The Ministry of Environment is throwing its full weight behind the newly unveiled National Water Plan 2025-2045, a strategic blueprint designed to ensure the sustainable management of water resources in the Dominican Republic for the next two decades.
Environment Minister Paíno Henríquez participated in the official launch event, which gathered top government officials, representatives from international organizations, and leading water sector experts.
The presentation took place at the Aula Magna of the Autonomous University of Santo Domingo (UASD). Key figures leading the activity included the Administrative Minister of the Presidency, Andrés Bautista; the Spanish Ambassador to the Dominican Republic, Lorea Arribalzaga Ceballos; the Executive Director of the National Institute of Hydraulic Resources (INDRHI), Olmedo Caba Romano; and Minister Henríquez, who represented the Dominican Government and President Luis Abinader.
The plan is the result of a rigorous technical and participatory process, spearheaded by INDRHI with crucial financial and technical backing from the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID) and the Water and Sanitation Cooperation Fund (FCAS).
In his remarks, Minister Henríquez stressed the critical need for up-to-date planning tools.
“What is not measured is not managed,” Henríquez stated. “Measurement and monitoring constitute the backbone of serious and responsible water management. Having a plan that includes a diagnosis, a water balance, and climate change adaptation measures reaffirms our commitment to the sustainability and protection of the country’s water resources.”
The Minister noted that the plan provides an essential foundation for tackling the nation’s primary water challenges, including increased water pressure, the pollution of water sources, and a widespread lack of conservation awareness.
Indrhi director Olmedo Caba Romano characterized the new plan as a definitive roadmap set to impact over 10 million inhabitants. He highlighted that the document was developed through an extensive consultation and participation process across all of the country’s hydrographic regions.
The comprehensive plan includes:
• A national water balance.
• An inventory of hydraulic and sanitary works.
• Regulatory proposals and guidelines for a National Water Policy.
• Digital platforms for managing water usage rights.
Crucially, it also incorporates climate change adaptation strategies aimed at strengthening the resilience of the nation’s aquatic ecosystems.
The launch event coincided with the 60th anniversary commemoration of INDRHI and saw broad participation from public institutions, international bodies, academia, and national productive sectors. The Ministry of Environment reaffirmed its commitment to the responsible and sustainable management of water as a core pillar of its environmental and sustainable development policies.
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Ministry of Environment
2 October 2025