Santiago, DR.- The General Director of the Santiago Aqueduct and Sewer Corporation (Coraasan), Engineer Andrés Burgos, and the Regional Director of the National Institute of Hydraulic Resources (INDRHI), Rafael Romero, have announced that due to the persistent rainfall over the past two weeks, the Tavera Bao dam has been discharging water, leading to a reduction in drinking water production.
Romero clarified that as a precautionary measure, they have initiated a controlled release of water from the Tavera Bao dam, ranging between 50 and 100 cubic meters per second, to maintain an optimal water level in anticipation of future weather conditions. Currently, the reservoir level stands at 323.94 meters above sea level.
Additionally, INDRHI has decided to regulate the flow of the Ulises Francisco Espaillat (UFE) and Monsieur Bogaert irrigation canals to prevent potential damage from flooding. These canals have already begun to return to their normal flow.
Burgos noted that water production at the aqueduct has decreased by approximately 20 million gallons per day due to high turbidity in the water sources. Consequently, the Las Charcas and La Barranquita aqueducts have been temporarily shut down. However, it is anticipated that the La Canela, Cienfuegos, and Villas González systems will resume operation in the coming hours, provided the weather conditions remain favorable. Meanwhile, the Nibaje plants are operating at reduced capacity.
The restoration of water services will be gradual, contingent upon a decrease in turbidity in the tributary and the stabilization of flow in the irrigation canals, according to Coraasan’s director.
Areas most affected by water supply disruptions include the city center, Pueblo Nuevo, El Congo, La Joya, Baracoa, El Hospedaje, El Retiro I and II, El Ensueño, La Zurza, Nibaje, Bella Vista, La Barranquita, La Another Band, the Libertad expansion, and surrounding districts such as La Canela, Santiago Oeste, part of Hato del Yaque, and the municipality of Villa González.
Both officials assured the public of the water’s quality and recommended responsible water usage. To mitigate the impact of reduced productivity caused by the weather, the institution has increased water distribution via trucks.
Burgos and Romero affirmed that established protocols are being adhered to, providing assurance to the population that they will be kept informed about the Yaque River’s flow evolution and behavior. These statements were made during a joint tour with technicians from both institutions.