No menu items!

COSTA RICA'S LEADING ENGLISH LANGUAGE NEWSPAPER

HomeArchivePineapple Pollution Threatens Water Supply

Pineapple Pollution Threatens Water Supply

Pineapple companies along the Caribbean slope have agreed to collaborate with government officials to eliminate agrochemical pollution that threatens the water supply of more than 6,000 people in the region.

The announcement, according to the daily La Nación, came after the Municipality of Siquirres asked President Oscar Arias to declare a state of emergency in the canton last month, followed by a Public Health Ministry request to stop using such chemicals so close to a public water supply.

“Though the business of growing pineapples is important, nothing is more so than our safety,” said Health Minister María Luisa Avila.

Earlier in the month, the National Water and Sewer Institute (AyA) announced tests show small quantities of chemical substances in an aquifer that provides water to more than 6,000 residents.

Researcher Clemens Ruper, of the National University (UNA), told the daily that pineapple plantations were found within 20 meters of spring sources, well within the 200 meters required by law.

Increasing amounts of chemical pesticides, which can have mid- and long-term health effects, were discovered over three years of study by the university, including more than 100 wells and six area springs, in the towns of Guápiles, Pocora, Guácimo, Batán and Matina.

 

Trending Now

An Expat’s Take: 5 Burning Questions About Life in Costa Rica Right Now

Have you been keeping up with the various events taking place in Costa Rica? There is always something interesting going down, and here are...

Costa Rica’s Pride March 2025 Defies Restrictions and Celebrates Diversity

A large crowd gathered in Paseo Colón, San José, to participate in the LGBTIQ+ Pride March 2025. It began at noon, as people marched...

Costa Rica Court Moves to Lift President Chaves’ Immunity

Costa Rica’s Supreme Court of Justice on Tuesday asked Congress — for the first time in the history of this country with a well-established...

Guatemala Makes History as They Face USA in Gold Cup Semifinal Showdown

Desperate to show progress under Mauricio Pochettino, the United States is looking to secure a return to the CONCACAF Gold Cup final on Wednesday...

El Salvador Sentences Ex-Military Chiefs for 1982 Murder of Dutch Journalists

A court in El Salvador sentenced three former military chiefs to 60 years in prison on Thursday for the murder of four Dutch journalists...

Costa Rica Green Hotels Lead Global Sustainable Tourism

Costa Rica’s reputation as a leader in sustainable tourism grows stronger every year, with our green hotels setting a high bar for eco-conscious hospitality...
Avatar
spot_img
Costa Rica Tours
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Travel Insurance
Costa Rica Rocking Chait
Costa Rica Travel

Latest News from Costa Rica