Combines Ley de Aguas 276, Forestry Law setbacks, and the 2020 constitutional water right. Covers nacientes, riparian protection zones, ZMT spring rules, and AyA concessions.
Combina la Ley de Aguas 276, los retiros de la Ley Forestal y el derecho constitucional al agua de 2020. Cubre nacientes, zonas de protección ribereña, retiros ZMT y concesiones AyA.
596 documents in this topic.
Decreto 450312025
Derogatoria de utilidad pública de ASADA Bananito Norte y Sur
This executive decree revokes the public utility declaration that the State had granted to the Asociación Administradora del Acueducto y Alcantarillado Rural de Bananito Norte y Sur de Limón. The measure is based on the association's failure to submit the required annual activity reports for the years 2022 and 2023, as well as on the express resignation…
Decreto 451392025
Reglamento a la Ley de Ordenamiento y Manejo de la Cuenca del Río Reventazón
This executive decree regulates Law No. 8023 (amended by Law No. 9067) for the integrated management of the Reventazón River basin. It establishes the organization and operation of the Commission for the Management of the Reventazón River Basin (COMCURE), defining its mission, vision, and the functions of its Board of Directors, including approving plans,…
Decreto 454662025
Declaratoria de Conveniencia Nacional — Acueducto de Gavilán del Valle de la Estrella
Executive Decree No. 45466-MINAE declares the construction of an aqueduct system to supply drinking water to the Cabécar indigenous communities of Arrocera, Alto Cohen, Moi, Bella Vista, Jabuy, Boca Cohen, Gavilán and Namardí in the Tayni Indigenous Territory (Limón, Valle de la Estrella) to be of national interest. The declaration is based on the need to…
Decreto 444732024
Reglamento a la Ley 10152 sobre la Cuenca del Río Sarapiquí
This regulation implements Law No. 10152 for the sustainable development of the Sarapiquí River basin and protection of its main channel. It establishes the Commission for Sustainable Development of the Sarapiquí River Basin (CODESOSA), comprised of public institutions and civil society organizations, to coordinate integrated water resource management and…
Decreto 444102024
Reglamento a los Capítulos I, II, III, IV y VI de la Ley de Aguas
This Executive Decree regulates the procedures before the Water Directorate (Dirección de Agua) of the Ministry of Environment and Energy (MINAE) for obtaining surface water use concessions, hydraulic force concessions, temporary extraction permits, in-stream works permits, agricultural drainage discharge permits, registration of water user associations,…
Decreto 445462024
Declaratoria de Conveniencia Nacional: Mejoras al Acueducto Integrado de Buenos Aires
Executive Decree 44546 of June 19, 2024 declares the project “Improvements to the Integrated Aqueduct of Buenos Aires” as a matter of national convenience. Located in the districts of Volcán and Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires canton, Puntarenas province, this declaration—based on Article 6 of the National Planning Law—enables the Costa Rican Institute of…
Decreto 447902024
Reforma Reglamento Canon Ambiental por Vertidos y Sistemas de Tratamiento
This executive decree amends the Environmental Discharge Fee Regulation (Decree 42128) and the Wastewater Treatment Systems Approval Regulation (Decree 39887) to address the discharge of treated wastewater into intermittent-flow receiving water bodies. Recognizing that climate change has reduced streamflows, causing seasonal drying, a new article 19 BIS is…
Decreto 442202023
Reforma al Reglamento para la Calidad del Agua Potable
Executive Decree 44220-S, issued in February 2023, amends the Drinking Water Quality Regulation (Decree 38924-S of 2015). It updates the water quality parameter tables in Annexes 1, 2 and 3, establishing new alert and maximum allowable values for free and combined residual chlorine, turbidity, odor, pH and temperature, among others. It adjusts minimum…
Decreto 437122022
Derogatoria del Artículo 54 sobre Pozos Artesanales
This executive decree repeals Article 54 of the Regulation for Well Drilling and Groundwater Use (Decree 43053-MINAE), which governed artisanal wells. The repeal is part of a regulatory improvement process by the Water Directorate to simplify procedures and enhance water resource oversight and management. All artisanal wells already registered remain in…
Decreto 429292021
Reglamento de la Comisión Técnica Interinstitucional para la Gestión del Agua Subterránea
This executive decree creates and regulates the Interinstitutional Technical Commission for Groundwater Management (CTI-Agua Subterránea), composed of the Water Directorate of MINAE, AyA, and SENARA. Its purpose is to define the scope of management and agreements of this commission regarding aquifers and groundwater, ensuring transparent, objective…
Decreto 430532021
Reglamento para la perforación de pozos y aprovechamiento de aguas subterráneas
This Executive Decree 43053-MINAE establishes the regulatory framework for drilling the subsurface for the investigation, exploration, and use of groundwater throughout the national territory. It regulates drilling permits, the registry of drilling companies, required technical reports, and water concession procedures. It introduces clear institutional…
Decreto 425822020
Reglamento de las ASADAS
This executive decree establishes a comprehensive legal framework for Community Water and Sewer System Administrative Associations (ASADAS) in Costa Rica. It regulates their constitution, internal operation, relationship with the Costa Rican Institute of Aqueducts and Sewers (AyA) as the technical governing body, and the provision of drinking water and…
Decreto 415422019
Recuperación y gestión de infraestructura para riego en río Térraba
This Executive Decree No. 41542-MAG of January 8, 2019, provisionally authorizes the Municipality of Osa to recover and manage the irrigation infrastructure on the Térraba River, Diquís sector, Puntarenas, after severe damage caused by Tropical Storm Nate in October 2017 and prior neglect of maintenance by the cooperative SURCOOP. The decree authorizes…
Decreto 415632019
Declaratoria de interés público del Primer Encuentro de Experiencias en la Gestión Integral del Recurso Hídrico, UCR 2019
Executive Decree No. 41563-MINAE declares of public interest the 'First Encounter of Experiences in Integrated Water Resource Management, UCR 2019,' organized by the Integrated Water Resource Management program at the University of Costa Rica. The event took place on March 22, 2019, at the UCR Tacares de Grecia campus, in connection with World Water Day.…
Decreto 417492019
Declaratoria de utilidad pública ASADA Bananito Norte y Sur
This executive decree declares the Asociación Administradora del Acueducto y Alcantarillado Rural de Bananito Norte y Sur de Limón to be of public utility. Based on Article 32 of the Law of Associations, the Executive Branch recognizes that this rural water board’s activities meet a pressing social need by managing and maintaining the water and sewer…
Decreto 418512019
Reglamento de registro de pozos sin número y habilitación del trámite de concesión de aguas subterráneas
This executive decree establishes an exceptional and temporary procedure for individuals or legal entities to register wells drilled without authorization before April 2010 and apply for a groundwater use concession. The amnesty aims to regularize existing wells, especially those of small and medium producers, in order to manage water resources and…
Decreto 419442019
Reforma a declaratoria de emergencia por déficit hídrico
This executive decree amends Article 1 of Decree No. 41852-MP-MAG of July 23, 2019, which declared a national state of emergency due to the water deficit caused by the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO). The amendment expands the geographic coverage of the declaration to include additional cantons and districts in the provinces of San José, Alajuela, and…
Decreto 420152019
Reglamento de Coordinación Interinstitucional para la Protección de los Recursos Hídricos Subterráneos
Executive Decree No. 42015-MAG-MINAE-S-MIVAH establishes a coordination framework among the Executive Branch, decentralized entities, and municipalities for groundwater protection. It assigns specific functions to each institution (MINAE, SETENA, Water Directorate, MAG, SENARA, AyA, INVU, MIVAH, Ministry of Health) within their legal competencies. It…
Decreto 419792019
Declaratoria de utilidad pública de la Asociación Acueducto Rural de Vecinos de Tárcoles
Executive Decree No. 41979-MJP declares the Asociación Acueducto Rural de Vecinos de Tárcoles a public utility, recognizing that its purposes—construction, administration, and conservation of the aqueduct, as well as protection of water sources and watersheds—address a primary social need. The declaration is based on the Law of Associations and its…
Decreto 419812019
Declaratoria de utilidad pública para la Asociación Administradora de Acueducto Los Alpes
Through Executive Decree No. 41981-MJP, the Executive Branch declares of public utility the 'Asociación Administradora de Acueducto Los Alpes,' a civil association that builds, manages, and protects a rural aqueduct in the Los Alpes housing project. This declaration, based on Article 32 of the Associations Law, recognizes that the association's purposes…
Decreto 419822019
Declaratoria de Utilidad Pública de la Asociación Administradora del Acueducto y Alcantarillado Sanitario de La Flor
This executive decree declares the La Flor Aqueduct and Sanitary Sewerage Association, based in Santiago de Paraíso, Cartago, to be of public utility. The declaration is grounded in the Associations Law, which empowers the Executive Branch to grant this status to organizations whose activities serve social needs beneficial to the State. The association’s…
Decreto 420072019
Declaratoria de utilidad pública Asociación Administradora del Acueducto Nuevo Villas Alicante de Alajuela
This Executive Decree No. 42007-MJP, signed by the President of the Republic and the Minister of Justice and Peace, declares the Asociación Administradora del Acueducto Nuevo Villas Alicante de Alajuela (legal ID 3-002-574835) to be of public benefit. The declaration is based on Article 32 of the Associations Law, empowering the Executive Branch to grant…
Decreto 421102019
Reforma al Reglamento para el Manejo y Disposición Final de Lodos y Biosólidos
This executive decree amends Articles 19 and 21 of the Sludge and Biosolids Management and Final Disposal Regulation (Executive Decree No. 39316-S) and repeals Annex 2 on the emergency data sheet for transport. The amendment details the requirements for sludge collection and transport service providers to obtain a sanitary operating permit, including…
Decreto 421662019
Declaratoria de utilidad pública Asociación de Acueductos de San Pedro de Pérez Zeledón
This decree declares the ASADA San Pedro de Pérez Zeledón a public utility association. The community organization builds, administers, and protects a water system in the Santa Elena and Quizarrá communities. The declaration rests on the association's purposes addressing a prime social need, warranting State support. The decree requires an annual report to…
Decreto 410942018
Comisión para el manejo integrado de acuíferos en Sardinal
Executive Decree No. 41094 creates the Commission for Integrated Aquifer Management in the District of Sardinal, Carrillo Canton, Guanacaste. Its geographical scope includes the Sardinal, Panamá, El Coco-Ocotal, Hermosa, San Blas and La Libertad aquifers, motivated by water stress detected in these coastal sources and exacerbated by ENSO events. The…
Decreto 414992018
Reforma Reglamento para la Calidad del Agua Potable
This executive decree amends the Drinking Water Quality Regulation (Decree No. 38924-S) to update the quality control parameters for water intended for human consumption. It removes the taste parameter, deeming it subjective and a health risk for laboratory analysts. It also moves cyanide from the advanced control level (N3) to the occasional or emergency…
Decreto 402602017
Política Nacional de Saneamiento de las Aguas Residuales
Executive Decree 40260-S-MINAE adopts the National Wastewater Sanitation Policy as a mandatory action framework for the public sector and social actors. It addresses the country's lack of a comprehensive wastewater treatment policy, highlighted by a 2013 audit from the Comptroller General, which found deficiencies in controlling water pollution sources.…
Decreto 404192017
Reglamento para el transporte y distribución de agua potable en camiones cisterna
This Executive Decree establishes the regulatory framework for the transport and distribution of drinking water by tanker trucks throughout the national territory. Its primary objective is to protect public health by ensuring the safety of the water supplied to the population. The standard details the sanitary requirements for both the individuals or legal…
Decreto 404532017
Acciones ante la sequía y acceso al agua en el Pacífico Norte
This executive decree establishes immediate measures to ensure sustainable water access in the North Pacific Slope, severely affected by drought. It prioritizes human consumption and productive development, especially agriculture and tourism. It creates a special regime for drilling 'strategic wells' for collective supply, allowing public-private…
Decreto 404182017
Decreto 40418 — Declaratoria de utilidad pública de la Asociación del Acueducto de Santa Rosa
Executive Decree 40418-JP declares the Santa Rosa Aqueduct Administrative Association of Río Nuevo district, Pérez Zeledón canton, San José, to be of public utility for the interests of the State, considering its social purposes. The association, registered since 1997, aims to construct, operate, manage and maintain the community aqueduct in accordance…
Decreto 404972017
Reforma Canon de Aprovechamiento de Aguas — Cuenta Bancaria
This executive decree amends Article 20 of Decree 32868-MINAE regarding the water use fee in Costa Rica. It removes the reference to a specific bank account (No. 197633-1) that expired in 2016 and provides that the funds collected by the Water Directorate be deposited in the current account determined by the Administration. The amendment is administrative…
Decreto 405032017
Declaratoria de interés público del Proyecto de Exploración y Evaluación de Aguas Subterráneas
