Santiago. The La Vereda community in La Vega protested to demand the completion of an aqueduct, while in Las Praderas, in Santiago, residents complain that they have been paying for two years for a service that barely arrives.
Representatives of 52 communities belonging to the municipal district of Río Verde, Villa Cutupú, in La Vega asked the Corporation of the Aqueduct and Sewerage of this demarcation (Coraavega) to finish the construction of the aqueduct of that demarcation, because they do not have the service of potable water.
José Tejada, who spoke on behalf of the community organizations, reported that Coraavega received the aqueduct in 2020 with 90 percent of its construction completed and despite the fact that only details are missing, the works continue to be paralyzed.
He said that out of three pumps that were working, now there are none.
To survive, residents have to buy water from trucks that offer this service at a cost that ranges between 1,500 and 2,500 pesos depending on capacity.
Those who lack these economic resources have to obtain water from the river, even though it is extremely polluted.
The communities affected by water shortages are: La Destiladera, Ranchito, La Vereda, Manga Larga, Arroyo Hondo Arriba and Arroyo Hondo Abajo.
Residents of the Las Praderas development in Bella Vista, southwest of the municipality of Santiago de los Caballeros, protested by blocking Antonio Guzmán Avenue in protest of the lack of drinking water and high water bills.
Protesters complain that the Santiago Water and Sewer Corporation (Coraasan) continues to send them bills, while they have to pay up to 2,500 pesos for water trucks to supply themselves and cover basic household needs.