Rica there should be more control over the sources of water, because the permissive attitude of the government runs the risk of forgetting the importance of groundwater protection.
The Costa Rica News (TCRN)
San Jose Costa Rica
