DRR-Team Mission Report · DRR-TEAM MISSION REPORT Costa Rica ‘124 February 6 - 3 - DRR-TEAM...

DRR-TEAM MISSION REPORT Costa Rica 24 February ‘16 - 1 -

DRR-Team Mission Report

Costa Rica

November 22 – 28, 2015


24 February 2016

Mission Report, Draft


DRR-TEAM Costa Rica

Document title Mission Report

Status Final

Date 24 February 2016

Project name Water Related Risks in Costa Rica

Photos made available by Amber Douma, Patricia Trambauer, Klaas de

Groot

Reference

Written by Klaas de Groot, Patricia Trambauer

Checked by RVO / Embassy of the Kingdom of the

Netherlands, San José, Costa Rica

Date/initials check

Approved by


SUMMARY

From November 22 to 28, 2015 a first DRR-Team mission took place to assist Costa Rica

with reducing risks of water related disaster. This mission focused on drought-related

challenges in the Arco Secco and more specifically in the region of Guanacaste. A second

report will follow with the information generated during the second mission that is

expected to take place in the first quarter of 2016. The second mission will focus on flood

risks in the catchments that drain towards the Caribbean Sea.

The DRR-Team was invited by the ‘Comisión Nacional de Prevención de Riesgos y

Atención de Emergencias’ (CNE or National Commission on Risk Prevention and

Emergency Management) to provide ideas on short and long term interventions to

mitigate or adapt to the effects of the drought and flooding. These extremes are the

result of climate variability caused by the phenomenon known as El-Niño. This report

provides an overview of the meetings that have taken place, the field trip that was made

to the region of Guanacaste and the ideas / interventions that came out of the meetings

to face the actual challenges.

The mission team was composed of two representatives of the Dutch Water Sector:

Klaas de Groot / Integrated Water Resources Management

Patricia Trambauer / Drought forecasting and Early Warning Systems

During the mission the DRR-Team was supported on a continuous basis by the Embassy

of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Ambassador Mette Gongrijp attended a series of the

meetings and was informed of other activities, as was Alexander Kofman. Amber Douma

assisted in all meetings and has been very helpful in organizing our calendars and

making it possible to achieve the objectives of the scoping mission.

Manny actors were visited. These were representatives of national as well as local

authorities, IFI’s, NGO’s, Universities, the Private Sector and from local communities.

During the mission some immediate interventions were identified as well as medium and

long-term measures. Furthermore, the existing level of knowledge of the Dutch water

sector was discussed, particularly concerning potential interventions to reduce risks

related to flooding and drought.

Immediate measures can be categorized in either increasing the availability of water

(more wells, diversion and transport of water, local retention of water) or reducing the

demand of this resource (through education, awareness building, pricing, prioritizing land

uses). Measures to reduce risks in the long term include watershed restoration, water

storage, redirecting streams, reuse of treated waste water, institutional capacity-

building, restructuring of the institutional framework, training/awareness building,

changing land use, increasing efficiency of water use, changing governance

arrangements, general planning of the use of the available water resources and the use

of early warning systems.

CNE will evaluate these ideas and possibly include these initiatives in the emergency

program that will be implemented during the next five years.


CONTENTS

1 DRR-TEAM MISSION 7 1.1 Introduction 7

1.2 Scope of Work 7

1.3 Approach 8

1.4 Actors 9

2 ANALYSIS 11

3 FINDINGS 14 3.1 Issues to be addressed 14

3.2 Short term interventions 15

3.3 Mid and long term interventions 17

3.4 Financing 17

4 PROPOSED FOLLOW-UP ACTIVITIES 18

5 FLOOD RISK MANAGEMENT MISSION 19

ANNEX A – DRR-TEAM 21

ANNEX B – TEAM MEMBERS 22

ANNEX C – TERMS OF REFERENCE 23

ANNEX D – MISSION PROGRAM 24

ANNEX E– BRIEF MINUTES OF MEETINGS 25


LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS

ASADAS Asociación administradora de sistemas de acueductos y alcantarillado

ASR Aquifer Storage Recovery

AYA Instituto Costarricense de Acueductos y Alcantarillado

BCIE Banco Centroamericano de Integración Económica

CATIE Centro Agronómico Tropical de Investigación y Enseñanza

CNE Comisión Nacional de Prevención de Riesgos y Atención de

Emergencias

DRR Dutch Risk Reduction

EARTH Escuela de Agricultura de la Región Tropical Húmeda

EKN Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands

ENSO El Niño Southern Oscillation

FEWS Flood Early Warning System

HIDROCEC-

UN

Centro de Recursos Hídricos para Centroamérica y el Caribe –

Universidad Nacional de Costa Rica

ICA Ingenieros Civiles Asociados

ICE Instituto Costarricense de Electricidad

INDER Instituto de Desarrollo Rural

IDB / BID Inter-American Development Bank / Banco Interamericano de

Desarrollo

IMN Instituto Meteorológico Nacional

MAG Ministerio de Agricultura y Ganadería

MINAE Ministerio de Amiente y Energía

MOPT Ministerio de Obras Públicas y Transportes

MoU Memorandum of Understanding

NGO’s Non Governmental Organizations

PIAAG Programa Integral de Abastecimiento de Agua para Guanacaste

PNUD Programa de las Naciones Unidas para el Desarrollo

SENARA Servicio Nacional de Aguas Subterráneas Riego y Avenamiento

USGS United States Geological Survey

WB / BM World Bank / Banco Mundial


1 DRR-TEAM MISSION

1.1 Introduction

By invitation of the Costa Rican authorities the government of the Netherlands

has brought together a DRR-Team1 of experts to carry out two scoping

missions2, the first focusing on drought risks and the second on challenges

related to flood risks. From November 22 to 28, 2015, the first scoping mission

was carried out with a team of two experts, mainly covering the expertise of

integrated water resources management and early warning systems3 for

droughts. The mission was intensively facilitated and supported by the

Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands (EKN). The support of the EKN as

well as from the Comisión Nacional de Prevención de Riesgos y Atención de

Emergencias (CNE) was crucial to be able to meet with so many actors.

At the very start of the mission a document with the Terms of References for

the mission was signed by Dr. Ivan Brenes, president of the CNE and

Ambassador Mette Gongrijp. This document facilitates the cooperation between

Costa Rica and the Dutch water Sector.

Photo 1-1 Signing ceremony of the MoU

1.2 Scope of Work

The objectives of the Scoping mission are:

1. To provide recommendations in general on disaster risk reduction, damage

mitigation, resilient reconstruction, integrated water management, drought

management and the use of water for agriculture;

2. To provide recommendations (technical advice) on the ongoing drought crisis in

the central and pacific part of the country to contribute to the accessibility of

drinking water and to advice on building resiliency against effects of climate

change, by sharing knowledge on desalination or irrigation systems.

1 For objectives of the DRR Program please refer to Annex A 2 This report will be completed with the information of the second mission soon after that mission has taken place – expected to be Q1 2016. 3 Annex B includes the CV’s of these experts.


The second part of the

mission will provide technical

advice to contribute to the

development of a long term

comprehensive strategy on

water management & flood

control on the Atlantic Coast /

Caribbean Sea of Costa Rica.

The scoping mission has

advised CNE about short-,

medium and long-term

interventions to adapt to or

mitigate negative effects of

drought in the area of

Guanacaste (figure 1.1).

