Seguridad hídrica: Gestión del agua en comunidades rurales del Pacífico Norte de Costa Rica

espanolSe selecciono un grupo de 9 Asociaciones Administradoras de Acueductos Rurales (ASADAS) ubicadas en el Pacifico Norte de Costa Rica, con el proposito de evaluar su gestion y conocer las estrategias implementadas durante el periodo de sequia (2014-2016). Se valoraron 5 componentes basicos de gestion: administrativa y financiera, comercial, comunal, recurso hidrico y gestion de los sistemas de agua, con el fin de determinar si son adecuadas para proveer agua segura a las comunidades. Ademas, se analizo la calidad del agua potable de cada ASADA, aplicando el nivel 1, segun el Reglamento para la Calidad del Agua Potable (38924-S). 1 de las ASADAS estudiadas presento desarrollo alto en su nivel de gestion; 3, uno bajo, y 5, uno debil. En 2 ASADAS, se detecto la presencia de coliformes fecales y E. coli durante la epoca lluviosa. Solamente 3 de las 9 ASADAS estudiadas cumplieron con los rangos optimos de cloro libre residual, lo cual compromete la calidad del agua con la que se abastece a la poblacion. Se concluye que la fragilidad de las ASADAS evaluadas ante un evento hidrometeorologico es alta, debido a la antiguedad de los sistemas, falta de mantenimiento y poca capacidad de sus tanques, lo que incrementa el riesgo durante eventos extremos (sequias e inundaciones). Ademas, las ASADAS exploradas mostraron, principalmente, una gestion baja o debil; por consiguiente, el agua que se distribuye a las comunidades podria afectar la seguridad hidrica de aquellas abastecidas, debido a que no siempre esta disponible cuando se necesita y no cumple con algunos de los parametros basicos de potabilidad. EnglishA group of 9 Associations for the Administration of Rural Aqueducts (ASADAS) located in the Northern Pacific region of Costa Rica were selected to evaluate their management and document the strategies they implemented during the drought of 2014-2016. Five basic management components were evaluated: administrative and financial, commercial, communal, water resources, and management of water systems, to determine if management was adequate to provide safe water to the communities. In addition, the quality of drinking water of each ASADA was analyzed, using Level 1 of the Regulation for Quality of Drinking Water (38924-S) as a criterion. One of the ASADAS studied had a high level of management capability; 3 had a low level of management capability, and 5 had weak management. The presence of fecal coliforms and E. coli was detected during the rainy season in 2 ASADAS. Only 3 of the 9 ASADAS analyzed met the optimal ranges for free residual chlorine, which endangers the quality of the water supplied to the population. It is concluded that the ASADAS evaluated are highly fragile when confronted by a hydrometeorological event, due to the age of systems, lack of maintenance, and the limited capacity of their storage tanks, which increases risk during extreme events (droughts and floods). In addition, the ASADAS evaluated had mostly low or weak management capabilities; consequently, the water that is distributed to communities could affect water security of the communities that they serve, since this water is not always available when needed and does not comply with some of the basic parameters of potability.