Mining engineer Osiris de León alerts that the present drought will continue and requires the government to take preventive measures, recommending the construction of wells at several key points nationwide. De León forecasts the drought will continue into May 2019. He forecasts a significantly low rain levels at the Nizao and Haina rivers that feed the Santo Domingo and San Cristóbal aqueducts. Likeso, for the rivers Jimenoa, Yaque del Norte and Bao, responsible for the water supply for the Jarabacoa, Santiago and Moca aqueducts. Also to be affected are the river sources for the Yuna and Camú that feed the Cibao Oriental and the Bajo Yuna. Also the sources of the Yaque del Sur, Las Cuevas and Grande river that feed the Sabana Yegua dam.
De Leon said that Dominicans must reduce to a minimum wasting water. He suggests the CAASD perforate wells in specific points such as the gravels near Haina River and the coral limestones near Santo Domingo in order to tap into underground for distribution to the affected population. He also suggests INAPA to open wells from Boca Chica to Macao and Nisibón in the outskirts of Los Haitises, and in the alluvial fans of Baní, Azua, Neiba, Postrer Río, Descubierta, Boca de Cachón, Jimaní, Duvergé, Salinas and Barahona. Also at the sandstones of Vallejuelo and El Cercado, Luperon, Puerto Plata, Rio San Juan and Cabrera.
He also suggests the National Institute of Hydraulic Resources (Indrhi) open wells near the Yaque del Norte, Mao and Guayubín river to supply water to the cattle ranchers of the northwest.
He recommends that the Ministry of Agriculture and the Banco Agrícola limit the planting of rice due to its high demand for water. Likewise, he recommended that the Ministry of Environment increase forestry surveillance to avoid forest fires so common in times of drought.
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El Caribe
5 February 2019