Figure 1-1 location of the project area

1.3 Approach

During the scoping mission4 the team of experts met with a series of actors to

discuss the actual challenges and to identify possible interventions. These

actors were representatives of national as well as local authorities, IFI’s, NGO’s,

Universities, the Private Sector and from local communities. Also a one full day

fieldtrip to Guanacaste was made to visit several farmers and to meet with

representatives of the tourism sector. A summary of the results can be found in

Annex E.

4 For a detailed program of the week please refer to Annex D

Figure 1-2 Fieldtrip to Guanacaste


During the four day mission the experts were joined by experts from the CNE

as well as from the EKN.

Farmers already are affected negatively by the deficiencies in precipitation and

harvests of rain-fed crops are damaged by uncertain precipitation patterns.

Ground water levels are declining and in many cases wells are not deep enough

to produce water. Farms that are connected to irrigation systems still have

enough water to irrigate their lands, however, they are deeply concerned about

the continuity of the water supply during the months to come. In some cases

efficiency of the use of the available water is improved, for example through

implementation of drip irrigation or the use of greenhouses to decrease

evapotranspiration. In the mountainous areas farmers have constructed small

reservoirs to retain water.

The tourist sector develops rapidly along the coast line of Guanacaste. The

development of this sector is hampered strongly by the insufficient supply of

water. In some cases the development of new hotels have led to conflicts with

local communities as these communities fear that the water demand of these

hotels will negatively impact their availability of water.

In general it can be indicated that governmental authorities feel that

interventions are necessary but it is not always clear who should be responsible

for the implementation. Implementation of measures is not always sufficiently

facilitated by existing laws and regulations. Also the complex processes to

make money available was mentioned as an aspect that slows down

development. The fact that the process to agree to a new water law is taking so

many years already is a strong indicator of the complexity and the diverging

objectives of involved authorities.

Universities and NGO’s see opportunities and are able to allocate funds for their

activities, however, administration could be more efficient to speed up and

facilitate the implementation of interventions. Also the discontinuity of these

funds is addressed as an important factor that impedes successful research.

Furthermore, the availability of and accessibility to good information was

mentioned several times as a problem.

The mission was concluded with a working session with the CNE to discuss

possible interventions, how these could be financed and what the added value

of the Dutch Water Sector could be in the implementation of these

interventions.

The mission received coverage by the media. This provided opportunities to

address the challenges at hand, the goals of the mission and the experience of

the Dutch Water Sector on these issues.

1.4 Actors

During the mission meetings with a large number of actors were convened to

get a good overview of the challenges and the objectives to be met. These

actors include:


CNE - Comisión Nacional de Prevención de Riesgos y Atención de

Emergencias (http://www.cne.go.cr)

MINAE - Ministerio de Amiente y Energía (http://www.minae.go.cr)

AYA - Instituto Costarricense de Acueductos y Alcantarillado

(https://www.aya.go.cr)

SENARA - Servicio Nacional de Aguas Subterráneas Riego y

Avenamiento (www.senara.or.cr)

MAG – Ministerio de Agricultura y Ganadería (http://www.mag.go.cr)

IMN - Instituto Meteorológico Nacional (https://www.imn.ac.cr)

BM - Banco Mundial

(http://www.bancomundial.org/es/country/costarica)

BID - Banco Interamericano de Desarrollo

(http://www.iadb.org/es/paises/costa-rica)

BCIE - Banco Centroamericano de Integración Económica

(http://www.bcie.org/?cat=1054)

HIDROCEC – Universidad Nacional (http://www.hidrocec.una.ac.cr)

PNUD – Programa de las Naciones Unidas para el Desarrollo

(http://www.cr.undp.org)

Mesa de Trabajo de Guanacaste (http://presidencia.go.cr/guanacaste/)

Sector Privado Papagayo Resort, Cámara de Turismo Guanacasteca

(http://caturgua.com/es/camara-de-turismo-de-guanacaste)

Some of the actors mentioned above are member of the High Level

Commission (Comisión de Alto Nivel -CAN) and the technical secretariat

(Secretaría Técnica de apoyo al CAN) of the part of the PIAAG – Programa

Integral de Abastecimiento de Agua para Guanacaste (Integral program for

water supply in Guanacaste). This program will be further discussed in chapter

2.

http://www.cne.go.cr/

http://www.minae.go.cr/

https://www.aya.go.cr/

http://www.senara.or.cr/

http://www.mag.go.cr/

https://www.imn.ac.cr/

http://www.bancomundial.org/es/country/costarica

http://www.iadb.org/es/paises/costa-rica

http://www.bcie.org/?cat=1054

http://www.hidrocec.una.ac.cr/

http://www.cr.undp.org/

http://presidencia.go.cr/guanacaste/

http://caturgua.com/es/camara-de-turismo-de-guanacaste


2 ANALYSIS

Costa Rica is strongly affected by the actual El Niño phase of the ENSO

phenomenon. The increased temperatures in the Pacific along the Coast of

Peru, together with the climatological variety within the Inter Tropical

Convergence Zone cause strong deficiencies of precipitation in the basins that

drain towards the Pacific and increased precipitation with higher risks of

flooding in the basis that drain towards the Caribbean Sea (figure 2.1).

Figure 2-1 deficiency and excess of precipitation July – September 2015

These anomalies in precipitation causing drought as well as flooding have

strongly impacted socio-economic sectors in the country and it is expected that

these effects will increase further during at least the first half year of 2016.

The development of sectors like tourism, industry and agriculture has been

fast, leading to an exponential water demand. The pressure on water as a

natural resource has increased. Not only for the development of these sectors

but also for the supply of drinking water. Now, the availability of water in many

cases has become the - or at least one of the - limiting factor(s). This could be

partly overcome by interventions that increase the efficiency of water use or

decrease losses in the conveyance systems, but additional water sources have

to be identified to secure supply that meets the demand. But with the

decreasing availability as a result of precipitation deficiency, Guanacaste is

facing serious problems for the months to come.


With an average annual precipitation of 1500 mm the region should have

enough water to satisfy the demand. However, the infrastructure to optimally

exploit this total volume is insufficient. Many activities are already on their way

to increase the availability of water. An important initiative to provide sufficient

water is the PIAAG – Programa Integral de Abastecimiento de Agua para

Guanacaste (Integral program for water supply in Guanacaste). The PIAAG

integrates a number of strategic actions in relation to water infrastructure

development and the promotion and development of innovative technological

alternatives. It also focuses on conservation and efficient use of water.

Interventions identified aim at immediate, short, medium and long term

effects. It consists of a High Level Commission (Comisión de Alto Nivel -CAN)

and the technical secretariat (Secretaría Técnica de apoyo al CAN).


The main objective of the PIAAG is to ensure optimal utilization of water

resources in the area of Guanacaste, to meet water demands by communities

and economic sectors and to improve access to water (quantity and quality).

This can be specified in the following goals:

1. Sufficient water supply for the communities: human right to access to water

(responsibility of ASADAS and AyA)

2. Food security: increase food production through efficient irrigation systems

3. Ecological flow: promote the sustainability of the ecosystems by assuring

the availability of a minimum amount of water

4. Sustainable exploitation: improve the exploitation of the water available in

the province, giving priority to groundwater resources.

One of the interventions planned is to store water of the Río Piedra in a

reservoir. The dam to contain the water has to be constructed and will limit the

amount of water that flows towards the Pacific without being used. In figure

2.2. an overview is given of the division of water from the reservoirs between

the different irrigation areas. Retaining the water in a reservoir increases the

availability of water in the region during the dry season and reduces

vulnerability during prolonged drought periods. Reasons why this dam has thus

far not been constructed can be found in the uncertainty of environmental

effects, lack of available funds and in the overlapping institutional

responsibilities related to the project.

