The Ministry of Economy, Planning and Development, coordinator of the Water Cabinet, carries out the consultation of the “Pact for Water” in the province of Santo Domingo, with the aim of specifying a document through social and public consensus.
The event, headed by the Minister of Economy, Planning and Development, Miguel Ceara Hatton, together with the members of the Water Sector Cabinet and members of the Greater Santo Domingo Water Thematic Table, aims to present the Proposal of the National Commitment for a “Pact for Water 2021-2036” and the Hydrological Diagnosis of the province, in order to build a country with water security for all Dominicans.”
During the act, Minister Ceara Hatton explained the “Contextualizations on the water sector in Greater Santo Domingo”, with a view to improving the quality of life of the people.
The economist highlighted that through consultations in all the provinces of the country, their needs are determined, based on the initial diagnosis that includes information, analysis and deficiencies.
He pointed that with this meeting 31 provinces join the consultation work with society on water problems. At the conclusion of the Elías Piña province, the final results will be sent to the Economic and Social Council, with the aim of completing a document that truly reflects the felt needs of the population, in order to convert it into a political consensus and a long-term state policy.
“We are looking for a solution to a problem that only a long-term solution due to its size and complexity, the water problem is very difficult to solve in a short time and requires an investment of more than 8 billion pesos,” Minister Ceara Hatton to the local media.
The presentation of the diagnosis of the water problem for Greater Santo Domingo was made by the director of the Water Cabinet Gilberto Reynoso.
Challenges of Greater Santo Domingo Santo Domingo
Among the challenges presented by Greater Santo Domingo, the recovery of 64% of the water currently delivered and not used stands out; increase the coverage of drinking water in quality, quantity and timeliness to 95% of the population; increase the coverage of sanitary sewerage and treatment plants to 60%; to eliminate the causes of the degradation of the quality of the bodies of surface water, groundwater and the marine coastline.
Also, increase the appreciation of the water resource by citizens; develop a culture of water in the population; achieve governance of water resources to an effective, stable and legitimate level and move from 32% regulation to 40%.
Resource problems water resources of Greater Santo Domingo
According to the diagnosis carried out for Greater Santo Domingo, eight main problems were identified based on the variable critical causes, such as: insufficient satisfaction of the population regarding the demand for drinking water in quantity, quality and opportunity; Insufficient infrastructure for wastewater collection and treatment; limited regulation and storage infrastructure (dams); degradation of the quality of bodies of surface water, groundwater and coastal waters.
so such as the generation of diseases of water origin, both due to the consumption of poor quality drinking water, and due to contact with contaminated water; Increasing risk for the population associated with climatic events; Lack of governance for the proper use of water resources and Scarce valuation of water resources.
It is recalled that since January 2022, the Cabinet of the Water Sector and the Ministry of Economy, Planning and Development, have carried out the socialization and consultation process of the National Water Pact, at the provincial level. To date, the pact has been socialized in 30 of the 32 provinces, with the participation of the institutions officials, private sector entities and social organizations linked to the water sector.
The meeting held at the Ministry of Economy facilities was also attended by Eduardo Julia, Deputy Minister of Environment and Resources Naturales, and Wascar Martínez, deputy director of the National Institute of Hydraulic Resources.
In addition, government representatives, city councils, universities, the private sector, society c ivil, among others.