Richard Martinez and Hamlet Otanez, directors of the Santo Domingo and Santiago potable water departments, said yesterday that residents in these two cities need to take measures to save water, as reported in Hoy newspaper. They explained that as a consequence of the intense drought that has affected the country since January, water supplies are dwindling.
Richard Martinez of CAASD said that the sources of the National District (Santo Domingo) are supplying 70-50% of their regular production. Martinez explained that Santo Domingo consumes around 300 million gallons of water per day. He said that the city requires 20 cubic meters per second of water, but yesterday, production was down to 14 cubic meters of water, from the normal 16 to 17 cubic meters. Santo Domingo’s main water sources are Haina-Manoguayabo, Isabela, Isa-Mana and Valdesia-Santo Domingo.
Otanez of CORAASAN said that in Santiago they have been supplying the needs of the population, but the prolonged drought makes it necessary to start rationing the supply. He said that Santiago demands 134 million gallons of water a day that are supplied by sources at Bao, Lopez Angostura and Tavera dams. He urged that citizens use water scantily, eliminating the watering of gardens and car washing, where lots of water is wasted.
Meanwhile, the director of the National Institute of Potable Water and Aqueducts (INAPA), Victor Diaz told El Caribe newspaper that the drought that is affecting the island has reached alarming proportions. He said that the rains would be the salvation. He said that the lack of rains has impeded the extinguishing of the forest fires in the central mountain range. He said that the drought has made it necessary to truck water to some neighborhoods. “The problems are serious. We have problems all over. All we can do is contract cistern trucks to serve the population. Rains would be the solution,” he said. He said that drought has been worse in the cities of Barahona, El Seibo, San Cristobal, Higuey, La Vega, Bonao, San Francisco de Macoris, Santiago Rodriguez, Mao, Dajabon and Monte Cristi.
He also urged that people to make sure they store water in clean recipients.