Figure 2-2 Overview of existing and planned infrastructure (source Presentations SENARA – DRAT)


Groundwater resources have been investigated, however, detailed information

on abstraction and depletion is not available at this moment or is stored by

many different actors. Institutional strengthening could improve the

accessibility of these data but additional studies are required. Studies are

planned to improve knowledge. For example, a comprehensive study will be

carried out together with the US Geological Survey (USGS) to map aquifers, to

identify additional resources and to provide recommendations on recovery of

existing aquifers that have been overexploited. Problems with intrusion of

saline water are already recognized especially in the coastal areas where a very

fast development of the tourist sector has taken place over the last decade.

On a higher abstract level, Costa Rica is in the process of actualization of the

water law. However, this is a process that is going on for many years but until

now no solutions have been found to move away from the existing impasse.

3 FINDINGS

3.1 Issues to be addressed

During the mission a series of possible interventions have been identified. It is

essential to differentiate between immediate / short term interventions and

interventions that can be materialized on the mid and long term to reduce risks

on recurrence of the disaster.

Issues that have to be addressed are:

- Efficient use of water

- Local storage of water

- Hydrogeological modeling

- Reuse treated water

- Water injection – Aquifer recovery

- Early warning systems

- Knowledge of the groundwater system / Aquifer database

- Develop long term strategies

- National policy on fresh water availability

Some of these measures (e.g. efficient use and local storage) can be

implemented directly. All measures should be considered for mid and long term

to come to sustainable solutions.

The interventions mentioned above are mostly technical. Too often, when

planning these types of interventions, only the technical content is considered.

However, for these interventions to be sustainable, it is also important to look

at how they have to be organized institutionally, which actors have to be

involved and what their responsibilities are. When further detailing these

interventions the concept of water governance (figure 3-1) should be

considered, taking in to account three different levels; content, institutional and

relational. This will assist in finding the needed approach to come to sustainable

implementation of these interventions.

Costa Rican authorities and the EKN are already in the process of finding ways

to collaborate more intensively on water governance.


Figure 3-1three levels of Water Governance source: Netherlands Water Governance Center

3.2 Short term interventions

Immediate actions that can be taken relate to increasing water availability and

decreasing the water demand:

Increase water availability

- Increase the amount of groundwater wells (legalize, structure, gather data)

- Local storing of water

- Bring water from other regions (catchments draining to the Caribbean Sea)

There is only a limited overview of the actual amount of water wells and their

subtraction rates. Formally a permit is necessary to dig a well, but it is

expected that this has only been done for a low percentage of the actual

amount of wells. The formal procedure also implies the communication of the

dimensions of the well, the soil types encountered while drilling and the amount

of water subtracted. Digging additional wells to counter the water supply

challenges during the next months will give opportunity for a structured

collection of information related to these new wells. Information about

subtraction, lowering of water levels and recovery of the well will provide

important, new information on the aquifers, the amounts of water available and

the horizontal- as well as vertical transport of water.

Local harvesting and water retention can be done on a small scale fairly easy.

With the existing harvesting techniques the available precipitation can be

stored temporarily and used in a later stage to cover periods where demand

exceeds the availability. However, taking in to account that the dry period has

already started, even wide adoption of this technique will only have a minimal

effect. The photo’s below (figure 3.2) show that local retention of water is

already been used in the areas that provide the topographic characteristics to

construct small reservoirs.

Diverting water from other catchments to the catchments of Guanacaste is

technically feasible, but these interventions can have many (negative)

environmental effects and need in-depth study to assure that possible negative

effects are mitigated or compensated for. Also it can be questioned if these

types of interventions are sustainable and if they will have a positive

cost/benefit ratio. Transporting water by tanks is also possible but will be a

logistic challenge and could be costly as well.


Figure 3-2 use of small reservoirs for agriculture

Interventions to reduce water demand:

- More efficient use (communication programs, inform, increase awareness,

educate)

- Prioritize and minimize/ban certain uses

- Pricing

An important activity that could influence

water demand is raising awareness on

the value of the resource and its efficient

use. Different types of programs

(schools, media, training, etc.) could lead

to a better and more efficient use of

water. Also the pricing of water could

lead to the adoption of more efficient

water use techniques.

Prioritizing different types of water use is

also a possibility to assure that higher

priorities will continue to have access to

water for as long as possible. In the

Netherlands the government has

elaborated a sequence of priorities. This

is presented in figure 3.3 as diagram.

This structure is used every time when

demand exceeds availability. For water

users it will be clear what to expect. For

the responsible authority it is crucial that

it has the required instruments to assure

that all actors comply with this priority

Figure 3-3sequence of prioritized water usages, source: Arcadis, et al., 2012 The Role of Water Pricing and Water Allocation in Agriculture in Delivering Sustainable Water Use in Agriculture.


setting. For the upcoming months an emergency prioritization could be

considered after which the methodology has to be refined with the actors and

included in the national policy and related laws.

3.3 Mid and long term interventions

Interventions on the mid and long term that have been identified during the

four day mission, along the ongoing initiatives related to PIAAG, are:

• Increase knowledge on the aquifers. There is insufficient knowledge when

considering aquifers and the availability of ground water. The existing

knowledge is scattered and poorly accessible. This makes it impossible to

assess impact of ground water production, nor to develop a vision on

sustainable development of this source. USGS (United States Geological

Survey) will carry out a comprehensive study that should help to increase

the level of knowledge.

• Development of Aquifer Storage Recovery (ASR) techniques. Different

techniques are developed to recover the storage of aquifers, for example by

injection of water. These techniques can be implemented on a small scale

as well as on large scale.

• Treated water injection to decrease intrusion of saline water (Fresh keeper

technology). Also the re-use of treated waste water is implemented to

further close the water cycle and to arrive at a sustainable use of this

resource.

• Early warning systems. These systems will help to prepare for extreme

situations. With more lead time proper interventions can take place. ( Delft

– FEWS)

• Comprehensive master plan and governance PIAAG

• Efficient water use (e.g. agriculture)

• Desalinization of sea water (only suggested for private hotels, small islands)

3.4 Financing

In relation to financial possibilities, the government of Costa Rica has large

outstanding commitments with he World Bank, Inter-American Development

Bank and the Central American Bank for economic Integration. These

institutions have several programs that provide possibilities for new loans for

infrastructure projects. However, the outstanding amount of debts, the actual

fiscalization structure as well as the lengthy and complex processes to get

loans approved by the Government seem to limit the possibilities to move

forward quickly. Solutions are being sought to finance projects through other

routes like Institutions or NGO’s but this only provides limited possibilities.

Furthermore, the CNE as responsible organization for disaster management has

funds available (e.g. World Bank 65 million dollar under the framework of the

‘Decreto de Emergencia’ of which 32 has not been spent). However, these

funds are earmarked for repair of damage caused during disaster events that

have taken place. These funds are not to be used for projects on

short/mid/long term to reduce the risk of recurrence of these disasters in the

future. In the case of drought this make it even more complex to come to

tangible projects as negative effects of water deficiency will be mainly related

to shortage in drinking water and food and environmental and economic

damage of the sectors that depend on a certain minimum of water availability,


but not so much on damaged infrastructure. There are funds available to

initiate preventive measures. These include funds (300 Million US$) from the

Banco Inter-Americano de Integración Económica (BCIE). During the second

mission financing possibilities of interventions identified need to be addressed

inmore detail to find opportunities for risk reduction. This is preferably done for

interventions related to drought risks as well as flood risk management.

