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 finalizing a document through social and public consensus.
The act, led by the Minister of Economy, Planning and Development, Miguel Ceara Hattontogether with the members of the Water Sector Cabinet and members of the Greater Santo Domingo Water Thematic Table, aims to present the National Commitment Proposal 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 ceremony, Minister Ceara Hatton explained the “Contextualizations on the water sector in Greater Santo Domingo”, with a view to improving people’s quality of life.
The economist highlighted that through the queries in all the provinces of the country their needs are determined, based on the initial diagnosis that includes information, analysis and deficiencies.
He pointed out that with this meeting 31 provinces are added to the consultation work with society on the problem of water.
At the end of the province Elijah Pineapple 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 turn it into a political consensus and a long-term state policy.
“We are looking for a solution to a problem that unfortunately will only have 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 assured the local media.
Challenges of Greater Santo Domingo
Among the challenges presented by Greater Santo Domingo, the recovery of 64% of the water currently delivered and not used; increase coverage of drinking water in quality, quantity and opportunity to 95% of the population; increase the coverage of sanitary sewerage and treatment plants to 60%; eliminate the causes of the degradation of the quality of the bodies of surface and underground waters and the marine coastline.
Also, increase the assessment 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 go from 32% regulation to 40%.
Problems of the water resources of Greater Santo Domingo
According to the diagnosis made for the Great Saint Dominic Eight main problems were identified from 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, underground and coastal waters.
As well 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; Absence of governance for the good use of water resources and Scarce valuation of the water resource.
It is recalled that since January 2022, the Water Sector Cabinet 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 official institutions, 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 the Environment and Natural Resources, and Wascar Martínez, Deputy Director of the National Institute of Hydraulic Resources.
In addition, government representatives, municipalities, universities, the private sector, civil society, among others.
