Water for human consumption and sanitation in Costa Rica to 2016. Goals to 2022 and 2030

Abstract

The study aims to analyze the drinking-water coverage and sanitation in domestic wastewater, in order to stablish the 2022 and 2030 country targets within the framework of Objetive 6 of the “Sustainable Development Objectives”. Five stages were developed: coverage and drinking-water quality, domestic wastewater sanitation, summary of the National Program for the Improvement and Sustainability of the Quality of the Services for Drinking-water (PNMSCSAP), the proposal of the National Program for Wastewater Management (PNMAAR) and the goals to be fulfilled with both programs for 2022 and 2030, respectively. In 2016, the costarrican population supplied with drinking-water by AyA, Municipalities, rural aqueducts, among others, was about 4,889,762 inhabitants. The potability was 91.8% and 99.5% of the population received water per pipeline; with 1,878 aqueducts and 696 non-potable water. Drinking-water quality has improved along the years, in spite of certain chemical pollution events. A total of 5,222 water sources were evaluated during 2016, with the use of spring sources prevailing. Water quality control was applied to aqueducts, wish provided drinking-water to 74.1% of the country's population. The 86.3% of the population was supplied with treated or disinfected drinking-water. In Costa Rica, 76.6% of excreta disposal was carried out through septic tanks, 21.3% through sewer (only 8.2% received treatment), 1.9% through other systems, and 0.2% lacked of excreta disposal systems. In order to improve the country´s water quality and sanitation, two initiatives were proposed: PNMSCSAP and PNMAAR. The programmes “Bandera Azul Ecológica” and “Sello de Calidad Sanitaria” should be included within this scheme. Futher studies with a wider approach are needed