Inconsistencies in AyA project management

I was invited as a panelist and noticed a contradictory discourse when criticizing the management model that led to the cancellation of credits for four wastewater sanitation projects in Golfito, Quepos, Jaco and Palmares; two of which had a “no objection” from KfW and were defined in institutional planning, verifiable in the National Sanitation Investment Plan 2016-2045 and in the Wastewater Sanitation Public Policy approved in 2016. Priority projects.

However, although one would think, following the preceding argument, that it would wash its hands of history within the limits of institutional management capacity I have mentioned, it does provide continuity for a number of water supply projects that have been developed in exactly the same pattern.

If the model doesn’t work, you should be skeptical of all projects because there has to be more consistency between what is said and what is done.

Returning to the portfolio of projects proposed, I was surprised that they were defined in the same way as they had been under previous governments, such as the “new flows” being incorporated into the system – mentioned in cubic metres per day rather than litres per second – ; many of these represent only compensation for dry season flow losses, that is, they will not increase the system’s water capacity.

He explained that they would include new flows from the source in Cascajal Coronado: how much flow are we talking about? What is the quality of the water at the source? What contribution would it make to ending the rationing that was still in place at the beginning of July? It seems that the “new project” was one of the projects that was evaluated and extensively studied, but was abandoned due to the cost of eliminating the high concentration of aluminum in the water.

Worryingly, the AyA chairman has not proposed medium- and long-term solutions not only for the central San José region, where the aqueduct is severely short of water, but also for northern Cartago, where several sources are contaminated by pesticide residues.

Orosi II is a viable option to supply water to the metropolitan area and some of the state of Cartago, as well as other places where there is no nearby water source (such as La Union). The design is almost ready (80% complete), environmentally feasible, and three plots of land have been purchased.

Leaders say this is a long-term thing, which means advancing and completing the design, continuing to purchase the remaining necessary land, and managing the loan, which this government very painfully allowed to be lost after it was approved. On November 24, 2020, the Central American Bank for Economic Integration (CABEI) disbursed US$399.2 million.

Furthermore, in 2016, the credit was officially used to carry out the Non-Revenue Water and Energy Efficiency Optimization (RANC-EE) project.

In 2019, a detailed diagnostic of the condition of the main aqueducts of the Aya River was obtained: Metropolitan Area, Liberia, Limón, Guasimo, Perez Zeledón, Puntarenas, Alajuela and San Ramón.

On this basis, a plan with 261 actions was drawn up, with the necessary subcontracts prioritized to reduce non-revenue water by 17% and replace meters, macro flow meters, control valves, pumps and pipes, etc. Unfortunately, they paralyzed it in 2021, when the current public service regulator was the general manager of AyA.

What’s more, one of the predecessors of the current AyA government tried to cancel the contract of the winning company, but fortunately, this did not happen.

In conclusion, the “new” AyA seems to be a continuation of the RANC-EE project and some other projects, since not all advanced or ready projects have not yet been heard, such as the modern National Water Laboratory and the Limon Project.

This way, our sanitation facilities will suffer a major setback, rationing will continue in San Jose, and water shortages will worsen.

yamileth.astorga@ucr.ac.cr

The author is a professor at the University of Costa Rica and served as executive chairman of AyA from 2014-2018 and 2018-2020.