Executive Decree No. 40503-MP-MINAE, issued on May 19, 2017, declares of public interest the Groundwater Exploration and Assessment Project of Costa Rica, implemented under the cooperation agreement between the United States Geological Survey (USGS) and the Ministry of Environment and Energy (MINAE). The decree rests on the constitutional mandate to…
Decreto 406752017
Declaratoria de conveniencia nacional del proyecto "Mejoras al sistema de abastecimiento de Atenas"
Executive Decree No. 40675-MINAE declares the "Improvements to the Atenas Water Supply System" project, to be developed by the Costa Rican Institute of Aqueducts and Sewers (AyA), as a project of national convenience. This declaration allows, under Articles 19(b) and 34 of Forestry Law No. 7575, the cutting of trees and land-use change in forested lands…
Decreto 407112017
Reforma a la Política Tarifaria de Universalización del Agua Potable y Saneamiento
This executive decree amends the Tariff Policy for universal access to public drinking water and sanitation services established in Decree No. 39757-MINAE. It repeals Articles 2, 5, and 13, and amends Articles 4, 11, 15, and 16. The amendment responds to ARESEP's concerns about encroachment on its exclusive tariff-setting powers. It establishes that tariff…
Decreto 396572016
Declaratoria de Utilidad Pública ASADA Residencial Zurquí
Executive Decree No. 39657-JP, issued on March 2, 2016, declares the Administrative Association for the Aqueduct and Sanitary Sewerage of Residencial Zurquí in San Josecito, San Isidro de Heredia (legal ID 3-002-297158) to be of public utility for the interests of the State, pursuant to Article 32 of the Associations Law. The association's purposes are to…
Decreto 397572016
Política Tarifaria de Agua y Saneamiento: Universalización
This executive decree establishes the sectoral tariff policy for potable water and sanitation (wastewater collection and treatment) operators in Costa Rica. The policy requires tariffs to recover all economic costs, including social and environmental costs, ensuring the financial sustainability of service providers. It incorporates principles of economic…
Decreto 397962016
Declaración del Día de la Gestión Comunitaria del Agua
Executive Decree No. 39796-MINAE-S declares September 14 of each year as Community Water Management Day. It recognizes that community water management is a model for providing drinking water and sanitation services that actively involves members of rural and peri-urban communities in Costa Rica, having operated for over 50 years under the stewardship of…
Decreto 398872016
Reglamento de Aprobación de Sistemas de Tratamiento de Aguas Residuales
This executive decree establishes the regulatory framework for the approval of ordinary and special wastewater treatment systems in Costa Rica. Its objective is to protect public health and the environment through the rational management of discharges, complementing the Wastewater Discharge and Reuse Regulation (Decree 33601). The standard regulates the…
Decreto 396582016
Declaratoria de interés público de 'Frontera a frontera, Unidos por el agua'
This executive decree declares the activity 'Border to Border, United for Water' to be of public interest. The activity consists of a walk from the Panama border (Sixaola) to the Nicaragua border (La Cruz), held from May 23 to June 1, 2016, aiming to raise public awareness about the importance of rational water use as part of environmental education. It is…
Decreto 400132016
Reglamento para la Exención del Pago de Tributos de Sistemas de Tratamiento de Aguas Residuales
Executive Decree No. 40013-H-MAG-S implements Law No. 8932, which declares wastewater treatment a matter of public interest to mitigate water resource pollution and promote sustainable development. It establishes the procedure for individuals or legal entities to obtain tax exemptions on the purchase of systems, materials, equipment, and supplies for…
Decreto 400982016
Reglamento de Sistemas de Desalinización
Executive Decree No. 40098-MINAE-S-TUR (2016, amended 2023) establishes the regulatory framework for the evaluation, approval, concession, installation, and operation of seawater and brackish water desalination systems in Costa Rica. Its purpose is to regulate the production of potable water and water for other uses through these technologies, addressing…
Decreto 397622016
Declaratoria de interés público de proyectos de movilidad sostenible en riberas de ríos de la GAM
This executive decree declares of public interest the sustainable mobility and environmental regeneration projects developed by the Fundación de Rutas Naturbanas along the banks of the Torres, María Aguilar and other rivers in the Greater Metropolitan Area (GAM). It is based on the need to recover degraded riverbank areas, promote non-motorized…
Decreto 389242015
Reglamento para la Calidad del Agua Potable
Executive Decree No. 38924-S establishes Costa Rica's national drinking water quality regulation, setting maximum admissible values (VMA) and alert values (VA) for physical, chemical, and microbiological parameters that all public and private water supply systems must meet. It defines four control levels (N1 to N4) with increasing requirements, from basic…
Decreto 391442015
Reforma al Reglamento para la Calidad del Agua Potable
This executive decree amends the Drinking Water Quality Regulation (Executive Decree No. 38924-S of 2015) by adding a transitional article (Transitorio II). The amendment was prompted by observations from the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock and other organizations, aiming to establish a phased compliance schedule for drinking water quality…
Decreto 391452015
Declaratoria de Interés Público del PIAAG
This executive decree declares the elaboration and execution of the Integral Program for Water Supply for Guanacaste (North Pacific), known as PIAAG, to be of public interest. The program aims to ensure the optimal and sustainable use of water resources in the North Pacific watershed, which is affected by water stress, climate change, and lack of state…
Decreto 391992015
Salvaguarda Ambiental para los Ríos Pacuare y Savegre
Executive Decree No. 39199-MINAE establishes a 25-year environmental safeguard over the main channel of the Pacuare and Savegre rivers, banning hydroelectric projects with a capacity of 500 kW or more from their headwaters to the sea. The measure aims to keep the rivers free of physical barriers, preserving their environmental, ecosystemic, biological, and…
Decreto 384492014
Reglamento de la Comisión Técnica Interinstitucional para la Gestión de Acuíferos
Executive Decree No. 38449-MINAE-MAG creates the Interinstitutional Technical Commission (CTI) for aquifer management, composed of the Water Directorate of MINAE (coordinator), AYA, and SENARA. Its purpose is to coordinate efforts and resources for groundwater monitoring and studies, and to agree on conditions for subsurface drilling and sustainable use of…
Decreto 385242014
Declaratoria de Emergencia Sanitaria por Arsénico en Agua Potable
Executive Decree No. 38524-S declares a sanitary emergency in communities of the provinces of Guanacaste and Alajuela due to the presence of arsenic in drinking water at concentrations exceeding 10 µg/L, the maximum permissible limit under the Drinking Water Quality Regulation (Decree No. 32327-S). The decree is based on the General Health Law, the Water…
Decreto 386652014
Creación de la Comisión de Alto Nivel para el Programa Integral de Abastecimiento de Agua para Guanacaste
This executive decree establishes a high-level commission, coordinated by the Minister of Environment and Energy, to drive and oversee the Comprehensive Water Supply Program for Guanacaste (North Pacific). The measure addresses critical water scarcity in the North Pacific watershed, exacerbated by climate change and growing demand from domestic,…
Decreto 388332014
Declaratoria de utilidad pública de la Asociación Administradora del Acueducto y Alcantarillado Sanitario del Distrito de Cajón de Pérez Zeledón
This decree declares the Administrative Association of the Aqueduct and Sanitary Sewer of the District of Cajón de Pérez Zeledón, legal ID 3-002-238594, to be of public utility for the interests of the State. The act is based on Article 32 of the Associations Law No. 218, which empowers the Executive Branch to grant such a declaration to associations whose…
Decreto 385022014
Derogatoria del traslado del Departamento de Aguas al IMN
Executive Decree No. 38502-MINAE, signed on May 22, 2014, repeals Executive Decree No. 26635 of 1997, which had transferred the Water Department from the Ministry of Environment and Energy (MINAE) to the National Meteorological Institute (IMN). The repeal is based on the Water Law No. 276, the Organic Environmental Law No. 7554, and prior executive decrees…
Decreto 387122014
Imposición de servidumbre de acueducto sobre finca en Abangares
Executive Decree N° 38712-MGP imposes a ten-year aqueduct easement on property registered under Folio Real N° 017733-000, owned by Ganadera Abancari S.R.L., in favor of property N° 124739-000 belonging to Agroturismo Brisas del Lago S.A. The easement comprises a strip of land of approximately 160 square meters for the passage of an underground aqueduct and…
Decreto 378092013
Ampliación del Gasto Presupuestario Máximo 2013 para la Dirección de Aguas
Executive Decree No. 37809-H increases the maximum authorized budgetary expenditure for the Water Directorate (Dirección de Aguas) of the National Meteorological Institute (IMN) for 2013, adding ₡1,728,352,305.00. The increase is funded through free surplus resources and is intended to strengthen the Water Directorate's technological and administrative…
Decreto 379872013
Reforma a Comisión de Alto Nivel del Programa Agua para Guanacaste
This executive decree amends the composition of the High-Level Interinstitutional Commission created by Executive Decree 36008 to coordinate and support the Water for Guanacaste Program. The reform expands Commission membership to include the First Vice President as coordinator, the Minister of Planning as alternate coordinator, and the heads of…
Decreto 380052013
Emergencia Sanitaria por Déficit de Agua en Atenas
Executive Decree 38005-S, issued on October 15, 2013, declares a state of sanitary emergency in seventeen communities in the canton of Atenas, Alajuela province, due to insufficient aquifer flow to provide continuous and adequate drinking water, posing a health risk to approximately 17,500 people. It is grounded in the General Health Law and the State's…
Decreto 380182013
Ampliación Presupuestaria IMN-AGUAS 2013
Executive Decree increasing the maximum budget expenditure of the National Meteorological Institute, Water Directorate (IMN-AGUAS) by ¢75 million for 2013. The funds come from a free surplus generated by water use fees and are destined to finance transfers to the Commission for the Management of the Reventazón River Basin (COMCURE). The increase is…
Decreto 380982013
Emergencia sanitaria en el Asentamiento Triángulo Solidario
Decree No. 38098-S declares a health emergency in the Triángulo Solidario settlement, located along the border of Goicoechea and Tibás cantons. The norm addresses serious problems of blackwater disposal, bad odors, and river contamination that affect the area's health conditions. It obliges public authorities and the general population to comply with…
Decreto 380712013
Comisión de Gestión Integral de la Cuenca del Río Grande de Tárcoles
This Executive Decree establishes the Comprehensive Management Commission for the Grande de Tárcoles River Basin, an inter-institutional coordination body chaired by MINAE-SINAC. The Commission brings together ministries, municipalities, universities, the private sector, and community organizations to plan, protect, and rehabilitate the basin, which spans…
Decreto 370832012
Reglamento para la Calidad del Agua para Consumo Humano en Establecimientos de Salud
This executive decree implements mandatory physical-chemical and microbiological parameters to ensure the quality of water for human consumption in public, private, and mixed healthcare facilities with inpatient stays exceeding 24 hours. It sets up an internal control program managed by each facility—including sampling frequencies, collection points, and…
Decreto 371262012
Declaratoria de Emergencia Sanitaria en Limón 2000 por Aguas Negras
Executive Decree No. 37126-S, issued by the President of the Republic and the Minister of Health, declares a sanitary emergency in the community of Limón 2000 due to the upwelling and improper disposal of sewage throughout the community. The decree is based on the General Health Law and the Political Constitution, recognizing health as a matter of public…
Decreto 371692012
Reforma al Reglamento de las ASADAS sobre mejoras de sistemas
This Executive Decree amends Articles 5 and 21 of the Regulation for Community Aqueduct and Sewer System Administrator Associations (ASADAS), originally set forth in Executive Decree No. 32529-S-MINAE. The amendment establishes that any project for improvements, expansions, or modernization of delegated systems that modifies the water source utilization…
Decreto 372892012
Ampliación del gasto presupuestario máximo para la Dirección de Aguas, 2012
Executive Decree No. 37289-H increases the maximum budgetary expenditure authorized for the Water Directorate of the National Meteorological Institute during 2012 by ¢1,012,690,430.10, using funds from the free surplus. The measure responds to a request from the IMN Director General to finance equipment and strategic projects related to water resource…
Decreto 365092011
Emergencia Sanitaria por deficiencias en suministro de agua en Pocosol y Cutris
This executive decree declares a health emergency in multiple communities in the districts of Pocosol and Cutris, San Carlos canton, due to severe deficiencies in the supply of water fit for human consumption. It is based on the General Health Law and the constitutional powers of the Executive Branch. Health authorities from the Santa Rosa de Pocosol…
Decreto 365172011
Conformación de Comisión Técnica para protección del Humedal Caribe Noreste
This executive decree declares the activities of a technical commission of experts, formed by MINAET, to be of public interest, aiming to fulfill protection obligations for the Northeast Caribbean Wetland, a Ramsar site. It responds to a ruling by the International Court of Justice on provisional measures in the border area with Nicaragua, ordering Costa…
Decreto 366422011
Reglamento de Especificaciones para la Delimitación de la Zona Pública de la Zona Marítimo Terrestre