4 PROPOSED FOLLOW-UP ACTIVITIES

During the mission a series of recommendations and follow-up actions were

discussed. These have been indicated in chapter 3. During the second mission

these actions will also be taken in to account when detailing funding

opportunities during the second mission.

Involved actors have indicated their interest in the use of Dutch expertise of

early warning systems as well as on aquifer storage recovery (ASR) and the

injection of treated waste water in coastal zones to halt intrusion of saline

water in the aquifers. The Dutch water sector has experience in these

technologies and further contacts could be established if needed upon

conclusion of the second mission.

Related to water governance there is also a lot of experience in the

Netherlands. Combining content, institutional setting and collaboration with

involved actors are some of the key success factors of programs like Room for

the River, Weakest Links in Coastal Zone Management and the Delta program.

Intensification of collaboration between Costa Rica and the Netherlands could

lead to an enrichment of experience on both sides. Here the involvement of the

Dutch Water Authorities could be worth considering. Water Boards are

responsible for regional water management. How this is structured could

provide input for regional water management and water governance in Costa

Rica.

Capacity building on drought risk management is an issue that already receives

attention in the collaboration between Costa Rica and the Netherlands but

which could be extended. Examples are the established contacts between

UNESCO-IHE and the Dutch Water Authorities with Costa Rican authorities a

process facilitated by the EKN.

BCEI indicated that there are funds available for Technical Assistance. These

funds could be made available for risk reduction measures. Further discussion

with the BCEI is needed to see how this could lead to the elaboration of

additional project proposals to face the challenges on short and long term.

Other issues that have been mentioned as possible subjects to share

experiences are:

- Erosion and sedimentation processes that cause serious problems in

certain coastal areas (e.g. Puntarenas). Combined with climate change

effects, some important coastal areas are under serious threat.

Experience of the Netherlands on coastal zone management could

provide crucial knowledge on how to protect these areas and the

property located there.


- Discuss the concept of Integrated Water Resources Management with

the Municipality of San José. For example, interventions to create room

for water could assist in facing the challenges in urban drainage caused

by the ongoing confinement of the drainage system.

5 FLOOD RISK MANAGEMENT MISSION

Focus of the next mission should be on flood risk management. The catchments

draining to the Atlantic Ocean /Caribbean Sea have been affected by serious

flooding causing social, environmental and economic damage.

Taking in to consideration the limited amount of time, experts on flood risk

management have to assess the actual situation, the risks and the possible

structural and nonstructural measures that could be implemented to reduce the

risk of flooding. A more detailed, focused delineation of the region that has to

be studied is preferred to be able to concentrate on specific short term

measurements.

To be able to carry out this mission and present useful recommendations the

mission team should cover experience in the following fields of expertise;

- Integrated Water Resources Management to assess the flood risks in

relation to land use and water users

- Civil Engineer to assess the actual flood risks structures and provide

recommendations on how to improve and implement structural

measures

- Financial expert to identify funds and possible modes to finance projects

(public and or private, international and national funds, etc.)

Other fields of expertise that will have added value for this mission include

early warning systems and water governance.

- For the next mission, where possible, the following actors have to be

contacted:

o Affected municipalities to discuss risk, damage endured and

possible participation in the implementation of measures;

o Harbor authority of the city of Limón to assess location specific

risks;

o APM Terminals to learn from their experience and identify

possible interventions;

o CATIE having extensive experience on impact of flooding and

training of farmers on how to take these risk in to consideration

in planning interventions;

o ICA to discuss measures that have been implemented over the

years to reduce flood risks and assess the need for new

measures as well as to identify additional interventions;

o EARTH to discuss needs of farmers in relation to flooding and

identify how farmers can better prepare and take in to

consideration flood risks;


o Pineapple farmers association as an important actor group that

has been affected by flooding in recent years;

o CORBANA (Corporación Bananera Nacional) to represent the

banana farmers that have been affected severely from flooding;

o INDER to discuss rural development, the impact that flooding has

and the measures that can be implemented by different actors in

relation to these risks;

o MOPT, aside from other ministries, has to be visited to discuss

the actual water system and measures that have to be taken

including operation and maintenance.

o ICE as the main producer of hydropower and the impact that

operational protocols of the existing reservoirs have on flood

risks.

o IFI’s to discuss potential funding of interventions to reduce flood

risks.

o The ministry of finance to study and discuss possibilities of

financing projects and to share the recommendations on drought

risk and flood risk management.


ANNEX A – DRR-TEAM

Dutch Risk Reduction Team: reducing the risk of water related disasters

Many countries around the world face severe water threats. Often, these countries are in

urgent need of expert advice on how to prevent a disaster or how to recover from a

calamity. For instance, when a country has been struck by severe flooding and the first

emergency relief workers have gone, the need for advice on how to build a sustainable

and safer water future arises. To meet these needs with a swift response, the Dutch

government has initiated the Dutch Risk Reduction Team (DRR-Team). This team of

experts advises governments on how to resolve urgent water issues related to flood

risks, water pollution and water supply, to prevent disasters or to rebuild after water

related disasters. With climate change and a fast growing world population, water issues

are becoming more urgent. As a country renowned for its’ expertise on water and delta

management, the Netherlands feels a responsibility to share its’ knowledge worldwide.

That is just what the DRR-Team does; sharing expertise with governments to come up

with the best possible approach/solutions for tackling urgent water issues. Because of the

unique cooperation between government and sector, the best experts can be fielded quickly. The Dutch government offers a specific number of advisory missions each year.

Advice for all water issues

The Netherlands has brought its best water experts together in the Dutch Risk Reduction

Team. It consists of high level advisors supported by a broad base of technical experts

who can provide top quality and tailor made expertise to governments that are

confronted with severe and urgent water challenges. The Dutch are experts in adapting

to water in a changing world; from delta management to water technology, from urban planning to governance, public private partnerships and financial engineering.

How does the DRR-Team work?

Governments that have to deal with an urgent water issue are encouraged to contact the

Dutch embassy in their region. The embassy will liaise quickly with the Dutch

government. Interventions will only take place after a request from a central government

has been received by the Dutch government, and after a recent calamity or to prevent a

threatening disaster. The DRR-Team does not focus on emergency relief, but on

sustainable solutions. If the decision to respond to the request is made, relevant Dutch

experts will be rapidly fielded to the area that is under pressure. Together with the

government and local experts, the situation will be assessed and analyzed after which

the team will come up with a set of recommendations. For example advice on technical

interventions including immediate measures and long term sustainable solutions, advice

on governance and advice on financing options. The DRR-Team enables a foreign government to take action on the basis of sound advice and expertise.


ANNEX B – TEAM MEMBERS

The team member of the scoping mission are:

Klaas de Groot – team leader Patricia Trambauer – expert early warning systems

Klaas de Groot is a senior advisor and business developer at ARCADIS the Netherlands.

