Vehicle access banned near Valdesia Dam

San Cristóbal.- Several Dominican state institutions conducted a joint operation on Tuesday in the Muchas Aguas community, San Cristóbal, to protect the drinking water sources that supply Greater Santo Domingo. The operation involved the Ministry of Defense through the National Environmental Protection Service (SENPA), the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, the Dominican Hydroelectric Generation Company (EGEHID), the Specialized Attorney General’s Office for the Defense of the Environment, the National Police, and local authorities.

Authorities announced an immediate ban on vehicular access to spas and recreational areas near the Valdesia Dam, citing the risk of contamination from cars and motorcycles. The presence of vehicles around the water has led to oil, grease, and fuel spills, as well as the accumulation of solid waste, damaging riparian ecosystems, threatening aquatic species, and compromising the quality of water for millions in the National District and surrounding areas.