This Regulation establishes the procedure and technical requirements for the demarcation of the public zone of the Maritime-Terrestrial Zone (MTZ) by the National Geographic Institute (IGN). Demarcation is the exclusive competence of the IGN and may be carried out using two methodologies: the traditional placement of georeferenced boundary markers or…
Decreto 366542011
Declaratoria de Utilidad Pública de la Asociación Acueducto de Ojo de Agua de Sictaya
Executive Decree N° 36654-JP declares the Ojo de Agua de Sictaya Aqueduct Association, legal ID 3-002-203775, registered since 1997, to be of public utility for the interests of the State. The declaration is based on Article 32 of the Associations Law, which empowers the Executive Branch to grant this recognition to associations whose activities are…
Decreto 366672011
Declaratoria de Utilidad Pública de la ASADA de Gutiérrez y Bron
This executive decree declares the Specific Association Managing the Integrated Aqueduct of the Communities of Gutiérrez and Bron, legal ID 3-002-198499, to be of public utility for the interests of the State. The decision is based on Article 32 of the Law on Associations, which empowers the Executive Branch to confer such status on associations whose…
Decreto 367862011
Manual para la clasificación de tierras dedicadas a la conservación dentro de la Zona Marítimo Terrestre
This executive decree establishes the official procedure for identifying, delimiting, and certifying lands that are part of the State’s Natural Heritage (Patrimonio Natural del Estado, PNE) within Costa Rica’s Maritime-Terrestrial Zone (ZMT). It details the methodology for classifying forests, forest-suitable lands (Classes VII and VIII), wetlands…
Decreto 358032010
Criterios Técnicos para la Identificación, Clasificación y Conservación de Humedales
This executive decree, issued jointly by the President of the Republic and the Minister of Environment, Energy and Telecommunications, sets forth the mandatory technical criteria for the identification, classification and conservation of wetland ecosystems in Costa Rica, in compliance with national legislation and international commitments such as the…
Decreto 358692010
Manual para la Clasificación de Tierras Dedicadas a la Conservación de los Recursos Naturales Dentro de la Zona Marítimo Terrestre
This executive decree establishes the technical manual for classifying and delimiting lands that form the State Natural Heritage (forests, wetlands, and protection areas) within the Maritime Terrestrial Zone (MTZ) in Costa Rica. The manual details procedures for identifying ecosystems such as forests, mangroves, estuaries, coastal lagoons, and protection…
Decreto 358842010
Reglamento de Perforación del Subsuelo para la Exploración y Aprovechamiento de Aguas Subterráneas
This now-repealed executive decree regulated subsoil drilling for groundwater exploration and exploitation in Costa Rica. It established a licensing regime for drilling companies, requirements for drilling permits, and procedures for water concessions. The regulation incorporated technical criteria such as saline intrusion studies and inter-well…
Decreto 352712009
Reglamento para el Permiso de Perforación y Concesión de Agua para el Autoabastecimiento en Condominios
This executive decree sets the procedure for condominiums located in areas without public drinking water supply to obtain drilling permits and water concessions for self-supply. The regulation applies only when the Costa Rican Institute of Aqueducts and Sewers (AyA) or another authorized operator certifies the unavailability of public service. To process…
Decreto 336012006
Reglamento de Vertido y Reuso de Aguas Residuales
Executive Decree 33601-MINAE-S establishes the comprehensive regulatory framework for the management, discharge, and reuse of wastewater in Costa Rica. It sets maximum permissible limits for physical-chemical and microbiological parameters, distinguishing between discharges into sanitary sewers and receiving bodies, as well as for various categories of…
Decreto 325292005
Reglamento de las ASADAS
Executive Decree No. 32529 establishes the regulatory framework for the creation, organization, and operation of Communal Water and Sanitation System Administration Associations (ASADAS). The regulation defines the procedures for delegating the administration of these systems from the Costa Rican Institute of Aqueducts and Sewerage (AyA) to communal…
Decreto 328682005
Canon por Aprovechamiento de Aguas
This decree establishes a water use fee in Costa Rica, applicable to all individuals and entities, public or private, that use water resources under a concession or legal authorization. The fee is calculated per cubic meter per year and varies according to the type of use (human consumption, industrial, commercial, agro-industrial, tourism, agriculture,…
Decreto 232471994
Declaratoria de humedales en áreas de manglar
This decree amends Executive Decree No. 22550-MIRENEM to formally declare all mangrove areas adjacent to the country's continental and insular coastlines as wetlands, regardless of their size. It establishes a new multiple-use category aimed at reconciling the conservation of habitat for numerous wild flora and fauna species with the sustainable use of…
Decreto 232531994
Creación del Humedal Nacional Cariari
Executive Decree 23253-MIRENEM, issued on April 23, 1994, establishes the Cariari National Wetland along Costa Rica's Atlantic coast, between Moín and Tortuguero National Park. The decree justifies its creation based on the State's duty to protect natural resources and the rapid loss of wetlands due to human activities. It highlights the scenic beauty of…
Decreto 154361984
Declaración de Zona Protectora Cuencas Ríos Navarro y Sombrero
This Executive Decree declares a protective zone over the territories comprising the Navarro and Sombrero river basins, south of Lourdes de Agua Caliente, Cartago, covering approximately 6,450 hectares. The designation is based on the need to secure water supply for current and future populations, mainly in Cartago province, and to preserve forest cover…
Res. 00725-2026 Sala Constitucional2026 · Sala Constitucional
Denegatoria de agua potable por déficit hídrico condicionada a obra pública
The Constitutional Chamber dismissed an amparo action against the Costa Rican Institute of Aqueducts and Sewers (AyA) for denying installation of a potable water meter for a home in Salitral, Santa Ana. AyA based its denial on a technical study showing a water deficit of -4.1 l/s in the ME-A-05 system, preventing new connections. After an internal appeal,…
Res. 00676-2026 Sala Constitucional2026 · Sala Constitucional
Inundaciones recurrentes por entubamiento ilegal de quebrada Gambrinos
Residents of La Torre neighborhood in San Juan de San Ramón filed a constitutional complaint after nearly two decades of flooding caused by illegal piping of the Gambrinos creek. Despite a 2006 ruling by the Constitutional Chamber ordering the municipality to fix the problem, illegal works persisted or worsened due to new pipings, increased runoff from…
Res. 04391-2026 Sala Constitucional2026 · Sala Constitucional
Falta de estudios de factibilidad para agua potable en Valle Verde vulnera derechos
The Constitutional Chamber reviews an amparo filed by a resident of Valle Verde, Guápiles, who since 2012 has unsuccessfully requested potable water availability for his property in the northern sector, denied without complete technical justification by the Costa Rican Institute of Aqueducts and Sewers (AyA) and the Buenos Aires Sur ASADA. The Chamber…
Res. 05359-2026 Sala Constitucional2026 · Sala Constitucional
Amparo por cese de aprovechamiento de agua sin concesión
The Constitutional Chamber denied an amparo action filed by a resident of San Gerardo de Dota against the Water Directorate of MINAE, which ordered the immediate cessation of a surface water use and the removal of the intake structure, under warning of demolition and criminal consequences. The claimant argued that the measure affected his right to water,…
Res. 02799-2026 Sala Constitucional2026 · Sala Constitucional
Denegatoria de agua potable por falta de cobertura y estudios técnicos
The Constitutional Chamber dismisses an amparo action filed by a property owner in Guápiles, Pococí, against the Costa Rican Institute of Aqueducts and Sewers (AyA) and the Buenos Aires Sur rural aqueduct association (ASADA). The claimant alleged violation of the right to drinking water, equality, and due reasoning due to denial of service. The Chamber…
Res. 03415-2026 Sala Constitucional2026 · Sala Constitucional
Violación al debido proceso administrativo por falta de notificación del archivo de una boleta de control constructivo en zona de protección de quebrada
The Constitutional Chamber hears an amparo action filed by two neighbors against the Municipality of Goicoechea. The plaintiffs reported the construction of a church by the Amigos de Dios Association on a property near the Cangrejos Stream, claiming encroachment on the protection zone and flood risk. Following a complaint, the National Emergency Commission…
Res. 03417-2026 Sala Constitucional2026 · Sala Constitucional
Disponibilidad de agua para fraccionamiento comercial solo tutelable en uso personal habitacional
The Constitutional Court analyzes an amparo appeal filed by a company's representative against the water utility (AyA) for denying water availability for 201 commercial lots, alleging delay, breach of agreements, and lack of response to a complaint. The court dismisses the appeal, holding that constitutional protection of the right to water is limited to…
Res. 03489-2026 Sala Constitucional2026 · Sala Constitucional
Amparo contra municipalidad por omisión de respuesta en denuncia ambiental sobre zona de protección del río Copey
The Constitutional Chamber hears an amparo against the Municipality of Garabito for violation of the right to petition and timely response. In June 2025, the petitioner filed an environmental complaint with a technical report showing encroachment on the Copey River protection zone in Jacó, requesting immediate inspection and proceedings to demolish illegal…
Res. 04257-2026 Sala Constitucional2026 · Sala Constitucional
Acoge desobediencia por incumplimiento del plan del río Nandayure
The Constitutional Chamber grants a disobedience motion filed by the applicant, finding that authorities from MOPT, CNE, and the Municipality of Nandayure have failed to comply with the prior judgment ordering resolution of the Nandayure River flooding and erosion problem. Despite reports of failed tenders, lack of budget, and inter-institutional…
Res. 04355-2026 Sala Constitucional2026 · Sala Constitucional
Denegatoria de conexión de agua por zona deficitaria
The Constitutional Chamber dismisses an amparo filed by a low-income individual who requested a water connection from the San Juan Sur de Corralillo ASADA, needed to access a housing voucher. The ASADA denied the request based on AyA directives since 2020 prohibiting new water availabilities due to a deficit zone, with a 48.52% gap between allocated flow…
Res. 06259-2026 Sala Constitucional2026 · Sala Constitucional
Amparo contra MINAE por mortandad masiva en Laguna Madre de Dios
The Constitutional Chamber reviews an amparo filed by a citizen against the National Environmental Council and MINAE due to chronic agrochemical contamination in the Madre de Dios watershed and lagoon in Matina, Limón. The petitioner asked the Council to develop a national protocol for preventing mass die-offs from agrochemicals and to convene an…
Res. 09949-2026 Sala Constitucional2026 · Sala Constitucional
Incumplimiento de orden de dotación de agua potable a comunidades de Corredores
The Constitutional Chamber resolves a non-compliance proceeding filed by residents of Coto 44, Central Campesina, and Los Castaños in Corredores, Puntarenas, against the Costa Rican Institute of Aqueducts and Sewers (AyA) and the Municipality of Corredores. The petitioners claimed that judgment 2020012887 of 2020, ordering the provision of drinking water…
Res. 07080-2026 Sala Constitucional2026 · Sala Constitucional
Omisión institucional en evaluación de vertidos al Estero de Puntarenas
The Constitutional Chamber reviewed a writ of amparo against several institutions for pollution of the Puntarenas Estuary caused by untreated domestic wastewater discharged from the sewer system managed by AyA. The petitioner argued that the Ministry of Health had known of the situation since 2008 without issuing sanitary orders to AyA, focusing only on…
Res. 07132-2026 Sala Constitucional2026 · Sala Constitucional
AyA y ASADA deben coordinar estudios para garantizar agua en Valle Verde
The Constitutional Chamber reviewed an amparo filed by the owner of a property in Valle Verde, Guápiles, who claimed a violation of his fundamental rights due to the refusal of the Costa Rican Institute of Aqueducts and Sewers (AyA) and the Buenos Aires Sur ASADA to grant potable water availability, as well as discriminatory treatment compared to 40 other…
Res. 08061-2026 Sala Constitucional2026 · Sala Constitucional
Disponibilidad de agua potable y obligación de extender la red
The Constitutional Chamber reviews an amparo action against the Costa Rican Institute of Aqueducts and Sewers (AyA) for denying a water availability certificate. The petitioner claims that in the community of Meta Ponto, Coto Brus, there is no distribution network in front of his property, despite there being water supply capacity. AyA conditioned a…
Res. 09028-2026 Sala Constitucional2026 · Sala Constitucional
Disponibilidad de agua no exige nuevo análisis si la conexión es para vivienda individual ya autorizada
The Constitutional Court dismissed an amparo action against the ASADA El Bosque de Guácimo and the Municipality of Guácimo. The petitioner sought a court order to force the ASADA to update a water availability certificate needed for a building permit. The ASADA refused, citing a water deficit and a policy treating updates as new service requests. The…
Res. 09029-2026 Sala Constitucional2026 · Sala Constitucional
Derecho al agua frente a imposibilidad técnica municipal
The Constitutional Chamber reviewed an amparo filed by the Calles Coyotes y Jocosal Neighborhood Association against the Municipality of Cartago for failure to provide drinking water to several communities in the San Francisco district. Residents alleged they had requested the service since 2018 with no formal response. The Municipality reported that it…
Res. 09033-2026 Sala Constitucional2026 · Sala Constitucional
