The drought affecting big cities is draining the pockets of individuals and budgets of small businesses that have to buy water from third parties.
In the neighborhoods of the northern parts of the National District, a 25-gallon tank of water costs RD$100. In barrios of Santo Domingo West and Pantoja, a small truck costs RD$500. At these prices water is hitting the pockets of poor families in Greater Santo Domingo.
Daniel Alcantara, a pushcart water salesman in the Villa Francisca area, fills a tank for R$100. Alcantara distributes water to several blocks between the Ravelo, Las Honradas and Caracas streets. “Can you imagine? In order to wash clothes I need a hundred pesos just for water,” said Amarilis Medrano, a resident of Ravelo Street.
Beauty salon owner Cinthia Herrera says that at times the only way that they can obtain water for the house and for the business is to ask the Fire Department. “When we get a group together and we ask the Fire Department to send us a tank truck, sometimes the guys (who sell water) are angry, but it is very expensive,” she said.
In Villa Francisca there are areas without faucets or hydrants, and others like Francisco Henriquez y Carvajal where yesterday, Thursday 24 July 2014 residents were supposed to receive the (water) service for six hours, but people could not get more than a half a tank, with the use of a small pump.
In the sector of the Jose Contreras Project in Pantoja, a truck costs RD$500, and if used efficiently, it can last a week. “Together with all of the other problems we have to spend money on water, too,” exclaimed one local resident.
In Villas Agricolas the demand is so high that residents wait for others to finish before they connect their pumps. “Some water is getting here, but everyone takes it at once,” said Jose Lopez. In San Carlos, the locals call Thursdays “the Day of Judgment.” In the dawn hours they have to be alert in order to be able to do household chores.
The Santiago Water and Sewer Corporation (Coraasan) announced yesterday, Thursday 24 July 2014 that if the long dry spell that is affecting the country persists, they will be forced to increase water rationing.
Coraasan spokesman Dario Fernandez said that given the critical situation, consumers must cooperate by saving water during their daily routines.
“We should stop watering gardens, the fronts of our houses, and the little vegetable patches we have out back, since it is getting harder and harder to supply so much water,” Fernandez stated. He said that the levels at the Tavera Reservoir are worrisome, since it should be at 327 meters above sea level and it is now at 317 above sea level.
http://www.diariolibre.com/destacada/2014/07/25/i717231_crisis-agua-sale-cara-familias-del-gran-santo-domingo.html