Costa Rica government responds to record El Niño drought

The Costa Rican government and the AyA water utility are implementing emergency measures to address a severe water shortage affecting more than 306,000 people. The National Meteorological Institute (IMN) identified the current El Niño as the most intense since the agency began operations in 1888, leading to a red alert and a coordinated response by over 20 institutions.

The AyA is managing the crisis by tripling its fleet of water tanker trucks from 21 to 64 to supply areas where local systems are failing. The utility is also creating 149 water security plans for community-run water associations called ASADAS and distributing 25 storage tanks. Additionally, the agency is activating new wells, repairing leaks, and securing water supplies for schools and shelters. To support the economy and food security, the government is providing direct aid to affected residents.

The CNE and the fishing institute Incopesca delivered food to 2,500 fishing families and extended the fishing range for 40 boats to 12 nautical miles. The rural development institute Inder invested approximately $1.4 million into livestock feed and water studies for 6,000 families in the Guanacaste region. The Development Banking System is providing 5,000 million colones in low-cost financing to help small businesses and producers.

For the first time, the system is also offering 1,000 million colones in loans specifically for ASADAS. Meanwhile, the fire department bought five tanker trucks to combat a historic rise in forest fires in the Puntarenas and Guanacaste regions.