SENARA no vulneró derechos al emitir criterio técnico sobre Zona 6 del Acuífero de Moín
The Constitutional Chamber dismissed a writ of amparo filed against the National Groundwater, Irrigation and Drainage Service (SENARA). The petitioner alleged that SENARA had failed to issue a technical opinion on the compatibility of AyA agreements with the SENARA 2006 Matrix regarding Zone 6 of the Moín Aquifer and had not formalized the hydrogeological…
Res. 09050-2026 Sala Constitucional2026 · Sala Constitucional
Amparo por disponibilidad de agua potable denegada en Valle Verde
The Constitutional Chamber reviewed an amparo action filed on behalf of a landowner in Guápiles, Pococí, against the ASADA Buenos Aires Sur Jiménez and the Costa Rican Institute of Aqueducts and Sewers (AyA). The petitioner claimed a violation of fundamental rights, arguing that after years of requesting drinking water service, it was arbitrarily and…
Res. 09210-2026 Sala Constitucional2026 · Sala Constitucional
Amparo de ASADA Pital contra AyA por dilación en aprobación de proyecto de planta potabilizadora
The Constitutional Chamber resolves an amparo action filed by ASADA de Pital against the Costa Rican Institute of Aqueducts and Sewers (AyA). ASADA claimed AyA had failed to issue a timely technical approval for a drinking water treatment plant project, needed to address contamination and scarcity issues. The Chamber dismissed the amparo. Based on AyA's…
Res. 10005-2026 Sala Constitucional2026 · Sala Constitucional
Denegación de disponibilidad de agua en Valle Verde de Guápiles por inviabilidad técnica y restricción ambiental
The Constitutional Chamber denies an amparo action filed by the owner of a lot on Calle Valle Verde, Guápiles, against the ASADA Buenos Aires Sur Jiménez and the ICAA. The petitioner alleged that for thirteen years she had been unjustifiably denied potable water availability despite nearby infrastructure and costs assumed jointly with neighbors. The…
Res. 00002-2025 Sala Constitucional2025 · Sala Constitucional
Desobediencia por contaminación de arsénico en acueducto de Quintas Don Fernando
The Constitutional Chamber heard a disobedience claim filed by residents against AyA (the national water and sewer utility), the Quintas Don Fernando ASADA (local water board), and the Esparza Health Area, alleging noncompliance with ruling 2023-014243 which ordered investigation and remediation of arsenic contamination in drinking water in Quintas Don…
Res. 02002-2025 Sala Constitucional2025 · Sala Constitucional
Municipalidad debe garantizar el funcionamiento de planta de tratamiento de aguas residuales
The Constitutional Chamber granted an amparo action against the Municipality of Alajuela for inaction regarding the collapse of the San Charbel development's wastewater treatment plant. The petitioner, a resident, reported that the plant, located on municipal land, had been left without maintenance, causing it to stop functioning and creating a serious…
Res. 02460-2025 Sala Constitucional2025 · Sala Constitucional
Incumplimiento de sentencia sobre inundaciones en Villa Bonita
The Constitutional Chamber reviews a non‑compliance claim filed by the community of Villa Bonita de Alajuela against the Municipality of Alajuela, the National Road Council (CONAVI), and the Ministry of Health for failing to fully comply with ruling No. 2020‑18857, which ordered them to solve flooding, waste accumulation, and illegal wastewater discharge…
Res. 02815-2025 Sala Constitucional2025 · Sala Constitucional
Recurso de amparo por construcción de tanque de captación fuera de la propiedad del recurrente
The petitioner alleged that the ASADA of San Ramón de la Virgen de Sarapiquí and AyA were constructing a water intake for a spring on his property without a concession, violating his property rights. The Constitutional Chamber dismissed the appeal, finding it proven that, after technical inspection, the 'Rocky Hidalgo 1' spring is located approximately 15…
Res. 06043-2025 Sala Constitucional2025 · Sala Constitucional
Suministro de agua potable a la comunidad indígena Bribri de Meleruk
The Constitutional Chamber reviewed an amparo filed by leaders of the Bribri Indigenous community of Meleruk ("La Pera") in Talamanca, where approximately 280 people lacked public potable water service. The petitioners argued that the lack of access to drinking water violated their rights to life and health—a situation that had persisted for over 30 years…
Res. 06950-2025 Sala Constitucional2025 · Sala Constitucional
Municipalidad de Puntarenas debe garantizar que no se contamine cuerpo de agua en Veinte de Noviembre con aguas residuales y desechos sólidos
The Constitutional Court partially grants an amparo against the Municipality of Puntarenas, filed by residents of Veinte de Noviembre community. They reported that household pipes discharge untreated wastewater and blackwater directly into a wetland or stormwater channel that crosses the neighborhood, and that an illegal dump site near the Chacarita…
Res. 08608-2025 Sala Constitucional2025 · Sala Constitucional
Derecho fundamental al agua potable exige soluciones integrales y efectivas ante desabastecimiento prolongado
The Constitutional Chamber granted an amparo action for violation of the fundamental right to potable water of the residents of Esterillos Oeste, Esterillos Este, Esterillos Centro, and Bejuco. The Court found chronic undersupply and non-potable water quality (excess iron, manganese, E. coli, and lack of residual chlorine) since at least 2017. Although AyA…
Res. 09421-2025 Sala Constitucional2025 · Sala Constitucional
Protección de fuentes de agua ante permisos de construcción en Alajuela
The Constitutional Chamber hears an amparo action against the Municipality of Alajuela, AyA, and SETENA concerning construction permits granted for a condominium in Desamparados de Alajuela within a spring protection zone. The petitioner alleges that the Lankaster project encroaches on the protection zone of the Gutiérrez and Lankaster springs, with risks…
Res. 12770-2025 Sala Constitucional2025 · Sala Constitucional
Levantamiento de órdenes sanitarias por clorotalonil en nacientes de Cartago
The Constitutional Chamber grants a disobedience motion filed by residents of Cipreses de Oreamuno, who claim that health and water authorities failed to comply with a previous ruling ordering a comprehensive solution to chlorothalonil metabolite contamination in the Plantón and Carlos Calvo springs. The Chamber finds that, despite the 2023 ban of the…
Res. 13579-2025 Sala Constitucional2025 · Sala Constitucional
Acceso al agua potable en Río Frío de Horquetas
The Constitutional Chamber granted an amparo action filed by residents of Río Frío, Horquetas de Sarapiquí, Heredia, who reported a lack of drinking water supply. The Chamber found that, although a project to provide the service was under way, it had stalled due to the ASADA's technical and financial inability to complete the remaining stages. It…
Res. 14379-2025 Sala Constitucional2025 · Sala Constitucional
Omisión en actualización de registros de fuentes de agua en Naranjo vulnera derecho a ambiente sano
The Constitutional Chamber granted an amparo filed by the Federation of Community Aqueducts of the El Chayote Protected Zone (FEDAPRO) against the Costa Rican Institute of Aqueducts and Sewers (AyA) and the Ministry of Environment and Energy (MINAE). The petitioner reported serious inconsistencies in the official water source registries of the canton of…
Res. 12059-2025 Sala Constitucional2025 · Sala Constitucional
Acceso al agua potable frente a imposibilidad técnica del AyA
The Constitutional Chamber hears an amparo action against the Costa Rican Institute of Aqueducts and Sewers (AyA) for denying a potable water connection to a home in Patarrá de Desamparados. The petitioner bought the property in 2023, and after an irregular supply was cut off, she formally requested service in December 2024. AyA rejected the request…
Res. 12000-2025 Sala Constitucional2025 · Sala Constitucional
Denegatoria de disponibilidad de agua por falta de capacidad hídrica no es arbitraria
The petitioner, owner of a home in CoopeTivives, Caldera de Esparza, filed an amparo action against the Costa Rican Institute of Aqueducts and Sewers (ICAA) for repeatedly denying water availability for her lot. She claimed the denial violated her fundamental rights, especially since she had received a positive availability in 2021 that she failed to…
Res. 18805-2025 Sala Constitucional2025 · Sala Constitucional
Derecho al agua y deberes de AyA ante desabastecimiento en Nambí
The Constitutional Chamber granted an amparo filed by a resident of Nambí de Nicoya, Guanacaste, against the Costa Rican Institute of Aqueducts and Sewers (AyA). It was proven that since October 2023, the community has suffered a persistent shortage of drinking water, with frequent and unannounced cuts lasting up to three continuous days. AyA itself…
Res. 09497-2025 Sala Constitucional2025 · Sala Constitucional
Amparo contra AyA por denegatoria de disponibilidad de agua potable en zona de riesgo
The Constitutional Chamber reviews an amparo action against the Costa Rican Institute of Aqueducts and Sewers (AyA) for denying water service availability for a property in Atenas, where a house already exists. The petitioner claims a violation of his right to water access. AyA grounds the denial on the lack of aqueduct infrastructure in front of the…
Res. 19652-2025 Sala Constitucional2025 · Sala Constitucional
Derecho al agua potable frente a conflicto de cobro entre ICAA y municipalidad
The Constitutional Chamber heard an amparo filed by residents of Paraíso de Cartago against the Costa Rican Institute of Aqueducts and Sewers (ICAA). The claimants argued that the ICAA was threatening to suspend drinking water service to over 20,000 people due to a multi-million colón retroactive charge levied against the Municipality of Paraíso for…
Res. 06068-2025 Sala Constitucional2025 · Sala Constitucional
AyA no vulnera derechos al negar disponibilidad de agua a lotes de proyecto urbanístico que no cumplió trámites
The Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Court of Costa Rica denied an amparo action filed by two owners of lots in the Cascadas 3 urban development project in Pococí, Limón, against the Costa Rican Institute of Aqueducts and Sewers (AyA). The claimants alleged that AyA refused to provide potable water service to their properties. The Court found that the…
Res. 08644-2025 Sala Constitucional2025 · Sala Constitucional
Negativa de agua potable en zona de protección hídrica no lesiona derechos fundamentales
The Constitutional Chamber rejects an amparo action against the Public Services Company of Heredia (ESPH) for denying drinking water service to a property located within the 200-meter protection radius of a surface intake on the Lajas River, pursuant to Article 31 of the Water Law. The plaintiff alleged discriminatory treatment and violation of property…
Res. 08719-2025 Sala Constitucional2025 · Sala Constitucional
Inspección sanitaria en finca lechera no vulnera propiedad privada
The Constitutional Chamber dismisses an amparo action filed by the representative of a dairy property against the entry of officials from SENASA, AyA, and the Ministry of Health. The appellant alleged a violation of her right to private property due to entry without consent, but the Court found that the officials acted within the framework of an…
Res. 09278-2025 Sala Constitucional2025 · Sala Constitucional
Acceso al agua de persona jurídica sin vínculo esencial con persona física
The company Terrazas Ávila S.R.L. filed an amparo action against the Costa Rican Water and Sewerage Institute (AyA) for denying its request for water service availability for a property in Guanacaste. The denial was based on a 2018 technical report showing insufficient water capacity in the Nicoya aqueduct, a deficit in the sole available well, and…
Res. 16147-2025 Sala Constitucional2025 · Sala Constitucional
Denegatoria de amparo por denegación de disponibilidad de agua de ASADA sin factibilidad técnica
The Constitutional Chamber rejects the amparo action against the Rural Aqueduct and Sewer Administrative Association of San Pedro de Santa Cruz de Guanacaste (ASADA) and the Costa Rican Institute of Aqueducts and Sewers (AyA). The petitioners, who acquired a property through a housing bond, requested the renewal of a water availability letter and service…
Res. 16286-2025 Sala Constitucional2025 · Sala Constitucional
Disponibilidad de agua en ASADA de Miravalles — imposibilidad técnica
The Constitutional Chamber denied an amparo action against the Miravalles ASADA in San Isidro de Pérez Zeledón. The petitioner claimed arbitrary denial of a water availability certificate for a single-family home after the ASADA issued contradictory documents in 2024–2025. The Chamber verified that the ASADA had issued availability letters, but each warned…
Res. 17150-2025 Sala Constitucional2025 · Sala Constitucional
Cierre de matadero por incumplimiento ambiental y ubicación en zona protegida
The Constitutional Chamber denied an amparo filed by the owner of Matadero Santa Rosa against the closure and suspension of its Veterinary Operation Certificate ordered by SENASA. The court found that the facility lacked a valid discharge permit, its wastewater treatment system violated health and environmental regulations (Decree 39887-S-MINAE, Regulation…
Res. 21402-2025 Sala Constitucional2025 · Sala Constitucional
Amparo por falta de agua potable en comunidades de Río Frío
The Constitutional Chamber heard an amparo filed by residents of Finca 10, Oasis Finca 9, Finca 8, Finca 7, and Colonia Los Ángeles, all in Río Frío, Horquetas de Sarapiquí, Heredia. They claimed that for many years they have lacked authorized potable water service, being informally supplied by Standard Fruit Company (Dole) and by artisanal wells, without…
Res. 18772-2025 Sala Constitucional2025 · Sala Constitucional
Inundaciones y falta de mantenimiento del alcantarillado pluvial en El Cocal de Puntarenas
The Constitutional Chamber heard an amparo action filed by a resident of the El Cocal neighborhood in Puntarenas, on her own behalf and that of other neighbors, against the National Roads Board (CONAVI), the Ministry of Health, and the Municipality of Puntarenas. The claimant reported that for years they have suffered constant flooding caused by rain and…
Res. 18797-2025 Sala Constitucional2025 · Sala Constitucional
Denegatoria de disponibilidad de agua potable por razones técnicas