He has more than 25 year work experience in the implementation of integrated water

resources management, flood risk management and coastal zone management. He has

worked in the Netherlands as well as in Developing and Least Developed Countries for UN

Organization, National Governments and Consultancy firms. The assignments abroad

include long-term assignments in Yemen (3 years) and Panama (4 years) as well as

short-term assignments in Colombia, Mexico, Belgium, Honduras, Paraguay, Hungary,

Romania, Slovakia and Thailand. He has broad experience in the field of water

governance in general, and more specific in policy analysis and process management. He

has assisted in the elaboration of master plans for strategic water use and flood risk

management plans. In the last few years he has been involved intensively in the

adaptation of the water system in the Netherlands to climate change. During the last

year he is involved in projects abroad to transfer Dutch experience and knowledge. He is

mission leader for the Dutch Risk Reduction Team for Mexico and Panama, he is project

director for the elaboration of a Flood Risk Management Plan for the Cauca River in

Colombia. During 2014 he has been involved intensively in the Water Strategy Study for

the National Water Plan of Myanmar. At the moment he is involved in the organization of

the Water Dialogue process in Panama and working for the World Bank on an Investment

Plan for the Bangladesh Delta Plan.

Patricia Trambauer has a PhD. on Hydrological drought forecasting in Africa at different

spatial and temporal scales from the Delft University of Technology (TU Delft) and

UNESCO-IHE, Delft, The Netherlands. In 2010 she graduated from her masters on

Hydrology and Water Resources at UNESCO-IHE. In August 2015 she joined Deltares as a

Researcher / Consultant on the Operational Water Management Department. She was

involved in the EU-FP7 DEWFORA Project doing research on “Improved Drought Early

Warning and Forecasting to strengthen preparedness and adaptation in Africa”.

Seventeen European and African partners were involved in the project. The main aim of

the DEWFORA was to reduce vulnerability and strengthen preparedness to droughts in

Africa by advancing drought forecasting, early warning and mitigation practices. Patricia’s

research interests are on hydrological and agricultural drought forecasting, drought

management, and early warning systems to assist decision making. She is particularly

interested in how the highly technical information from scientific forecasts can be

translated into understandable and meaningful information for end users to act upon, and

how can these forecasts be integrated with local knowledge. She has published her

research on peer reviewed journals, book chapters, conference proceedings and she has

presented her research in several international conferences. She has also carried out

various consultancy projects like: water supply for 18 locations in the province of

Namibe, Angola, which are located in an arid area and groundwater was the only source

of water to supply the population. Spanish is the Mother tongue of Patricia.

https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Patricia_Trambauer


ANNEX C – TERMS OF REFERENCE


ANNEX D – MISSION PROGRAM

Ho

raLU

NES 23 N

OV

MA

RTES 24 N

OV

MIER

CO

LES 25 DE N

OV

JUEV

ES 26 NO

VV

IERN

ES 27 DE N

OV

SAB

AD

O

07:00R

eunió

n MA

G

08:00

09:00

10:00

11:00

Cañas D

ulces: proyecto

de

pequeñ

o riego

.

Co

nversación co

n la

socied

ad de usuarios

12:00

Alm

uerzo co

n sector

privado (to

urism and

PNU

D)

Co

nversación co

n

producto

res participantes

en el FO

RO

DE A

GU

A

01:00A

lmuerzo

con el secto

r

hotelero

02:00

Alm

uerzo, reu

nion co

n

Javier (SENA

RA

) via

Skype

1:30 Inter-Am

erican

Develo

pmen

t Bank (B

ID)

03:00

04:00

05:00

06:00

07:00

08:00

09:00

Reu

nion A

ndrea Suarez

(HID

RO

CEC

) via Skype

REU

NIÓ

N C

NE, SA

N

JOSÉ

Cen

tral Am

erican Bank

for Eco

nom

ic

Integration (B

CIE,

Alberto

Co

rtes)

BO

RR

AD

OR

AG

END

A M

ISIÓN

HO

LAN

DESA

DE C

OO

PER

AC

IÓN

TÉCN

ICA

Llanos de co

rtes y

Maraño

nal, sequía en

sandía y ganadería y

mo

linos.

Reu

nión co

n

representantes del

Program

a Integral de

Agua para G

UA

NA

CA

STE

(PIAA

G) en

la DIR

ECC

IÓN

DE A

GU

AS.

Nico

ya colas de gallo

:

(embalse de agua para

hortalizas) ó

bien San

Lázaro: (em

balse para

cultivo de arro

z)

TRA

SLAD

O A

SAN

JOSÉ

TRA

SLAD

O H

OTEL-

AER

OPU

ERTO

Reu

nión co

n el Ministro

Edgar Gutiérrez M

INA

E

Breakfast: Signing o

f

Mo

U (presiden

t CN

E and

Am

bassador)

Reu

nión 7:30 am

. con

Yamileth A

storga (A

YA) y

José M

iguel Zeledó

n en

AyA

.

Reu

nión M

arvin Co

to

(SENA

RA

) UB

. SENA

RA

IMN

: Instituto

Meteo

rolo

gico N

acional

Reu

nion co

n Banco

Mundial

MAÑANATARDE

TRA

SLAD

O

AER

OPU

ERTO

-

HO

TEL

Reu

nión Felipe A

rguedas

en el M

AG

2do.piso

(Directo

r de Direccio

n de

extension agro

pecuaria)

TRA

SLAD

O A

GU

AN

AC

ASTE


ANNEX E– BRIEF MINUTES OF MEETINGS

Martes 24 de Noviembre

1. Desayuno con CNE: Dr. Ivan Brenes, Presidente.

Durante la reunión se discutió las expectativas de la misión y se firmó una Memoria de

Entendimiento entre la Embajada de los Países Bajos y el CNE.

2. 9:00 am – Reunión del PIAAG con todos los actores. José Miguel (dirección de aguas)

preside la reunión.

En diciembre saldrá un decreto que prohíbe la perforación de pozos en Guanacaste.

Se dice que la región de Guanacaste cuenta con suficiente agua (en general llueve unos 1500

mm/año y este año ha llovido unos 1200 mm) y el problema es en realidad una falta de

infraestructura para hacer llegar el agua donde se la necesita. Hay muchas perforaciones ilegales y no

se pueden sancionar. Perforar no es un delito. Producir agua del pozo es, pero es difícil controlar.

Se tiene conocimiento que hay que hacer estudios en los acuíferos. Tanto en relación a la cantidad

como en la calidad. Hay algunos problemas de arsénico pero solo sobre la parte continental, más

sobre la cordillera (en Cañas).

Se requiere una propuesta global de desarrollo para la administración del recurso hídrico de forma

integral. Existe un plan nacional de desarrollo agropecuario pero falta integrar temas como el cambio

climático.

A nivel nacional el 80% del agua potable viene de pozos y solo el 20% de agua superficial.

(Presentación Powerpoint José Miguel)

3. 12:00 am Almuerzo con Priscilla Solano de Caturga y Gerardo Quirós (PNUD)

La Sra. Priscilla presento los retos para continuar col el proyecto de hoteles en la Playa Coco. El

desarrollo ya ha sido paralizado por muchos años por el hecho de que la sociedad de Sardinal no

quiere que se construye un acueducto de Sardinas a playa Coco. El municipio tema que con este

desarrollo no se quedará suficiente agua para consumo humano en el municipio.

El Sr. Quirós está involucrado en actividades relacionadas a mejorar la capacidad de unas ASADA en

Guanacaste. Con financiamiento del PNUD se está llevando a cabo una evaluación para después

poder aumentar la capacidad del sistema local.

