Once again there is an announcement that the government is re-opening plans to build a dam and a water system high upstream on the Haina River. The project, announced several times over the last 51 years since 1955, will now be called the Rio Haina Dam Project. It is designed to end Santo Domingo’s continual water problems for at least the next 25 years. The most recent announcement was made by Richard Martinez, the head of the Santo Domingo Water Authority (CAASD). Martinez said that the project would cost an estimated US$400 million. The current project will supply eight cubic meters of potable water per second to the thirsty mouths of Santo Domingo residents. Back in 1983, former CAASD director Julio Marranzini headed the group of experts that prepared the studies for the Madrigal Dam with an estimated budget of US$150 million, which was to have been financed through a loan from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) at 50 years at low interest. Nonetheless, conflicts between PRD congressmen prevented the loan from winning approval during the last years of Salvador Jorge Blanco’s administration. During the Mejia administration, Silvio Carrasco, the head of the Hydraulic Resource Institute (INDRHI), announced the possible start of construction, but nothing came of this.