Friday 03 October 2008, San José, Costa
Rica
Jacó Not Suitable
For Swimming
Costa Rica's Annual
Inflation Hits 10 Year
High
World Bank Shows Poverty
Rooted In Childhood
Cows On Parade
María José To The
End!
Liberia Airport To
Have Modern Radar
|
Jacó Not Suitable For
Swimming
Recent studies of water
samples taken by the
Instituto Costarricense
de Acueductos y
Alcantarillados (AyA) -
water and sewer utility
- reveal that the waters
of Playa Jacó are not
suitable for swimming.
The water samples taken
show a density of Fecal
coliform of 675/1000 ml.
The ministra de Salud,
María Luisa Ávila Agüero,
said yesterday that her
health officials will be
intensifying efforts in
Jacó as well as other
beaches with high levels
of contamination, in
order to further prevent
and mitigate pollution
from sewage.
Ávila added that the
local health officials
of the Área Rectora de
Salud de Orotina, San
Mateo y Garabito have
taken on the task of
strengthening their
efforts, making more
inspections of area
businesses, and in
conjunction with the AyA
will be taking samples
of wastewater from
sewage treatment plants.
The Ministerio de Salud
is also giving priority
to the problem and
responding quickly to
complaints of wastewater
problems and will be
issuing health orders
against individual
property owners, be it
residential or
commercial, as well a
inspecting vehicles that
carry septic tank waste
and sewage.
The Health ministry,
according to the Health
minister, is in the
process of mapping out
high risk areas and
identifying "cuaterias"
(flop houses) or "precarios"
(shanty towns) with the
objective of shutting
them down, as they pose
health risks for those
living in such
accommodations.
AVila added that
engineers and arquitects
have undergone training
on the procedures and
requirements to be met
by local generators of
wastewater, among other
specific actions.
"Our presence in the
area (Jacó) will be
further strengthened
with the opening of a
new Área Rectora de
Salud en el cantón de
Garabito (schedule to
open in January), where
five permanent Salud
staff members will be
permanently assigned. ur
purpose is to have a
greater presence and
control in an area,
which in recent years,
has seen significant
development" said Avila.
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