A new report estimates that a lack of rainfall and rising sea levels from climate change threaten an “alarming” number of Costa Rica’s indigenous flora and fauna, and human access to potable drinking water.
Costa Rica will experience the effects of an El Niño weather phenomenon beginning in July, which means less rainfall for most of the country, the National Meteorological Institute reported Wednesday.
Costa Rica's ongoing hot and dry weather is causing water shortages, especially in high-altitude areas of the capital and some parts of the province of Heredia.
The Public Services Regulatory Authority (ARESEP) will submit in April a proposal to reduce water rates for customers of Costa Rica's Water and Sewer Institute (AyA) and the Public Service Company of Heredia (ESPH). Customers who get their water from municipalities may not be affected.
Costa Rica’s Water and Sewer Institute (AyA) this year will stop printing and delivering water bills to all residences, and will instead email or text them, an agency spokesman said.
