Inspectors from the Environment and Energy Ministry will now benefit from the best in water testing equipment, courtesy of a donation from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The state-of-the art equipment list included tools for measuring water acidity, dissolved oxygen, conductivity and other variables used in determining water quality, according to a U.S. Embassy statement.
The donation followed a four-day training session in late January that included 35 representatives from the environment ministries of Costa Rica, Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic. Officials also learned how to identify aquatic insects, then use them as a basis for determining water quality.
According to U.S. Embassy official Bernard Link, the training is part of U.S. efforts to encourage environmental stewardship among member countries of the Central American Free-Trade Agreement (CAFTA).
EPA representative Luis Salguero called the program a success. “Everyone was excited, and everyone came away having learned something new.”
The donation comes at an opportune time, as increasing development has forced pressure on Costa Rica’s natural resources, particularly the rivers, lakes and seas.
