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Notes on Water Pollution Meeting
February, 2005
Written By: Sandy Shaw - Secretary Fuentes Verdes
This meeting was called by SENARA, the institution responsible for underground aquifers as well as irrigation in the Guanacaste lowlands. Present were the Mayor of Tilarán and representatives from the ministries of environment, agriculture, health, the Foundation for the Arenal Conservation Area, the Environmental Commission and Fuentes Verdes.
SENARA has set up 8 water testing sites in the cantons of Tilarán and Cañas. Results show high concentrations of coliform bacteria at the outflows of the Ríos Chiquito and Tronadora. Probable causes identified in order of magnitude were (1) dairy farms washing their offal into the ravines draining into the lake, (2) inadequate septic drainage in human settlements around the lake and along the rivers, (3) and septic tank cleaners who dump the contents of their trucks into rivers feeding the lake. In addition, there are increasing levels of sediments in the watershed due to deforestation (not to mention more flooding and landslides).
The primary reason for the concern being expressed now is that contamination levels have risen to the point where they present a health risk (crops being irrigated with the water coming out of the lake), and the disastrous fish kill that occurred late last year at the tilapia farm in Cañas. We’ve talked to someone who works there, who says management considers the situation urgent.
There is a new water law in place, requiring dairy and pig farmers to create sedimentation tanks for processing their effluents. The Dos Pinos dairy cooperative is actively communicating with its members about environmental concerns and regulations, in addition to providing low-interest loans for infrastructure improvements. But the fact is that most dairy farmers in this area are not coop members, and their operations are so small that additional infrastructure costs are beyond their means.
There are also rules in place about septic tank cleaners, and Health reports that they have a number of lawsuits pending against operators who dump their trucks into the watershed.
We agreed that it is important to try to isolate the areas where contamination is worst and address those sources first. This will call for additional testing sites, but they are beyond the resources of SENARA. Monthly testing of the 8 existing sites would cost ¢80.000. At the moment, SENARA is measuring only twice a year. Obviously more funds will have to be found.
Considering the tourism importance of the region, it was suggested that tourism operators might be willing to contribute to a testing fund.
In addition, a joint effort on the part of MAG, Health and MINAE has been mounted to visit and evaluate dairy farms. Farmer education is also in their bailiwick. A number of farms have already been given 30 days to correct their drainage violations.
It will also be important to educate builders about the proper construction of septic systems. It was not decided who would do this, although one Fuentes Verdes member has been working with Health to establish adequate design parameters. No one suggested that homeowners be required to retrofit. The probability is that the poorest people have the worst systems. It was suggested that it might be worth talking to the banks to see if they could make reasonable loans available. Again, there is a lack of resources to inspect even new construction to assure it is compliant with the law.
And it was suggested that Instituto costarricense de electricidad (ICE) might be called on to mount reforestation projects in areas of greatest vulnerability. ICE maintains a very large tree nursery in the area, but lacks personnel to plant. Fuentes Verdes is working with them to mount small reforestation projects in priority areas, ICE to provide the trees, FV the labor.
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