Geologist Osiris de Leon, coordinator of the Academy of Sciences natural sciences and environment committee has said that the unexpected presence of subterranean waters that have held up construction of the columns for the Santo Domingo metro system are evidence that the necessary geological studies were not carried out. De Leon has been demanding that the builders undertake geological, geophysical and hydro-geological studies prior to the construction. He told Hoy newspaper that the tests carried out by the builders are not sufficient to detect the geotechnical conditions of an area. De Leon said that the underwater currents can soften the columns’ foundations, turning the ground into mud. He commented that Villa Mella, where the elevated train is being built, is clay based foundation.