4. 1:00 pm – Ministerio de Agricultura y Ganadería (MAG)

Opciones actuales de agua para el ganado

1) Pozos. Al momento hay aproximadamente unos 1500 pozos legales y unos 2000 ilegales

(cantidades de los pozos ilegales varían mucho). Hay que trabajar con los pozos que ya

existen y perforar algunos más.


2) Embalses. Si son chicos está el problema de los volúmenes, ya que tienen que durar para

toda la época seca.

3) Transferencia de agua desde el lado del Caribe. Hoy en día esto se hace con el Arenal. Este

proyecto incluye un distrito de riego con canales grandes. El problema es que hay grandes

pérdidas al rio (15-20 m3/s) porque no existe un sistema de entregar esta cantidad a áreas

de producción agropecuaria.

Hay un plan de construir un embalse en el río Piedras (en 5-10 años). Los usos serían agua potable,

agricultura y turismo.

Se está por construir un mercado en Guanacaste que hay que abastecerlo con productos locales.

Una posible medida inmediata para la sequía es la construcción de pozos artesanales, estos no

necesitan registrarse.

No es posible construir un pozo en una finca con uso particular. Es posible construir un pozo en un

área pública y de allí llevar el agua a una finca.

Miércoles 25 de Noviembre

Visita a Guanacaste

- 7:45 Llanos de cortes y Marañonal. Visitamos un agricultor de autosuficiencia con 5 ha.

Perdió una cosecha de frijoles por las lluvias en los últimos días antes de cosechar. Estás

lluvias fueron anomalías. El agricultor usa los que necesita de su área para sobrevivir. Él

depende mucho de su propia experiencia. Recibe apoyo / información pero es a nivel

mínimo. En su terreno hay un pozo pero la profundidad del pozo no es suficiente. Considera

que es su pozo porque está en su terreno y el pozo fue perforado hace más de diez años. El

pozo tiene una profundidad de 64 metros pero necesita unos 11 metros más para producir

suficiente agua.

- 9:15 Visitamos una finca con un molino de viento. El molino no funciona porque estaba

desconectado al momento en que el nivel freático bajo demasiado. Ahora el nivel ha

recuperado pero bajara demasiado rápido si el molino seria reconectado. El molino es uno de

un grupo de veinte que han sido financiado por el MAG.

- 10:30 Caña Dulces, Sociedad de usuarios de agua, 24 agricultores aprovechan de un sistema

de riego. SENARA / MAG han desarrollado este sistema que lleva agua del río por un sistema

de tubería bajo presión potencial a los agricultores. La presión es suficiente para regar a

goteo y para ganadería. Reciben un monto específico para regar. Si logran regar más

eficiente, puede regar más área. Ha tomado un periodo de más de diez años para

implementar este sistema pero ahora funcione bien. Es un sistema privado con una donación

del BID y los usuarios tiene que devolver el préstamo en siete años.

- Almuerzo Do it Center: reunión con el sector hotelero (Manuel, director de operaciones

Papagayo Resort y Priscilla Solano). Se discutieron los retos que enfrenta este sector para

tener suficiente agua y para encontrar tecnologías para re-usar aguas tratadas para regar. Se

usa aguas tratadas para regar el campo de golf. Usan aguas saladas y aguas frescas (25-75%)

en pasto que sostiene aguas pocas saladas. Falta de infraestructura de acueductos para


desarrollar óptimamente. Agua es reservada para el sector agrícola aunque el valor del

sector hotelero es mucho mayor y usa menos agua. Por ejemplo el riego de arroz y caña de

azúcar debería ser prohibido.

- Nicoya, Finca Cerro Negro: embalses de agua para hortalizas y regar café. Es agricultura

sostenible implementada por una familia que produce para el mercado de Nosara donde

venden productos al sector de turismo. Con los embalses pueden atravesar periodos (de

unos días a unas semanas) en que no cae lluvia.

Jueves 26 de Noviembre

5. 7:30 am – Acueductos y alcantarillado (AyA) – Jamileth Astorga

Hay más de 300 acueductos comunales (ASADAS) en Guanacaste y la AyA tiene sólo 5 personas

trabajando en esto. Hay muy pocos funcionarios en la AyA. En las ASADAS (Asociación

administradora de sistemas de acueductos y alcantarillado) la administración las tienen las

comunidades pero la AyA les da apoyo.

La AyA tiene un rol rector y no recibe financiamiento del estado. Obtiene los recursos del cobro a los

usuarios. Los municipios abastecen al casco central y la AyA y las ASADAS a lo que está alrededor.

El problema de la institución radica en que se han buscado soluciones muy locales sin considerar la

unidad hidrológica.

Se identifica como mayor área de colaboración:

- Inyección para evitar intrusión salina: Se han explotado pozos muy cerca del mar y se están

salinizando los acuíferos costeros debido a soluciones locales de extracción para agua potable.

Hay 134 comunidades con problemas de suministro de agua. Los principales problemas son:

- Caudales bajos debido a bajas recargas

- Infraestructura debido a falta de dinero

- Gestión de las comunidades ya que no hay suficientes sistemas de micromedición

- Uso inadecuado del agua (riego de jardines, etc.)

Al momento se están tomando medidas paliativas como el transporte de agua en tanques cisterna y

almacenamiento en reservorios para consumo humano.

Existe algo de información respecto a los acuíferos pero ésta información no se ha transformado en

información útil para la toma de decisiones. Mes a mes se miden niveles estáticos y dinámicos en los

pozos, se hacen estudios físico-químicos y análisis bacteriológicos. La AyA tiene una base de datos de

sus pozos. En los pozos de las ASADAS se hacen mediciones cada 6 meses.

Ahora, durante esta sequía se está verificando el caudal de las fuentes y se están estudiando

soluciones en caso de emergencia.

La desalinización se tiene presente como opción pero se reconoce que tiene el problema del alto

consumo energético. Está el caso de una isla en la cual la mejor opción parece ser una planta

desalinizadora, el problema es el costo. En este momento se está empezando con dos proyectos

donde se están instalando paneles solares en los acueductos comunales, lo cual reduce el costo en

un 70%. En este momento hay muchos acueductos comunales con bombeo y con menos de 50

servicios. Esto no es sostenible.


Se muestra gran interés en cooperación de forma de obtener soluciones para el mediano y largo

plazo en materia de optimización del recurso hídrico.

La parte interna de Guanacaste es la zona donde menos ha llovido. En esta zona, hay una parte

donde el agua subterránea está contaminada con arsénico.

Se reconoce la importancia de la zona costera por la importancia económica que tiene el turismo en

la zona. Los acuíferos en esta área están bien definidos. Hay 7 acuíferos en Guanacaste que cuentan

con balance hídrico y estos estudios muestran que si hay agua. El problema es que se usan mucho los

acuíferos costeros, y éstos son los más vulnerables.

El transvase de agua del Atlántico al Pacifico se da actualmente con el Arenal y su expansión está

planteada con el embalse del Río Piedras y el canal Liberia.

Es importante destacar que el gran bombeo de los acuíferos es por riego, el uso humano es ínfimo en

comparación. Se propone utilizar los acuíferos para el consumo humano (agua potable) y los

embalses para riego.

6. 10:00 am – Instituto Meteorológico Nacional (IMN)

No hay respuesta de los ministerios cuando se hacen las alertas por parte del IMN. Debido a esto

IMN da sugerencias a los propios agricultores. Se hizo un proyecto de Sistema de Alerta Temprana en

una pequeña cuenca y hay interés en extender a otras cuencas.

