Costa Rica readying Heredia water project

The Costa Rican government is advancing a potable water project for Río Frío in Sarapiquí, a canton in Heredia province.

The project entails building a potable water treatment plant, two supply lines and three storage tanks, and requires an estimated 2.98bn colones (US$4.9mn), according to consultancy firm Hidrotec.

Some 7,758 families are expected to benefit from the work, which will help meet their water supply needs for 25 years, the government said in a release.

The project, still in the preliminary stage, is expected to begin next year, Rodolfo Piza (pictured), minister of the presidency, said at a meeting with local authorities and residents on Friday.

Different government entities are working to secure the necessary funds for the works, which are expected to come from national water and sewerage utility AyA, rural development institute INDER, the fund for family allowances (Fodesaf), and multinational banana company Dole.

A technical committee was set up to oversee progress on the project, the release said. A meeting to review technical and budgetary progress has been scheduled for June.

The technical pre-investment studies are expected to be completed in 45 days, according to officials.