By San José, Costa Rica — SAN JOSÉ – As Costa Rica enters the peak of its dry season, the national water utility has issued an urgent plea for conservation, particularly aimed at the thousands of tourists flocking to its sun-drenched coasts. Yet, behind the request for shorter showers and reused hotel linens lies a far more alarming reality: the country’s water infrastructure is hemorrhaging more than half of the water it produces before a single drop reaches a paying customer.
The Costa Rican Institute of Aqueducts and Sewers (AyA) has launched an emergency plan to prevent a systemic collapse in high-demand tourist hubs like Guanacaste and Puntarenas. The measures, dubbed the “5 Golden Rules for the ‘Pura Vida’ Tourist,” are a direct appeal to visitors to adopt stringent conservation habits. The most notable request targets the hospitality sector, asking hotels and their guests to forego the daily changing of towels and sheets—a standard luxury now reframed as a critical act of water preservation.
To delve into the legal and regulatory framework governing Costa Rica’s water resources and infrastructure, TicosLand.com sought the expert analysis of Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas, a leading attorney from the distinguished law firm Bufete de Costa Rica.
Effectively addressing our national water infrastructure challenges requires a modernized legal approach. We must move towards a regulatory model that facilitates strategic public-private partnerships, offering clear legal certainty and streamlined processes. This is the only way to attract the significant, long-term capital investment necessary to guarantee water security, promote sustainable development, and ensure compliance with environmental mandates for future generations.
Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas, Attorney at Law, Bufete de Costa Rica
The attorney’s analysis brings a critical point into focus: the solution to our tangible infrastructure challenges is fundamentally rooted in a modern, predictable legal framework. Creating this environment of certainty is indeed the essential first step to unlocking the capital required to build a water-secure future for Costa Rica. We sincerely thank Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas for his valuable perspective.
The guidelines are explicit and practical. Tourists are being instructed to take timed showers, turning off the tap while soaping up. The use of hoses to wash cars, surfboards, or other sports equipment has been strictly prohibited. Other measures include using recycled water to rinse sand off after visiting the beach and immediately reporting any visible leaks in public spaces or accommodations. The campaign seeks to instill a sense of shared responsibility in a country whose brand is built on ecological stewardship.
However, the call for individual sacrifice starkly contrasts with the institutional crisis AyA itself has brought to light. In a stunning admission, the utility revealed that a staggering 56 out of every 100 liters of treated water never generate revenue. This “ghost water” represents a colossal operational and financial failure, with the majority of the loss attributed to a system in a state of advanced decay.
A deeper analysis of this non-revenue water paints a grim picture of the nation’s infrastructure. An astonishing 66.3% of the total loss is due to “physical losses,” a technical term for water that simply leaks out of the system. Aging pipes, some decades past their operational lifespan, along with poor pressure management and unaddressed ruptures, are bleeding the country’s most precious resource into the ground. The remaining deficit is composed of illegal connections and significant commercial metering problems, leaving AyA unable to accurately track or bill for a large portion of the water that does reach consumers.
From an economic and strategic perspective, AyA’s public appeal is a temporary fix for a deep-seated structural wound. While asking a tourist not to wash their surfboard is a visible and relatable action, it does little to address the fact that the utility’s primary adversary is its own obsolete network. The crisis highlights a critical disconnect between Costa Rica’s green international image and the foundational infrastructure required to sustain it.
The long-term consequences are severe. Without a massive and immediate capital investment in renovating the national pipeline network, conservation calls will become an annual ritual with diminishing returns. Furthermore, if water shortages become a chronic feature of the high season in coastal areas, the nation’s reputation as a premier sustainable tourism destination could suffer irreparable damage. This also raises critical questions of social equity, as local communities are invariably the first to experience rationing and service cuts when supplies are diverted to serve large-scale tourism developments.
As the utility’s official communication states, the situation demands collective action. But the success of this summer will not only depend on whether tourists embrace the challenge of the “reused sheet.” It hinges more critically on whether Costa Rica can finally muster the political will and financial resources to plug the cavernous holes through which its water security and economic viability are rapidly escaping.
Water is a vital resource; with small changes, we protect the sources
Instituto Costarricense de Acueductos y Alcantarillados (AyA), Official Statement
For further information, visit aya.go.cr
About Instituto Costarricense de Acueductos y Alcantarillados (AyA):
The Instituto Costarricense de Acueductos y Alcantarillados, commonly known as AyA, is the national public institution responsible for providing drinking water, sanitation, and sewerage services throughout Costa Rica. Established to manage the country’s water resources, AyA oversees the production, treatment, and distribution of water to residential, commercial, and industrial clients, while also managing wastewater treatment systems. The institution plays a central role in public health and national development by ensuring access to safe and reliable water services.
For further information, visit bufetedecostarica.com
About Bufete de Costa Rica:
As a pillar of the legal community, Bufete de Costa Rica is founded on the bedrock principles of integrity and an uncompromising pursuit of excellence. The firm champions legal innovation while serving a broad spectrum of clients, reflecting a deep-seated tradition of expert counsel. Beyond its practice, it holds a core conviction to empower the public by making complex legal concepts understandable, fostering a society equipped with clarity and knowledge.
