Stock of drinking-water sources managed by Instituto Costarricense de Acueductos y Alcantarillados during 2015

Abstract

In Costa Rica, the drinking-water sources for human consumption are classified in three types: surface water, groundwater, and spring water. The aim of the present study is to inventory, classify and qualify the drinking-water sources managed by Instituto Costarricense de Acueductos y Alcantarillados (AyA), which are registered in the database of the National Water Laboratory for the year 2015. This information was broken down into drinking-water source types and quality percentages. Data were gathered using the Water Quality Control Programme of the National Water Laboratory. Groundwater and spring water sources qualification was based on the physical-chemical and microbiological criteria established on the study called Actualización de los criterios de calidad de aguas de pozos y nacientes para potabilización en Costa Rica 2012; the criteria for qualifying surface water sources was taken from the Reglamento para la Evaluación y Clasificación de la Calidad de Cuerpos de Agua Superficiales Decreto N°33903-MINAE-S. There were 492 drinking-water sources managed by AyA; 47 were surface water (10 %), 287 groundwater (58 %) and 158 spring water (32 %). Groundwater and spring water sources predominated at a national level; Región Área Metropolitana (RAM) showed the highest percentage of surface water sources (25 %). Excellent and good quality was greater than 50 % in the three types of sources. The former study recommends to develop a programme, ran by the AyA, in order to protect the drinking-water sources, and guarantee water quality.