The Constitutional Chamber dismisses an amparo action filed by approximately 40 residents of Matinilla de Santa Ana, San José, against the Costa Rican Institute of Aqueducts and Sewers (AyA). The plaintiffs alleged a violation of their fundamental right to water after their request for water meter installation was denied. The Chamber finds that the request…
Res. 23206-2025 Sala Constitucional2025 · Sala Constitucional
Amparo por falta de agua potable en La Ganga de Siquirres
The Constitutional Chamber reviewed an amparo action filed by residents of La Ganga, Siquirres, Limón, against the Costa Rican Institute of Aqueducts and Sewers (ICAA) and the Linda Vista ASADA, for lack of drinking water supply. The aqueduct, over 40 years old, has hydraulic and infrastructure deficiencies preventing service. Although an expansion project…
Res. 24033-2025 Sala Constitucional2025 · Sala Constitucional
Sala Constitucional ordena al AyA asumir acueducto operado por comité irregular en Calle Naranjo
The Constitutional Chamber granted an amparo petition filed by a resident of Calle Naranjo, Desamparados, against the Costa Rican Institute of Aqueducts and Sewers (ICAA/AyA). The petitioner complained that the water service in his community was being provided by a neighborhood committee that lacked legal authorization, charged arbitrary rates, and…
Res. 24090-2025 Sala Constitucional2025 · Sala Constitucional
Negativa de agua potable por falta de caudal no es amparable
The Constitutional Chamber denied an amparo action against the Matapalo ASADA and AyA regarding the denial of potable water availability. The petitioner, owner of a lot in Guanacaste, requested service but was refused by letter dated May 26, 2025, based on technical reports confirming insufficient flow. The Chamber reiterated that denying water due to…
Res. 21348-2025 Sala Constitucional2025 · Sala Constitucional
Negativa de agua potable e hidrantes a comunidad fuera de cobertura sin infraestructura
The Constitutional Chamber dismissed an amparo filed by a resident of San Rafael de Montes de Oca against the Costa Rican Institute of Aqueducts and Sewers (ICAA), the Fire Department, and the Municipality of Montes de Oca. The petitioner claimed violations of the right to potable water due to the ICAA's refusal to provide service at property 533086 and…
Res. 22461-2025 Sala Constitucional2025 · Sala Constitucional
Suspensión de agua por morosidad y fuente pública a adulto mayor
An elderly person, whose spouse has a disability, filed an amparo against the Municipality of Aserrí for suspending the drinking water service due to an unpaid debt. The Constitutional Chamber found that the service was briefly suspended for nonpayment of the water bill, not for taxes, and was promptly restored after the applicant obtained a debt waiver.…
Res. 23157-2025 Sala Constitucional2025 · Sala Constitucional
Suspensión del servicio de agua potable por deuda municipal no puede afectar a los usuarios
The Constitutional Chamber reviews an amparo action by a resident of Paraíso, Cartago, against the Costa Rican Institute of Aqueducts and Sewers (ICAA). The claimant alleges that ICAA threatened to suspend the water supply to the canton due to a debt for bulk water sales owed by the Municipality of Paraíso since 2017, arising from tariff differences after…
Res. 23974-2025 Sala Constitucional2025 · Sala Constitucional
Denegatoria de disponibilidad de agua en urbanización irregular
The Constitutional Chamber dismissed an amparo action filed by a resident of the Hermosa Palms subdivision in Jacó, who claimed that the Costa Rican Institute of Aqueducts and Sewers (AyA) had denied water availability for her properties. The plaintiff argued that the well supplying the community was part of the rural aqueduct assumed by AyA in 2016 and…
Res. 25016-2025 Sala Constitucional2025 · Sala Constitucional
Denegatoria de amparo por incumplimiento de requisitos para disponibilidad de agua potable
The Constitutional Chamber (Sala Constitucional) dismissed an amparo action filed against AyA (Costa Rican Institute of Aqueducts and Sewers) by a petitioner who claimed that the required documents for obtaining potable water service availability had been changed. She alleged that initially a sketch and form were requested, but later a registered survey…
Res. 25704-2025 Sala Constitucional2025 · Sala Constitucional
Denegatoria de disponibilidad de agua potable por falta de infraestructura no es arbitraria
The Constitutional Chamber dismissed an amparo action filed by landowners in Osa, Puntarenas, against the Costa Rican Institute of Aqueducts and Sewers (ICAA). The petitioners were in the process of securing a mortgage to build a family home, but the Municipality of Osa required proof of potable water availability. ICAA issued a negative availability…
Res. 26522-2025 Sala Constitucional2025 · Sala Constitucional
Acceso al agua potable y proyecto de ampliación en Linda Vista
The Constitutional Chamber granted an amparo filed by residents of La Ganga community in Linda Vista, Siquirres, Limón, against the ASADA of Linda Vista and the Costa Rican Institute of Aqueducts and Sewers (ICAA). The claimants argued lack of potable water supply due to hydraulic and infrastructure incapacity of the over-40-year-old aqueduct. Although a…
Res. 14025-2025 Sala Constitucional2025 · Sala Constitucional
Municipalidad debe tutelar zona de protección del río Ipís
The Constitutional Chamber heard an amparo filed by an environmental association against the Municipality of Vásquez de Coronado for the alleged invasion of the protection area of the Ipís River and the lack of response to a complaint. The municipality argued that the buildings near the river predate the Forestry Law No. 7575 (1996) and, therefore, its…
Res. 29178-2025 Sala Constitucional2025 · Sala Constitucional
INDER debe presentar planos para acueducto en Asentamiento La América en seis meses
The Constitutional Chamber partially granted an amparo filed by residents of the La América Settlement in Dos Ríos de Upala, solely against the Rural Development Institute (INDER). The plaintiffs claimed that since receiving parcels around 2015, they have lacked potable water service, affecting their health and hygiene. The Chamber found that INDER,…
Res. 01262-2025 Sala Constitucional2025 · Sala Constitucional
Amparo por déficit hídrico en ASADA Los Altos de San Rafael
The Constitutional Chamber hears an "amparo" (constitutional remedy) filed by several residents of Los Altos de San Rafael in Ciudad Colón against the Costa Rican Institute of Aqueducts and Sewers (AyA) and the local ASADA. The claimants allege that for five years they have been denied new drinking-water connections, despite many having families and…
Res. 29890-2025 Sala Constitucional2025 · Sala Constitucional
Incumplimiento de sentencia sobre mejoras al acueducto de Buenos Aires
The Constitutional Chamber heard a contempt proceeding filed by the petitioner against the Costa Rican Institute of Aqueducts and Sewers (AyA), alleging non-compliance with ruling No. 2024-002484. That ruling had ordered the execution within 12 months of the integrated aqueduct improvement project for Buenos Aires, Puntarenas, and the adoption of immediate…
Res. 33771-2025 Sala Constitucional2025 · Sala Constitucional
Desobediencia reiterada por inundaciones en San Rafael de Alajuela
The Constitutional Chamber hears the fifth noncompliance claim filed by the petitioner against the Municipality of Alajuela and other authorities, for failure to comply with ruling 2009006494 of 2009 that ordered the resolution of stormwater overflow in Barrio Nazareth, San Rafael de Alajuela. The Chamber notes that, despite the ruling being notified over…
Res. 34736-2025 Sala Constitucional2025 · Sala Constitucional
Cierre de compuerta en obra partidora no vulnera derecho al agua ante imposibilidad técnica
The Constitutional Court dismissed an amparo petition filed by the Development Association of Santa María de Rincón de la Vieja against AyA and MINAE for closing a gate in a diversion structure that channeled water to the Santa Inés stream. The community, an informal agricultural settlement in the Liberia canton, relied on this flow for human consumption,…
Res. 36588-2025 Sala Constitucional2025 · Sala Constitucional
Tutela del agua potable frente a contaminación de naciente por insuficiencia de alcantarillado pluvial
The Constitutional Chamber hears an amparo filed by development associations from La Garita, Alajuela, against the Municipality of Alajuela. Since 2012, petitioners have reported ongoing contamination of drinking water from the Los Herrera spring caused by flooding from a stormwater channel collecting runoff from the El Coyol industrial zone. The…
Res. 35858-2025 Sala Constitucional2025 · Sala Constitucional
Conexión de servicios de agua en Santa Fe de Cóbano tras inauguración de acueducto
The Constitutional Chamber reviewed an amparo action filed by a resident of Santa Fe de Cóbano against the Costa Rican Institute of Aqueducts and Sewers (AyA). The petitioner claimed that despite the formal inauguration of an aqueduct project, AyA had subjected residents to unjustified administrative delays in connecting drinking water service, affecting…
Res. 36567-2025 Sala Constitucional2025 · Sala Constitucional
Amparo contra valores provisionales de fungicida en agua potable durante emergencia por derrame en río Barranca
The Constitutional Chamber dismisses an amparo petition against the technical report MS-DPRSA-USA-1536-2024 issued by the Ministry of Health in response to the July 27, 2024, mancozeb fungicide spill in the Barranca River, Puntarenas. The petitioner argued the report unlawfully raised maximum contaminant limits in drinking water, violating the applicable…
Res. 37559-2025 Sala Constitucional2025 · Sala Constitucional
Bypass en tanque de almacenamiento de ASADA no vulnere acceso al agua
A developer files an amparo against AyA and the ASADA Parcelas Quebrada Azul, alleging noncompliance with a Ministry of Health order requiring repairs to a storage tank in the Tilawa sector and an AyA order to increase storage capacity. He argues that a bypass approved by the ASADA eliminates the tank and reduces reserves, affecting drinking water access…
Res. 38469-2025 Sala Constitucional2025 · Sala Constitucional
Amparo denegado por falta de acceso legal a agua de naciente en propiedad privada
The Constitutional Chamber dismisses an amparo action filed by residents of Barrio Los Gamboa, Turrialba, against the local ASADA, AyA, and the Municipality. The plaintiffs claimed a violation of the right to water because these entities refused to guarantee supply; the community had been supplied by a spring on private land whose new owner restricted…
Res. 39386-2025 Sala Constitucional2025 · Sala Constitucional
Protección absoluta del Acuífero Moín y viviendas por crecimiento vegetativo
The Constitutional Chamber partially grants an amparo action against AyA, INVU, the Municipality of Limón, and SENARA for the lack of protection of Zone 6 of the Moín Aquifer. The Court annuls AyA's Agreement 2011-112 insofar as it authorizes 'vegetative growth housing' without density parameters, and orders AyA, SENARA, and the Municipality to re-delimit…
Res. 38430-2025 Sala Constitucional2025 · Sala Constitucional
Reiteración de cumplimiento del Proyecto de Mejoras al Acueducto de Coto Brus
The Constitutional Chamber addresses a third contempt proceeding against the Costa Rican Institute of Aqueducts and Sewers (AyA) for non-compliance with judgment No. 2023029820, which ordered the Coto Brus Aqueduct Improvement Project to become operational within nine months to comprehensively resolve drinking water supply interruptions affecting over…
Res. 41106-2025 Sala Constitucional2025 · Sala Constitucional
Negativa de suministro de agua potable en área de Patrimonio Natural del Estado
The Constitutional Court dismissed an amparo action filed by the president of the Playa Colibrí Community Improvement Committee against the ASADA La Palma and other authorities for refusing to supply drinking water. The petitioner claimed that, despite years of efforts, the service had been omitted or denied, forcing the community to use unsafe well water…
Res. 00308-2024 Sala Constitucional2024 · Sala Constitucional
Prórroga de plazo para determinar contaminación por arsénico en ASADA Quintas Don Fernando
The Constitutional Chamber reviewed a subsequent motion filed by the Costa Rican Institute of Aqueducts and Sewers (AyA) concerning judgment No. 2023014243, which had partially granted an amparo remedy due to arsenic contamination in the drinking water of the Quintas Don Fernando community in Esparza. The judgment ordered AyA, the local ASADA, and the…
Res. 00381-2024 Sala Constitucional2024 · Sala Constitucional
Acceso al agua potable para comunidades de Pérez Zeledón
The Constitutional Chamber grants the amparo action filed on behalf of the communities of Socorro de Platanares, Oratorio, Concepción, Buenos Aires, upper part of Los Reyes, and northern sector of San Rafael de Platanares, all in Pérez Zeledón, against the Costa Rican Institute of Aqueducts and Sewers (AyA) and the Administrative Association of the Rural…
Res. 00386-2024 Sala Constitucional2024 · Sala Constitucional
Comunidad de Quebradas de Jicotea solicita agua potable ante inacción de AyA y ASADA
The petitioner, a resident of Quebradas de Jicotea in Turrialba, claims that for over five years the community has lacked potable water. She alleges the ASADA of Jicotea denied service and required residents to fund a technical study they cannot afford. After a sanitary complaint, the Ministry of Health issued a sanitary order to ICAA to present a remedial…
Res. 02484-2024 Sala Constitucional2024 · Sala Constitucional
Amparo por agua contaminada en Buenos Aires de Puntarenas
The Constitutional Chamber reviewed an amparo filed by a resident of the communities of El Socorro, San Rafael, and Santa María, in the Brunka district of Buenos Aires de Puntarenas, against the Costa Rican Institute of Aqueducts and Sewers (AyA). The petitioner claimed that drinking water was contaminated by cattle feces and that service was frequently…
Res. 05590-2024 Sala Constitucional2024 · Sala Constitucional
Contaminación de agua potable con xileno en Goicoechea y deberes de AyA y Municipalidad
The Constitutional Chamber hears an amparo filed by residents of Montelimar, Guadalupe, against the Municipality of Goicoechea and the Costa Rican Institute of Aqueducts and Sewers (AyA) for the interruption of potable water service due to xylene contamination since January 2024. The complainants allege lack of continuous supply, insufficient water…
