No menu items!

COSTA RICA'S LEADING ENGLISH LANGUAGE NEWSPAPER

HomeTopicsEnvironment and WildlifeCritics Warn New Water Law in Costa Rica Threatens Biodiversity & Aquifers

Critics Warn New Water Law in Costa Rica Threatens Biodiversity & Aquifers

Costa Rica’s push to modernize its water management with a new Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM) law has hit a rough patch. Environmental groups, with over 100 organizations voicing opposition, argue the bill takes a big step backward on environmental and social fronts. While the 1942 Water Law needs an update to handle today’s population of 5 million and 2–3 million annual tourists, critics say this proposal misses the mark.

One major issue is the plan to shrink protection zones around springs and aquifers without requiring technical studies or guarantees. These zones are critical for maintaining water quality and ecosystem health. Reducing them could fragment forests, harm biodiversity, disrupt the water cycle, and make the country more vulnerable to extreme weather, like droughts and floods, which are becoming more common due to climate change.

The consequences are already clear in Cartago, where communities like Cipreses and San Pablo have faced water contamination. Springs serving thousands of residents were tainted with chlorothalonil, a fungicide linked to agriculture. A 2016 study by the Center for Research in Environmental Protection found that 80% of some spring protection areas are compromised: 44% by intensive farming, 33% by pasture, 3% by infrastructure, and just 20% by forest. Instead of protecting these springs, the government raised chlorothalonil limits—a move later ruled illegal by the Constitutional Chamber. On a brighter note, Health Minister Mary Denisse Munive banned chlorothalonil in November 2023, a step activists like Fabián Pacheco have celebrated.

Another sore point is the bill’s allowance for real estate projects, like tourist condos, to drill private wells if the Costa Rican Institute of Aqueducts and Sewers (AyA) can’t meet demand. This rule doesn’t differentiate between small community projects and large private developments. In coastal areas, where tourism is booming, this could fuel uncontrolled growth, displace locals, and strain ecosystems. Past water crises, like in Manuel Antonio National Park, show how overdevelopment can overwhelm water systems, leaving hotels reliant on AyA water tankers.

Environmentalists are also alarmed by the bill’s proposal to grant amnesty to illegal wells without studying their impact. This move could reward illegal drilling and threaten aquifer sustainability, especially as groundwater supplies 60–90% of Costa Rica’s drinking water. “The climate and ecological crisis demands water management that’s fair, democratic, and respects nature’s cycles,” environmental groups stated. They worry the bill favors extractive industries over long-term sustainability.

The Grande de Tárcoles River, one of Central America’s most polluted basins, highlights the stakes. Despite Costa Rica’s green reputation, only 15% of collected sewage is treated, and untreated wastewater pollutes rivers and aquifers. The bill, still under debate in the Legislative Assembly as of now, doesn’t adequately address these systemic issues, critics argue.

Trending Now

Can Costa Rica’s Blue Zone Preserve Its Longevity Legacy?

The Nicoya Peninsula in Costa Rica is recognized worldwide as one of the five blue zones, where people live beyond the age of 90...

Keylor Navas Joins Pumas After Controversial Exit from Newell’s

Costa Rican goalkeeper Keylor Navas is officially the newest player for Pumas UNAM, but his move from Argentina’s Newell’s Old Boys has been anything...

Costa Rica Food Culture: From Bar Bocas to Fast Food Chains

Once upon a time in Costa Rica, you could walk into a bar, order a beer, and receive a free boca – a small...

Panama Farmer Receives Land Title After 60-Year Wait at Age 109

A 109-year-old Panamanian farmer has received the land title for the property where he lives and works—six decades after first requesting it from the...

Megan Fox and Machine Gun Kelly Vacation in Costa Rica with Baby

Megan Fox and Machine Gun Kelly touched down in Costa Rica for a family getaway with their three-month-old daughter, Saga Blade Fox-Baker. Photographers caught...

Costa Rica Rescues Endangered Amphibians and Turtles in Store Bust

The Judicial Investigation Agency (OIJ), through its Specialized Section Against Environmental Crimes, carried out an operation at a store in Vázquez de Coronado, San...
spot_img
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