El decreto 36842 de emergencia hace referencia a los eventos ENOS, tanto sequía como

inundaciones. Hay que hacer inclusión del tema de inundaciones para el desarrollo de SAT.

El IMN muestra mucho interés en aplicar DELFT-FEWS como sistema de alerta temprana. Piden

mayor información en relación a la implementación y los costos.

7. 11:30 am – SENARA

En el SENARA tienen aproximadamente 140 proyectos del tipo de los que vimos durante la visita de

campo el miércoles (Caña Dulce). Hay algunos que tienen riego complementario para los períodos

que no llueve (dry spells).

Se tiene que cambiar el esquema productivo en Guanacaste. Hay que almacenar agua durante la

época de lluvia para la época seca.

Un gran problema en Costa Rica es que hay muchas leyes, pero éstas están poco integradas.

Si un Estudio de Impacto Ambiental tiene componentes del recurso hídrico, entonces SENARA tiene

poder de decidir.

El distrito de riego Arenal-Tempisque riega actualmente 28000 ha y tiene más de 200 km de canales.

Se está extendiendo para regar 7000 ha más. El Arenal transvasa agua del Caribe al Pacífico. El

embalse tiene 1200 millones de m3 y se usan sólo alrededor de 600 millones para el distrito de riego.

Los otros 600 millones se van para el mar. El sistema tiene 3 generaciones de energía eléctrica en

cascada y después una presa derivadora de donde salen los canales principales. Hay 2 canales, uno

con 30 m3/s y otro con 55 m3/s de capacidad.

El plan maestro completo del distrito de riego (sin desperdicios al mar) existe desde el año 1976 pero

el proyecto se ha venido implementando en etapas. Todavía falta inversión en infraestructura. La


idea es hacer un embalse en el Río Piedras para aprovechar el agua que viene del canal oeste y sigue

al mar. Se pretende generar energía eléctrica luego de la utilización para riego, que es el principal

usuario en este caso. La energía generada (10MW) se utilizará para el bombeo. El proyecto propone

un caudal para riego de 20m3/s con una probabilidad del 94%. Se necesita construir el embalse y un

nuevo canal (aproximadamente 250 km de canales-tuberías).

Aún con la implementación de este proyecto hay un problema social por la competencia del uso del

agua. Hay agua para 1 de cada 2 o 2.5 ha que podrían ser regadas.

Otra cosa que se está haciendo es identificar potenciales sitios de almacenamiento, pequeños

embalses. El estudio se va a tener en la primera quincena de febrero. De los potenciales sitios, se

seleccionarán los 5 o 6 lugares más óptimos y en estos sitios se harán estudios de factibilidad.

La idea es desarrollar la zona en conjunto, no solo construir la infraestructura necesaria. Es necesario

cambiar la cultura de riego a una agricultura sustentable con riego para producción de hortalizas, que

tiene mucho potencial para alimentar al sector turístico y para exportación, especialmente ahora

donde se tiene un aeropuerto cercano que se pretende extender con cargo.

Hoy en día el agua potable para Liberia viene de un transvase de la cuenca del Caribe. Se quiere

expandir este transvase, ya que si hay más capacidad.

El embalse Las Loras (proyecto) intenta almacenar unos 1000m3/s de la época de lluvia para la época

seca?

Con respecto al cobro del agua hay 4-5 tarifas diferenciadas. Se va a vender por volúmenes y no por

hectárea de forma de fomentar el uso eficiente del agua. Ya a partir de enero se va a ir aplicando un

esquema de cobro por volúmenes de agua en el sistema actual.

Como medida inmediata para la sequía se planteó la perforación de pozos. Estos pozos no se pueden

hacer en predios privados. Se planteó hacerlo en escuelas para comunidades. Es necesario que se

formen sociedades de usuario, obtener la concesión (aprox 6 meses), etc. Todo lleva mucho tiempo y

ya deja de ser una medida inmediata.

Concesiones: La dirección de agua las da por 10 años.

La recuperación de acuíferos es un tema de interés para el SENARA!

8. 2:00 pm – Javier (SENARA) via Skype

El proyecto en el que trabajó con la NASA incluía el manejo de imágenes satelitales y tecnología más

moderna como desarrollo de GIS y aplicación del modelo hidrológico SWAT para el Arenal-

Tempisque. Los resultados del proyecto no fueron muy satisfactorios y no son útiles para toma de

decisiones debido a las debilidades en los inputs.

Hay una dificultad en la concientización para el uso eficiente de los recursos hídricos debido a que

tradicionalmente no ha hecho falta el agua.

Hay falta de información y mal manejo de la información. Él está trabajando en uniformizar la

información.

9. 3:00 pm – Ministerio de Amiente y Energía (MINAE) con el Ministro, José Miguel y la

Embajadora.


Desalinización: Es mejor múltiples plantas pequeñas o 1 grande? (EIA?) Están en contacto con el EPA

de los Estados Unidos para asesorar los efectos de la implementación.

Proyecto PIAAG es proyecto del gobierno, se está trabajando a nivel central. SENARA tiene un rol

importante pero es un proyecto que se tiene que planear e implementar con todos los actores.

Proyecto de ley del agua: Está en la asamblea legislativa y propone una gobernanza distinta del

recurso hídrico. Están planteadas un máximo de 12 autoridades regionales (a nivel de Cuencas).

Copia del proyecto de ley está en la base de datos de la misión.

Tema de falta de datos: Se declaró fuente oficial de información ambiental y propone unir bases de

datos.

El USGS va a hacer un mapeo hidrogeológico de Costa Rica usando imágenes satélites a distintos

niveles.

En Costa Rica hay un desfase entre las leyes (en donde se está a nivel de países nórdicos) y la

economía (de África).

10. 5:00 pm – Banco Mundial (en la Embajada)

Se tiene un préstamo con la CNE a partir del decreto de emergencia y todavía falta desembolsar 32

millones de dólares (de 65 millones). Trabajan con Costa Rica hace 25 años en áreas de prevención

de catástrofes, educación terciaria, salud, áreas verdes. No están muy ligados al área de

infraestructura, eso se lo dejan al BID. En Agua tuvieron una muy mala experiencia (peor del BM) en

puerto Limón. Eran 80 millones de dólares y sólo un 6% se ejecutó. Este proyecto se paró y ahora se

está renegociando para un nuevo préstamo de unos 50 millones de dólares.

Costa Rica necesita hacer una reforma fiscal. Costa Rica está viviendo con un gran porcentaje de

dinero prestado. El IVA está actualmente en 13% y las tazas de impuestos son muy bajas?

Hay intención de pedir un nuevo apoyo para catástrofe al BM de 100 millones de dólares.

EL BM tiene un diagnóstico del país (nos lo va a pasar).

Los proyectos de esta misión podrían entrar en el área de “Paisajes productivos rurales”. Este

proyecto tiene 100 millones de dólares y está dentro de un programa que vale mucho más.

La contraparte del BM en Costa Rica es el Ministerio de Hacienda.

El BM da asistencia técnica sólo cuando está vinculada con la estrategia del país.

Sugerencia: En nuestra próxima visita reunirnos con el Viceministro Pacheco del Ministerio de

Hacienda.

Viernes 27 de Noviembre

11. 9:00 am – Andrea Suárez Serrano (HIDROCEC) via Skype

Hidrocec es un centro autónomo de recursos hídricos (5 personas) y están vinculados a la

Universidad. Las áreas de trabajo que se manejan son:

- Calidad de agua


- Gestión de cuenca

- Tratamiento y reutilización de las aguas

Hacen principalmente monitoreo de calidad de agua en el río Liberia. La principal limitante para el

estudio de cantidad de agua es la falta de equipos. Tienen una alianza con la OET y trabajan

fuertemente con las ASADAS5. Están trabajando en un acuífero costero.

