Abstract

SUAREZ-SERRANO, Andrea et al. Water Security: water Management in Rural Communities of the Northern Pacific of Costa Rica. Ciencias Ambientales [online]. 2019, vol.53, n.2, pp.25-46. ISSN 2215-3896.  http://dx.doi.org/10.15359/rca.53-2.2.

A group of 9 ASADAS located in the North Pacific of Costa Rica were selected, to evaluate its management and know the strategies implemented during the period of drought (2014-2016). Five basic management components were evaluated: administrative and financial, commercial, communal, water resources and management of water systems, to determine if the management is adequate to provide safe water to the communities. In addition, the quality of the drinking water of each ASADA was analyzed, applying level 1 according to the Regulation for the Quality of Drinking Water (38924-S). One of the ASADAS studied shows high development in its level of management; 3 presented a low development and 5 a weak management. In 2 ASADAS the presence of fecal coliforms and E. coli was detected during the rainy season. Only 3 of the 9 ASADAS analyzed met the optimal ranges of free residual chlorine, which compromises the quality of the water with which the population is supplied. It is concluded that, the fragility of the ASADAS evaluated a hydrometeorological event is high, due to the age of the systems, the lack of maintenance and little capacity of their storage tanks, which increases the risk during events extremes (droughts and floods). In addition, the assessed ASADAS showed mainly low or weak management; consequently, the water that is distributed to the communities could affect the water security of the communities supplied. The above, because it is not always available when needed and does not comply with some of the basic parameters of potability.

Keywords : community water management; drinking water supply; quality and quantity of water.

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