Amidst a debate over the rational use of water, the National District city government is proceeding with its plan to set up public pools at the Guibia Park for city-dwellers to cool off over this Easter Week. They have begun filling the controversial swimming pools, according to Listin Diario, despite a call to save water and use it rationally from the head of the Santo Domingo Water and Sewer Corporation (CAASD) Alejandro Montas, who has suggested the city use nearby seawater for the pools.
Starting at 5pm on Wednesday 27 March, the Malecon seafront boulevard stretch from Jose Heredia Street to Maximo Gomez Avenue will be closed to traffic, and the authorities expect as many as 300,000 people to use the recreation area, with its artificial beach along the roadway itself. The authorities justify the use of water saying that domestic demand for water goes down during Easter Week because so many people have left the city for beaches and mountains. They say that the Guibia Recreational Area is the most viable option for city residents who cannot go on vacation.