Están muy interesados en la generación de información hidro-meteorológica, en donde hay un gran

vacío.

Los pozos de las ASADAS no tienen medición. Guanacaste además de infraestructura necesita un

control de lo que hay y de lo que se gasta y de cuánto se puede reducir ese gasto. Hay que hacer un

uso eficiente del agua.

Interés en el tema de inyección de agua para recuperación de acuíferos, gran interés en proyecto

piloto de inyección para el acuífero Guacas-Tamarindo.

Ya existe una colaboración con KWR de Holanda. La persona de contacto es Pim de Voogt. En

Guanacaste se usa agua superficial y agua de pozos para el agua potable. Liberia trata sólo el 20% de

las aguas negras de la ciudad. Cumplen con la normativa, pero la normativa es muy deficiente ya que

no hace diferenciación con respecto al caudal del cuerpo receptor. Como se vierte el agua tratada en

arroyos de muy pequeño caudal, la calidad de estos arroyos se ve muy afectada.

Hay una idea: “Agua Sana” para protección de los mantos acuíferos de Guanacaste. Guanacaste tiene

fosas sépticas que actualmente son vaciadas cada cierto tiempo por las barométricas y éstas

disponen del agua negra en el suelo en general. La idea es crear una planta de tratamiento regional a

donde puedan llegar las barométricas a descargar las aguas negras.

Se estableció una mesa de trabajo en Guanacaste (hay una sub-mesa del tema agua) pero la parte

política no se involucra mucho. Todos los meses se reúnen todos los actores (AyA, MINAE, etc.) por el

tema del acuífero Nimboyones.

El saneamiento es la mayor problemática hoy en día. Se necesita un proyecto de saneamiento de la

mano de la investigación y el monitoreo. Tamarindo es hoy en día una “bomba” de aguas negras y es

primordial la recuperación del acuífero y el tratamiento de las aguas negras. Otra necesidad es por

ejemplo el uso de bio-filtros para la recarga de acuíferos durante la época de lluvia.

12. 10:00 am – con CNE en la Embajada

El equipo de la misión presenta un resumen del programa de la semana y las sugerencias para

medidas inmediatas y los proyectos en mediano plazo en los cuales podamos buscar la colaboración

entre Costa Rica y los Países Bajos.

Medidas inmediatas:

Medidas inmediatas:

- Aumentar la disponibilidad de agua

- construir más pozos (legalizar, estructurar)

- traer agua de donde hay (costoso, no sostenible)

5 Hay mas de 1500 ASADAS en todo el país


- disminuir la demanda de agua

- uso más eficiente (programas de comunicación / informar, concientizar, educar)

- priorizar y minimizar/prohibir usos distintos

Proyectos para colaborar:

- Mejorar el conocimiento de los acuíferos (USGS)

- Recuperación de acuíferos

- Inyección de aguas tratadas / ‘fresh keeper’

- Desalinización

- Plan Maestro Integral y Gobernanza PIAAG

- Sistema de alerta temprana / Delft-FEWS

- Uso eficiente de agua (por ejemplo. agricultura)

Nueva Ley: hay que usar la oportunidad para incluir elementos técnicos en la nueva ley de agua que

todavía sigue en la asamblea.

Es importante la contabilidad del agua o balance hídrico que no existe al momento. No hay

conocimiento de la disponibilidad del recurso.

Costa Rica tiene que administrar 560,000 km2 de territorio (10 veces más que el territorio

continental). Es importante mirar la parte costera. Hay amenaza que ciertos lugares (ej Punta Arena)

se vean inundados por el crecimiento del mar (cambio climático).

El proyecto “Room for the river” puede interesar a la Municipalidad de San José. Se recomienda

reunirse con ellos en la próxima visita.

CORBANA: Actor productivo bananero en la región del Caribe que tienen recurso económico y

pueden estar interesados en sistemas de alerta temprana.

El Sr. Lidier Esquivel indica que tienen mucho interés en conocer más del protocolo de operación

de las autoridades de agua. Existe una necesidad de colaborar en el área de gobernanza.

Presentación de CNE sobre Alertas tempranas: Costa Rica está expuesto a multi-amenazas (volcanes,

deslizamientos, etc.). En los últimos 5 años se ha visto afectada por erosión costera en los sectores

Pacífico y Caribe. La hidrometeorología es lo que más genera conflictos. En Costa Rica tienen

escenarios de amenazas, red de monitoreo en línea, pronóstico de oleaje. Hay mucho interés en

pronóstico de costas. Punta Arenas es una ciudad costera muy vulnerable a las amenazas, en un

ambiente turístico y que sólo tiene una estrecha entrada-salida. El Delft-FEWS puede cumplir con las

necesidades de tener un sistema de alerta temprana de inundaciones y sequias.

13. 1:30 pm – BID

El crédito aprobado es de más de 2300 millones de dólares, 1766 millones para el sector público y

550 millones al sector privado. Tienen 11 programas con garantía soberana, prácticamente todos de

infraestructura. En Agua potable y saneamiento se tienen 93 millones de dólares aprobados (73 del

BID + 20 de fondo español) que básicamente atiende al alcantarillado de San José.

Costa Rica es el ejecutor más lento del Banco, y el AyA es muy lento! ICE es un ejecutor eficaz.


Un préstamo se puede demorar hasta 5,5 años en ser aprobado por el gobierno luego de ser

aprobado por el BID. Se demoran mucho al pasar por la asamblea legislativa.

14. 3:00 pm – BCIE (Alberto Cortés)

Tienen una cartera activa de 1600 millones de dólares en Costa Rica. La ventaja del banco es que no

todos los préstamos pasan por la asamblea legislativa, hay préstamos que se pueden aplicar directo.

Esto da la posibilidad de transferir los préstamos mucho más rápido.

Se le da importancia al tema agrícola, rural y ambiental a lado de desarrollo sostenible y mitigar /

adaptar a los efectos de cambio climático. Se tiene una visión de ser el “Banco Verde” de

Centroamérica.

AyA está haciendo un gran esfuerzo para incrementar la inversión en infraestructura. ICE es un gran

ejecutor de obras públicas.

Con AyA y SENARA se pretende financiar componentes de sequía. EL BCIE probablemente co-financie

la represa del Río Piedras. Se pretende definir un programa a mediano y largo plazo con AyA por el

tema agua.

Hay unos posibles 300 millones de dólares para emergencias que el gobierno puede pedir para

proyectos en el marco del decreto de emergencia. Si se le da el giro de mitigación y adaptación se

pueden obtener aún más fondos del área de cambio climático. Para preparar la lista de proyectos de

emergencia existe la posibilidad de obtener dinero para asistencia técnica. Esta posibilidad pueda

facilitar la colaboración entre Costa Rica y los Países Bajos.

INDER tiene líneas de crédito directo y es una contraparte que no requiere garantía soberana.

DRR-Team Mission Report · DRR-TEAM MISSION REPORT Costa Rica ‘124 February 6 - 3 - DRR-TEAM...

Documents

Transcript of DRR-Team Mission Report · DRR-TEAM MISSION REPORT Costa Rica ‘124 February 6 - 3 - DRR-TEAM...