Res. 06271-2024 Sala Constitucional2024 · Sala Constitucional
Contaminación por clorotalonil en nacientes de Cipreses: recurso sin lugar y prohibición del producto
The Constitutional Chamber reviews an amparo filed by a resident of La Puente, Paraíso, Cartago, against the Ministry of Health, concerning contamination from chlorothalonil metabolites in the Plantón and Carlos Calvo springs supplying the Cipreses de Oreamuno ASADA. The plaintiff alleges violations of the rights to health, life, and a healthy environment,…
Res. 06999-2024 Sala Constitucional2024 · Sala Constitucional
Incumplimiento en amparo por derecho al agua y orden de cumplimiento inmediato
The Constitutional Court resolves a non-compliance claim filed by a petitioner against the Costa Rican Institute of Aqueducts and Sewers (AyA), following repeated failures to comply with a 2018 ruling that ordered the guarantee of a continuous water supply, even if by temporary means, for his home in the community of Berlín. Despite progress on a…
Res. 07745-2024 Sala Constitucional2024 · Sala Constitucional
Improcedencia de gestión de aclaración y adición sobre cumplimiento en caso de contaminación de agua por nitratos
The Constitutional Chamber resolves a subsequent motion filed by the new president of the ASADA Residencial El Molino, who requested to complement previous rulings that ordered the supply of potable water through a new well and the temporary dilution of nitrate-contaminated water. The ASADA asked the court to authorize the Banco de Costa Rica to donate…
Res. 08710-2024 Sala Constitucional2024 · Sala Constitucional
Permisos de construcción sobre acuíferos y principio precautorio
The Constitutional Chamber reviews an amparo action against the Municipality of Santa Bárbara and the company Vistas de Santa Bárbara S.A. for granting and processing permits for a condominium development of 835 homes without adequately protecting groundwater resources. The project sits over the Barva aquifer in a highly vulnerable zone. The Chamber finds…
Res. 10865-2024 Sala Constitucional2024 · Sala Constitucional
Incumplimiento del Decreto para la implementación de la Ley 10152 sobre la cuenca del Río Sarapiquí
The Constitutional Chamber reviews a non-compliance proceeding against its prior judgment (Res. No. 2024001229), which ordered the Minister of the Presidency and the Minister of Environment and Energy to issue the executive decree implementing the Law for the Sustainable Development of the Sarapiquí River Basin (No. 10152) within two months. The…
Res. 13229-2024 Sala Constitucional2024 · Sala Constitucional
Amparo minero y protección de acuíferos en Quebrada Honda de Patarrá
The Constitutional Chamber partially granted an amparo petition filed by the Asociación Quebrada Honda against several state entities regarding two mining concessions (files 2716 and 2008) in Quebrada Honda de Patarrá, Desamparados. The petitioner alleged that the concessions endangered the aquifer supplying drinking water to 1,500 residents, created…
Res. 13303-2024 Sala Constitucional2024 · Sala Constitucional
Desabastecimiento de agua en San José de Alajuela — amparo sin lugar por proyecto en ejecución
The Constitutional Chamber denied this amparo filed by a resident of Calle Moreira, San José de Alajuela, against the Costa Rican Institute of Aqueducts and Sewers (ICAA) for problems with the continuity of drinking water supply. The petitioner alleged that the water shortage had persisted since 2012, that the improvement project for the El Pasito Aqueduct…
Res. 14029-2024 Sala Constitucional2024 · Sala Constitucional
Falta de servicio continuo de agua potable en Alajuelita no vulnera derechos fundamentales
The petitioner alleges that the canton of Alajuelita suffers constant interruptions of drinking water service without regulation or adequate information, and requests an external audit. The Constitutional Chamber dismisses the appeal after finding that the interruptions are due to objective causes (contamination at the Guadalupe Plant, climate change,…
Res. 17136-2024 Sala Constitucional2024 · Sala Constitucional
Racionamiento de agua y deber de AyA de fijar horarios y suministro alterno
The Constitutional Chamber heard an amparo filed by residents of Concepción Arriba de Alajuelita, who complained of prolonged and disproportionate drinking water service suspensions, particularly affecting vulnerable people such as a minor with leukemia. The Costa Rican Institute of Aqueducts and Sewers (AyA) acknowledged the rationing but attributed it to…
Res. 17138-2024 Sala Constitucional2024 · Sala Constitucional
Amparo contra orden de protección de naciente permanente rechazado
The Constitutional Chamber denies the amparo filed against administrative order SINAC-ACLA-PSRCB-133-2021, which suspended activities on the claimant's property—including tree cutting and earth moving—because it lies within the 100-meter protection area of a permanent spring. Based on a Water Directorate opinion classifying the water body as a permanent…
Res. 09354-2024 Sala Constitucional2024 · Sala Constitucional
Contaminación del agua con hidrocarburos en Tibás y falla del AyA en garantizar servicio continuo y potable
The Constitutional Court granted an amparo action filed by an elderly resident of Tibás against the Costa Rican Institute of Aqueducts and Sewers (AyA). The petitioner claimed that hydrocarbon contamination of the water supply in several districts of Goicoechea, Moravia, San José, and Tibás, occurring since January 2024, endangered his health and life and…
Res. 17915-2024 Sala Constitucional2024 · Sala Constitucional
Racionamientos de agua en Calle Moreira, Alajuela
The Constitutional Chamber grants an amparo filed by a resident of Calle Moreira, Barrio San José de Alajuela, against the Costa Rican Institute of Aqueducts and Sewers (AyA). The petitioner alleged that her community suffers from chronic water supply shortages, with cuts lasting up to four consecutive days without prior notice and ineffective alternative…
Res. 18809-2024 Sala Constitucional2024 · Sala Constitucional
Amparo por falta de agua potable en Peñas Blancas de Cachí rechazado por imposibilidad técnica
The Constitutional Chamber denied an amparo petition filed by a group of residents of Peñas Blancas de Cachí, Paraíso de Cartago, against the Costa Rican Institute of Aqueducts and Sewerage (AyA) and the Municipality of Paraíso. The petitioners claimed they had, for over 20 years, drawn water from a spring on private land, access to which was cut off after…
Res. 18780-2024 Sala Constitucional2024 · Sala Constitucional
AyA debe fijar horarios de racionamiento y suministro alternativo en Alajuelita
The Constitutional Chamber reviewed an amparo filed by residents of Alajuelita who reported daily water cuts and rationing without prior notice, lasting more than 12 hours, violating their fundamental rights to health, life, and access to water. The Costa Rican Institute of Aqueducts and Sewers (AyA) argued that interruptions were due to force majeure such…
Res. 20407-2024 Sala Constitucional2024 · Sala Constitucional
Restricción de pajas de agua en Los Ángeles y Concepción de San Rafael
The Constitutional Chamber reviewed an amparo action filed by Carlos Campos Zamora against the Public Services Company of Heredia (ESPH) and the Municipality of Heredia. The plaintiff challenged ESPH board agreements that restrict the granting of water connections in the districts of Los Ángeles and Concepción in San Rafael de Heredia, claiming that the…
Res. 20382-2024 Sala Constitucional2024 · Sala Constitucional
Obligación del ICAA de garantizar suministro continuo de agua potable ante problema estructural de desabastecimiento
The Constitutional Chamber grants an amparo action against the Costa Rican Institute of Aqueducts and Sewers (ICAA) for violating the fundamental right of access to drinking water of residents of the Monte Sion urbanization in Guácima de Alajuela. The ruling finds that the community has suffered daily and prolonged service interruptions since December…
Res. 00373-2024 Sala Constitucional2024 · Sala Constitucional
Falta de agua en Paraíso Sur por causas objetivas no es lesión constitucional
The Constitutional Chamber denied an amparo action filed by residents of southern Paraíso against the Municipality of Paraíso. The petitioners alleged a violation of their fundamental rights due to a lack of potable water, which they attributed to the construction of a new condominium and the municipality's lack of planning. The Chamber found that the…
Res. 01730-2024 Sala Constitucional2024 · Sala Constitucional
Desobediencia en abastecimiento de agua potable a Andrómeda III
The Constitutional Chamber hears a disobedience claim filed by a resident of Andrómeda III de Atenas against AyA and the Balsa de Atenas ASADA for failing to comply with ruling 2019-4056, which ordered them to solve the community's intermittent drinking water shortage within 18 months and in the meantime guarantee supply via tanker trucks. Five years…
Res. 17903-2024 Sala Constitucional2024 · Sala Constitucional
Amparo acumulado por contaminación con hidrocarburos en la red de Guadalupe
The Constitutional Chamber hears an amparo action filed by a resident of Tibás against the Costa Rican Institute of Aqueducts and Sewers (ICAA) for the hydrocarbon contamination of the drinking water supplying the cantons of Goicoechea, Moravia, Tibás, Montes de Oca, and San José, detected on January 22, 2024. The plaintiff alleges that the ICAA failed to…
Res. 17961-2024 Sala Constitucional2024 · Sala Constitucional
Derecho al agua potable en comunidad indígena Zapotal
The Constitutional Chamber hears an amparo action filed by residents of the rural and indigenous community of Zapotal, Buenos Aires, Puntarenas, against the Costa Rican Institute of Aqueducts and Sewers (AyA) and the Municipality of Buenos Aires. The petitioners claim lack of drinking water service, that springs dry up in summer, and that AyA suspended…
Res. 19544-2024 Sala Constitucional2024 · Sala Constitucional
Racionamiento de agua en Alajuelita viola derecho humano al agua
The Constitutional Chamber partially granted an amparo action brought by a resident of Alajuelita who reported recurring water shutoffs without prior notice in the Concepción sector since July 2023. The Court confirmed the rationing and found that the Costa Rican Institute of Aqueducts and Sewers (ICAA) had failed to fix the problem despite identifying and…
Res. 19597-2024 Sala Constitucional2024 · Sala Constitucional
Amparo por desabastecimiento de agua en San Francisco de Coronado
The Constitutional Court granted the amparo filed by a resident of San Francisco de Coronado for drinking water shortages. The ruling finds that the scarcity is not merely seasonal but stems from a structural failure at the national water utility (ICAA/AyA), evinced by a 57% water loss rate and chronic project management flaws documented by the Comptroller…
Res. 19612-2024 Sala Constitucional2024 · Sala Constitucional
Amparo por racionamientos de agua potable en San Rafael Abajo de Desamparados
The Constitutional Chamber reviewed an amparo action filed by a resident of the Pinares urbanization in San Rafael Abajo, Desamparados, who reported prolonged water rationing with cuts of up to 30 continuous hours and supply limited to early morning hours with weak flow. Based on reports from the Comptroller General, the Ombudsman's Office, and ARESEP…
Res. 19651-2024 Sala Constitucional2024 · Sala Constitucional
Suspensiones del servicio de agua potable en los barrios Amón y Otoya
The Constitutional Chamber granted the amparo against the Costa Rican Institute of Aqueducts and Sewers (ICAA) and the Regulatory Authority for Public Services (ARESEP) for recurrent water supply interruptions in the Amón and Otoya neighborhoods of San José, which had worsened since 2018 with almost daily and prolonged cuts. The Chamber found a violation…
Res. 21419-2024 Sala Constitucional2024 · Sala Constitucional
Amparo por deficiente servicio de agua potable en Urbanización El Sol, San Rafael Arriba de Desamparados
The Constitutional Chamber granted an amparo action filed by a resident on behalf of the El Sol Urbanization community in San Rafael Arriba de Desamparados, against the Costa Rican Institute of Aqueducts and Sewers (ICAA) and the Regulatory Authority of Public Services (ARESEP). The petitioner claimed that for weeks, especially from late April to early May…
Res. 22537-2024 Sala Constitucional2024 · Sala Constitucional
Concesión de agua no requiere consulta al dueño del predio sirviente
The Constitutional Chamber dismissed the amparo filed by the Cooperativa de Producción Agropecuaria del Humo R.L. against the Ministry of Environment and Energy (MINAE). The cooperative challenged resolution R-0956-2023-AGUAS-MINAE, which granted a water use concession from the Humo River to Finca Sayma Ltda., arguing that the water intake would be on its…
Res. 25605-2024 Sala Constitucional2024 · Sala Constitucional
Bloqueo en Facebook de ADI y racionamientos de agua en Hatillo
The Constitutional Chamber reviewed an amparo filed by a resident of Ciudadela 15 de Setiembre, Hatillo, against the Costa Rican Institute of Aqueducts and Sewers (ICAA) and the Specific Development Association for the Improvements of Ciudadela Quince de Setiembre. The petitioner claimed that the Association blocked him from its official Facebook page…
Res. 13694-2024 Sala Constitucional2024 · Sala Constitucional
Desobediencia por contaminación de acueductos en la Zona Norte
The Constitutional Chamber examines a non-compliance claim filed by Development Associations against state institutions, alleging failure to comply with Judgment No. 2019-000695 regarding the cleanup of water sources contaminated with pesticides (bromacil) in Río Cuarto. The petitioners allege that sources remain polluted and that the Ministry of Health…
Res. 27332-2024 Sala Constitucional2024 · Sala Constitucional
Solicitud de información sobre Acuífero Moín respondida por AyA
The petitioner requested from the Costa Rican Institute of Aqueducts and Sewers (AyA) technical information and a copy of the administrative file related to the modification of the Moín Aquifer protection zone, specifically zone 6, by Agreement 112 of 2011. He claimed he did not receive a response within the legal deadline. However, the Constitutional…
Res. 14492-2024 Sala Constitucional2024 · Sala Constitucional
Contaminación de agua potable con hidrocarburos en Moravia, Goicoechea y Tibás
