Water service management in two Costa Rican indigenous communities

Abstract

This paper examines the challenges faced by the Costa Rican indigenous communities of Salitre (Bribri) and Ujarrás (Cabécar) in properly managing their drinking water supply. Both communities have infrastructure for collecting and transporting drinking water and have established resource management committees. The methodology used a multidimensional approach that included water quality analysis and land cover analysis in the two communities. It also conducted a documentary review and explored the perceptions of government and community actors to identify weaknesses in local management. From the integration of this information, several critical points have been identified: the water sources in these communities are vulnerable in some quality parameters, affected by economic activities and social practices. Additionally, the organization methods of indigenous communities have weaknesses in effectively managing the drinking water service, including issues with the sustainability of their structures, technical weaknesses, and a lack of understanding or misunderstanding of institutional regulations. From this perspective, it is important to prioritize empowering these communities to manage the drinking water service, with institutional support, while respecting their cultural practices.