The Constitutional Chamber heard an amparo filed by a resident of Moravia against the Costa Rican Institute of Aqueducts and Sewers (AyA), regarding the contamination of drinking water with hydrocarbons detected on January 22, 2024, in several cantons. The claimant argued that the service was interrupted and that the distribution by tanker trucks was…
Res. 05544-2024 Sala Constitucional2024 · Sala Constitucional
Disponibilidad de agua potable en urbanización con ASADA en causal de extinción
The Constitutional Chamber denied an amparo action filed by the legal representatives of two corporations who claimed that the Costa Rican Institute of Aqueducts and Sewers (AyA) arbitrarily refused to issue potable water availability certificates for two properties in Residencial Villaverde, Puntarenas. The refusal was based on the precarious legal status…
Res. 05620-2024 Sala Constitucional2024 · Sala Constitucional
Imposibilidad técnica para suministro de agua potable a comunidad Calle Quesada
The Constitutional Chamber dismissed the amparo action filed by residents of the Calle Quesada community in Pérez Zeledón against the Costa Rican Institute of Aqueducts and Sewers (AyA). The claimants alleged a violation of their right to access drinking water, having not received the service for decades despite multiple efforts. The Chamber held that the…
Res. 30619-2024 Sala Constitucional2024 · Sala Constitucional
Incumplimiento en recuperación de área de protección de quebrada Chirracal
The Constitutional Chamber addresses a non-compliance claim filed by petitioner Wálter Brenes Soto regarding judgment 2020016184 of 2020, which ordered the Municipality of Santa Ana to recover the Chirracal stream protection zone. The petitioner alleges the local government has not complied. The Municipality reports having issued closure orders against…
Res. 23556-2024 Sala Constitucional2024 · Sala Constitucional
Derecho al agua potable en Gravilias de Desamparados
The Constitutional Court heard an amparo claim filed by a resident of Gravilias, Desamparados, who challenged recurrent and unjustified drinking water cuts. The petitioner argued that the interruptions persisted even during the rainy season, violating his fundamental rights. The Court analyzed reports from the Comptroller General and the ARESEP that…
Res. 31513-2024 Sala Constitucional2024 · Sala Constitucional
ASADA debe garantizar servicio de agua potable mediante interconexión de acueductos
The Constitutional Chamber grants an amparo action filed by owners of a property in Belén de Carrillo, Guanacaste, who were denied a water availability certificate by the ASADA of Castilla de Oro, required to build their home. The ASADA operated an illegal well and lacked technical and legal feasibility; it also refused to integrate the Castilla de Oro El…
Res. 34762-2024 Sala Constitucional2024 · Sala Constitucional
Amparo por ruido y obra ilegal en Quebrada Escandalosa
The Constitutional Chamber denies an amparo filed by a resident of Quepos against the Ministry of Environment and Energy (MINAE) and the Ministry of Health, alleging noise pollution and diesel spills from a pumping station built by Palma Tica S.A. on the Quebrada Escandalosa. The petitioner, an elderly adult, claimed harm to his health and the ecosystem,…
Res. 34756-2024 Sala Constitucional2024 · Sala Constitucional
Amparo por suspensión de agua en Zapote
The Constitutional Chamber granted an amparo petition against the Costa Rican Institute of Aqueducts and Sewers (AyA) filed by a resident of Zapote who claimed that repeated water rationing —with daily cuts exceeding six hours and even all-day interruptions, especially during hours when working people return home— was harming the community, particularly…
Res. 35496-2024 Sala Constitucional2024 · Sala Constitucional
Agua potable en Esterillos: orden al AyA de garantizar suministro continuo y eficiente
The Constitutional Chamber upheld an amparo filed by residents of Esterillos, Puntarenas, against the Costa Rican Institute of Aqueducts and Sewers (AyA) for the deficient drinking water service since 2016. Despite a prior 2018 ruling ordering AyA to address water quality and guarantee supply via tanker trucks, the underlying problem remains: local wells…
Res. 27703-2024 Sala Constitucional2024 · Sala Constitucional
Construcción de planta de tratamiento en área de protección y sin estudios de SENARA vulnera principio precautorio
The Constitutional Chamber partially grants an amparo action against the Municipality of Santa Ana and SETENA for violating the right to a healthy and ecologically balanced environment, in connection with the precautionary principle under Article 50 of the Constitution. The case concerns the approval of environmental feasibility and permits for a…
Res. 37956-2024 Sala Constitucional2024 · Sala Constitucional
Orden de garantizar suministro de agua potable en San Rafael de Escazú ante suspensiones prolongadas
The Constitutional Chamber granted an amparo action filed by a resident of San Rafael de Escazú against the Costa Rican Institute of Aqueducts and Sewers (AyA). The plaintiff claimed that a scheduled water service suspension lasted over 37 hours, affecting her basic needs and those of her elderly mother. The Chamber held that even though the initial…
Res. 09467-2024 Sala Constitucional2024 · Sala Constitucional
Denegatoria de servicio de agua por falta de factibilidad técnica no es arbitraria
The Constitutional Chamber reviews an amparo filed by a resident of Parcelas Monseñor Morera against the local ASADA and AyA for denying water service. The petitioner, who lives with his wife and an elderly person with health problems, claims the denial was arbitrary. The Chamber finds that the ASADA based its refusal on lack of technical feasibility: no…
Res. 10102-2024 Sala Constitucional2024 · Sala Constitucional
Denegatoria de agua potable por falta de factibilidad técnica en Biscoyol
The Constitutional Chamber dismissed a writ of amparo filed by residents of Biscoyol de Cóbano, Puntarenas, who claimed that the Costa Rican Institute of Aqueducts and Sewers (ICAA) denied them potable water service. The court found that the denial was not arbitrary but based on the lack of hydraulic and water capacity in the area, which is declared…
Res. 12516-2024 Sala Constitucional2024 · Sala Constitucional
Amparo sobre concesión de agua y acaparamiento de caudal
The Constitutional Chamber hears an amparo filed by a water-use concessionaire from an unnamed spring in San Carlos. She claims another concessionaire hoards the main intake, preventing her and two other concessionaires from building their calibrated works and accessing water, and that the Water Directorate of MINAE has failed to act. The respondent…
Res. 12500-2024 Sala Constitucional2024 · Sala Constitucional
Pozos artesanales y disponibilidad de agua para construcción de vivienda
The Constitutional Chamber dismissed an amparo action filed by a property owner who claimed that the Costa Rican Institute of Aqueducts and Sewers (AyA) denied her potable water availability and that the Water Directorate of MINAE refused to register her hand-dug well, thus preventing her from obtaining municipal approval to build her home. The Chamber…
Res. 13698-2024 Sala Constitucional2024 · Sala Constitucional
Ampliación de plazo para cumplimiento de sentencia sobre acceso a agua potable en Quebrada Grande
The Constitutional Chamber hears a subsequent motion for non-compliance with judgment 2018-002405, which ordered the Costa Rican Institute of Water and Sewers (AyA) to carry out improvements to the water and sewer systems in order to adequately provide potable water service to the community where the petitioner lives. AyA officials report that although the…
Res. 14090-2024 Sala Constitucional2024 · Sala Constitucional
Denegatoria de disponibilidad de agua por inviabilidad técnica
The Constitutional Chamber dismissed an amparo action filed by the owner of two lots in Playa Potrero, Guanacaste, against AyA and the local ASADA, for refusing to issue a water availability letter. The petitioner claimed violation of fundamental rights. The Chamber found that the denial was based on a technical report from AyA determining the aqueduct's…
Res. 14848-2024 Sala Constitucional2024 · Sala Constitucional
Suspensión de agua municipal por irregularidad sin morosidad
The Constitutional Chamber reviewed an amparo against the Municipality of Alajuela for the removal of a water meter on a property in San Pedro de Poás. The petitioner claimed he was deprived of water service without notice or justification, despite being current on payments. However, the Municipality of Alajuela proved it lacked territorial jurisdiction,…
Res. 17267-2024 Sala Constitucional2024 · Sala Constitucional
Corte de agua por turbiedad no es arbitrario
The Constitutional Chamber hears an amparo action against the Municipality of Aserrí for the suspension of drinking water service in the community. The petitioner argues that the published rationing schedules are too short and are not being met, specifically pointing to the interruption of supply on May 23, 2024, from 7:30 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. The…
Res. 35956-2024 Sala Constitucional2024 · Sala Constitucional
Incumplimiento en solución de abastecimiento de agua en OSA
The Constitutional Chamber addresses a compliance motion filed against AyA for failing to comply with judgment 2018-015926, which ordered a definitive solution to the potable water supply problem in the communities of Finca Puntarenas and Asentamiento Salamá, within 18 months. The petitioner argues AyA has not executed the necessary works. The Chamber…
Res. 17885-2024 Sala Constitucional2024 · Sala Constitucional
Deber del AyA de atender contaminación del agua y garantizar suministro alternativo
The Constitutional Chamber granted an amparo filed by a Tibás resident against the Costa Rican Institute of Aqueducts and Sewers (AyA). The petitioner argued that since January 2024 AyA had supplied water contaminated with hydrocarbons, endangering public health and causing a total shortage affecting over 100,000 people. AyA undertook actions such as…
Res. 19562-2024 Sala Constitucional2024 · Sala Constitucional
Acceso al agua potable y calidad del agua en el distrito de Colorado de Abangares
The Constitutional Chamber resolved an amparo filed by the presidents of several rural water management associations (Asadas) in the Colorado de Abangares district. They alleged a prolonged crisis of water scarcity and poor drinking water quality affecting communities for over 15 years. The court verified that despite the Costa Rican Institute of Aqueducts…
Res. 22493-2024 Sala Constitucional2024 · Sala Constitucional
Acceso al agua potable limitado por condiciones técnicas
The Constitutional Chamber rules on an amparo petition filed by an individual who requested drinking water service from the Costa Rican Institute of Aqueducts and Sewers (AyA) for his home in Mal País, Cóbano. The petitioner alleged a violation of his rights to water and equality after receiving a certificate of non-availability from AyA, which was based…
Res. 00433-2023 Sala Constitucional2023 · Sala Constitucional
Ampliación de plazo para cumplir amparo sobre contaminación de aguas residuales en Nicoya
The Constitutional Chamber rules on a post-judgment motion filed by the Regional Director of the Chorotega Region of AyA, requesting a four-year extension to comply with the ruling that ordered resolving the environmental and health problems caused by wastewater contamination in Dirección882, Nicoya. The Court finds that, although AyA has taken steps such…
Res. 14252-2023 Sala Constitucional2023 · Sala Constitucional
Contaminación por Clorotalonil en acueducto de Oreamuno
The Constitutional Chamber reviewed an amparo action filed against several public entities regarding the presence of metabolites of the fungicide Clorotalonil in five of the seven springs that supply the ASADA potable water system in Santa Rosa de Oreamuno, Cartago. The petitioner argued institutional inaction and violations of the rights to health and a…
Res. 13384-2023 Sala Constitucional2023 · Sala Constitucional
Omisión estatal ante contaminación por clorotalonil en ASADA
The Constitutional Chamber granted an amparo action against several state institutions for failing to adopt effective measures to address chlorothalonil metabolite contamination of the drinking water sources of the Santa Rosa de Oreamuno ASADA. Although health orders closed springs and water was distributed by tanker trucks, the Chamber found that…
Res. 25091-2023 Sala Constitucional2023 · Sala Constitucional
Cierre de pozo ilegal en residencial no viola debido proceso ni derecho al agua
The Constitutional Chamber denies the amparo action brought by the neighborhood association of Quintas La Ceiba Tierra Dorada against the Ministry of Environment and Energy (MINAE) and the Water and Sewer Institute (ICAA). The petitioners claimed that MINAE's Water Directorate ordered the closure and sealing of a well serving 100 families in Orotina…
Res. 26650-2023 Sala Constitucional2023 · Sala Constitucional
Ampliación de plazo para resolver contaminación por clorotalonil en ASADA Cipreses
The Constitutional Chamber reviewed a request for extension of time filed by the Costa Rican Institute of Aqueducts and Sewers (AyA) in connection with judgment 2022-026065, which ordered the comprehensive and definitive solution of chlorothalonil metabolite contamination in the springs of the ASADA of Cipreses de Oreamuno, investigation of harm to other…
Res. 28225-2023 Sala Constitucional2023 · Sala Constitucional
Incumplimiento en suministro de agua potable en Barva
The Constitutional Chamber reviews a non-compliance claim filed by residents of 'El Gallito' community in Buena Vista de Barva against the Municipality of Barva, alleging failure to comply with a previous ruling that ordered the municipality to operationalize a drinking water supply system. The Chamber determines that the municipality has undertaken…
Res. 29820-2023 Sala Constitucional2023 · Sala Constitucional
Amparo con lugar por desabastecimiento de agua potable en Coto Brus
The Constitutional Chamber heard an amparo action filed by a resident of Coto Brus against the Costa Rican Institute of Aqueducts and Sewers (AyA) due to the shortage and lack of drinking water supply in the area. The petitioner argued that, despite efforts and a legislative credit for constructing the pipeline, AyA had not executed any stage of the…
Res. 30509-2023 Sala Constitucional2023 · Sala Constitucional
Acceso de la ASADA a predio privado para mantenimiento del acueducto
The Constitutional Chamber hears an amparo filed by the ASADA of San Isidro de El Guarco de Cartago against a private landowner, alleging threats to prevent access to water catchment sites located on her property, necessary for community water supply. The court verifies that, although the catchment system and infrastructure lie within the protected area of…
Res. 32328-2023 Sala Constitucional2023 · Sala Constitucional
Amparo por inundaciones del Río Rincón en Puerto Escondido
The Constitutional Chamber reviews an amparo filed by residents of Puerto Escondido, Puerto Jiménez, Golfito, against the Municipality of Golfito and the National Emergency Commission, for their failure to solve the recurrent flooding caused by the overflowing of the Rincón River during the rainy season. The petitioners alleged that since 2017 they had…
Res. 32040-2023 Sala Constitucional2023 · Sala Constitucional
Ampliación de plazo para cumplir sentencia de amparo sobre agua en La Tejona, Tilarán
The Constitutional Chamber addresses a non-compliance claim filed by residents of La Tejona, Tilarán, against the Costa Rican Institute of Aqueducts and Sewers (AyA) regarding amparo ruling 2018-002901, which ordered the guarantee of potable water supply. AyA reports that the existing well (La Tejona) suffered hydrocarbon contamination and severe…
Res. 21560-2023 Sala Constitucional2023 · Sala Constitucional
Denegatoria de disponibilidad de agua potable por imposibilidad técnica
The Constitutional Chamber dismissed the amparo petition filed by an individual seeking a new drinking water connection in Cipreses de Oreamuno. The petitioner claimed that since 2019 the local ASADA had informed her of the unavailability of service, despite the existence of water resources in the area. The Costa Rican Institute of Aqueducts and Sewers…
Res. 25117-2023 Sala Constitucional2023 · Sala Constitucional
Desabastecimiento de agua en El Coco de Alajuela por fallas del sistema El Pasito
The Constitutional Chamber reviewed an amparo filed by a resident of Santiago Oeste El Coco de Alajuela against the Costa Rican Institute of Aqueducts and Sewers (AyA) regarding deficient potable water service. The petitioner claimed that from June 25 to 28, 2023, the community lacked water, affecting elderly and minors, and causing the closure of a…
Res. 25391-2023 Sala Constitucional2023 · Sala Constitucional
Denegatoria de servicios de agua en zona deficitaria no es discriminatoria
The Constitutional Chamber denied an amparo appeal against the Costa Rican Institute of Aqueducts and Sewers (AyA). The appellant claimed discrimination because AyA refused to install four water meters for subdividing his family coffee farm, while a neighbor had one installed. The Chamber found the denial was based on objective technical grounds: the zone…
Res. 25566-2023 Sala Constitucional2023 · Sala Constitucional
Incumplimiento de sentencia de amparo sobre abastecimiento de agua potable
The Constitutional Chamber reviews a non-compliance claim brought by residents of La Tejona, Tilarán, regarding amparo ruling No. 2018-002901, which ordered the Costa Rican Institute of Aqueducts and Sewers (AyA) to guarantee potable water supply to the community through the San Luis ASADA. Despite AyA’s reports of efforts—including hydrogeological…
Res. 29785-2023 Sala Constitucional2023 · Sala Constitucional
Acceso al agua potable en zona protegida
The Constitutional Chamber denies a recurso de amparo filed by residents of the Caragral community in Palmichal de Acosta, who sought access to drinking water from the Costa Rican Institute of Aqueducts and Sewers (AyA) and a local ASADA. The Chamber finds that the denial is not arbitrary, but stems from technical and legal impossibilities: the area lies…
Res. 30539-2023 Sala Constitucional2023 · Sala Constitucional
Amparo por racionamiento de agua en Goicoechea se declara sin lugar
The Constitutional Chamber reviewed an amparo filed by residents of Santa Eduviges, Goicoechea, against the Costa Rican Institute of Aqueducts and Sewers (ICAA) due to water rationing between September and October 2023. The plaintiffs alleged service suspensions without prior notice, inconsistent justifications, and lack of water tankers. The Chamber found…
Res. 30537-2023 Sala Constitucional2023 · Sala Constitucional
Suspensión del servicio de agua en Goicoechea por factores climáticos
The petitioner filed an amparo action against the Costa Rican Institute of Aqueducts and Sewers (AyA) due to the suspension of drinking water service at her home in Guadalupe de Goicoechea during several days in September and October 2023, alleging lack of prior notice and absence of alternative supply by tanker trucks. The Constitutional Chamber analyzed…
Res. 30559-2023 Sala Constitucional2023 · Sala Constitucional
Amparo por disponibilidad de agua en San Antonio de Puriscal
The Constitutional Chamber reviews an amparo filed by residents of San Antonio de Puriscal against the Costa Rican Institute of Aqueducts and Sewers (AyA) and the Health Area of Puriscal-Turrubares. The claimants argue that, despite AyA initially indicating water availability, potable water service was denied, affecting around 20 people. AyA proved the…
Res. 32365-2023 Sala Constitucional2023 · Sala Constitucional
Falta de agua potable en Asentamiento Los Palmitos constituye vulneración de derechos fundamentales
The Constitutional Court reviewed an amparo action filed by residents of the Los Palmitos Settlement in Aguas Claras, Upala, against the Institute of Rural Development (INDER). The plaintiffs claimed that since the allocation of plots between 2013 and 2015, they lacked potable water service despite multiple efforts. INDER reported on actions taken,…
Res. 33189-2023 Sala Constitucional2023 · Sala Constitucional
Dilación del Ministerio de Salud en atender denuncia por aguas residuales
The Constitutional Chamber reviewed an amparo action against the Municipality of Turrialba and the Ministry of Health, alleging a delay in resolving an environmental complaint filed in 2009 concerning the discharge of wastewater from a neighboring property. The complainant claimed violation of his right to a healthy environment and quality of life. The…
Res. 00469-2022 Sala Constitucional2022 · Sala Constitucional
Amparo por falta de respuesta a solicitud de información sobre contaminación por arsénico en Guanacaste
The Constitutional Chamber reviewed an amparo action filed by a representative of the Asociación Confraternidad Guanacasteca against the Ministry of Health, alleging failure to respond to a September 6, 2021 request for detailed information on the Ministry’s actions regarding arsenic contamination of drinking water in several Guanacaste communities. The…
Res. 01053-2022 Sala Constitucional2022 · Sala Constitucional
Municipalidad debe solucionar contaminación por aguas negras y erosión en cauce
The Constitutional Chamber heard an amparo filed by a homeowner in Desamparados, Alajuela, who complained that a stream near her house, originally for rainwater, now carries soapy and black waters that stagnate in summer, causing bad odors and mosquito proliferation. The increased flow has also eroded the banks and caused trees to fall, one of which still…
Res. 01661-2022 Sala Constitucional2022 · Sala Constitucional
Municipalidad de Atenas debe coordinar y resolver inundaciones en Calle Barrantes
The Constitutional Chamber partially grants an amparo filed by neighbors of Calle Barrantes, Atenas, due to the delay of the Municipality of Atenas and the Ministry of Health in addressing complaints regarding recurrent flooding caused by unauthorized earthworks carried out between 2019 and 2021. The Chamber finds that since May 2019 the problem was…
Res. 92206-2022 Sala Constitucional2022 · Sala Constitucional
Admisión de acción de inconstitucionalidad contra canon diferenciado de aprovechamiento de aguas
The Constitutional Chamber admits for study an unconstitutionality action filed by the Asociación Confraternidad Guanacasteca against Articles 7 and 9 of Executive Decree No. 32868-MINAE, which establish reduced water use fees for certain traditional extensive crops (rice, sugarcane, pasture, coffee, and African palm) and for the Arenal Tempisque…
Res. 01686-2022 Sala Constitucional2022 · Sala Constitucional
Sala Constitucional — Zona de No Factibilidad Técnica impide conexión de agua potable
The Constitutional Chamber denied the amparo petition filed by eleven companies owning properties in Playa Nosara, Nicoya, against the national water utility AyA and the local ASADA. The petitioners claimed a violation of the fundamental right to drinking water because the respondents refused supply based on a moratorium applied since March 2021, when AyA…
Res. 02874-2022 Sala Constitucional2022 · Sala Constitucional
Prórroga de plazo a AyA para cumplir amparo por abastecimiento de agua en Tilarán
The Constitutional Chamber addresses a noncompliance claim filed by Tilarán residents against the Costa Rican Institute of Aqueducts and Sewers (AyA), within amparo case file 17-015269-0007-CO. The original ruling, No. 2018-002901, had ordered AyA to transfer the administration and maintenance of the water system to the community. Given technical…
Res. 03242-2022 Sala Constitucional2022 · Sala Constitucional
Corte de vegetación en Playa Hermosa no configura daño ambiental irreversible
The Constitutional Chamber reviewed an amparo action filed by a citizen who reported the clearing of a wetland at the entrance to Playa Hermosa, Punta Achiote, in Osa, by the Municipality of Osa without studies or permits, and the failure of SINAC and the municipality to respond to her complaints. The Chamber found that the intervened area is not within…
Res. 22070-2022 Sala Constitucional2022 · Sala Constitucional
Deber institucional de proteger el acuífero Moín ante precario en zona de recarga
The Constitutional Chamber heard an amparo action filed by a company owning two properties located within the Moín aquifer absolute protection Zone 6, established by an AyA Board of Directors agreement. The petitioner argued that the informal settlement —known as Villa Plata— was causing land-use change, tree felling, uncontrolled wastewater discharge, and…
Res. 25176-2022 Sala Constitucional2022 · Sala Constitucional
Vertido de aguas residuales en Cañas
The Constitutional Chamber hears an amparo brought by a resident of San Martín neighborhood in Cañas against the Municipality of Cañas, the Ministry of Health, and the Costa Rican Institute of Aqueducts and Sewers (AyA) for contamination of the Poza de Agua stream with wastewater and stormwater. The petitioner alleges municipal negligence by allowing…
Res. 26065-2022 Sala Constitucional2022 · Sala Constitucional
Contaminación por clorotalonil en acueducto rural y principio precautorio
The Constitutional Chamber ruled on an amparo filed by residents of Cipreses de Oreamuno, who reported contamination of the Plantón and Carlos Calvo springs — water sources for the local ASADA — with metabolites of the pesticide chlorothalonil. Although the respondent authorities (the Costa Rican Institute of Aqueducts and Sewers and the Ministry of…
Res. 26192-2022 Sala Constitucional2022 · Sala Constitucional
Acceso a constancia de capacidad hídrica como información pública
The Constitutional Chamber hears an amparo action against the Costa Rican Institute of Aqueducts and Sewers (AyA) for failing to provide a copy of the Water Availability Certificate for the La Arboleda urban development project, located in the buffer zone of the Loma de Salitral Special Forest Zone. The petitioners requested information on the renewal of…
Res. 27295-2022 Sala Constitucional2022 · Sala Constitucional
Tanque de agua y derecho de petición ante ASADA
The Constitutional Chamber heard an amparo action filed by neighbors against the ASADA of Tierra Blanca de Cartago, the Municipality of Cartago, the ICAA, the CNE, and the Ministry of Health, regarding the construction of a 415 m³ water storage tank on an adjacent property. The neighbors alleged structural risks, lack of environmental permits, procedural…
Res. 27316-2022 Sala Constitucional2022 · Sala Constitucional
Acoso a Municipalidad y MOPT por inundaciones del Río Nandayure
The Constitutional Chamber heard an amparo filed by a resident of San Pablo de Nandayure, affected by recurrent flooding of the Nandayure River. Although in 2019 the Chamber had already ordered hydrological studies and a hydraulic model, three years later the flooding persisted and no comprehensive works had been carried out. The Chamber partially granted…
Res. 28102-2022 Sala Constitucional2022 · Sala Constitucional
Denegatoria de disponibilidad de agua potable por imposibilidad técnica
A person filed an amparo action against the Costa Rican Institute of Aqueducts and Sewers (AyA), claiming that a request for water availability for their property in Puriscal was arbitrarily denied despite neighboring properties having service. They also alleged that an administrative appeal had not been resolved and that requested regulatory documents had…
Res. 28699-2022 Sala Constitucional2022 · Sala Constitucional
Denegatoria de disponibilidad hídrica por incapacidad técnica no es lesiva
The Constitutional Chamber hears an amparo action filed by a property owner and his wife against the ASADA of Sonafluca, after the denial of their request for potable water availability. The ASADA based its decision on a report from the Costa Rican Institute of Aqueducts and Sewers (AyA) declaring the aqueduct's hydraulic incapacity, with a deficit of 0.75…
Res. 29749-2022 Sala Constitucional2022 · Sala Constitucional
Negativa de disponibilidad de agua por déficit hídrico no viola derechos fundamentales
The Constitutional Chamber resolves an amparo against the Costa Rican Institute of Aqueducts and Sewers (AyA) filed by an heir who requested the individualization of potable water service on a property in Desamparados. AyA denied availability because the Tres Ríos supply system has a water deficit. The petitioner alleged a violation of the right to water,…
Res. 30575-2022 Sala Constitucional2022 · Sala Constitucional
Denegatoria de paja de agua por construcción sin permisos
The Constitutional Chamber ruled on an amparo action filed by a property owner against the Municipality of Aserrí for denying a water connection (paja de agua) for her home. The plaintiff argued violation of the human right to water, claiming she met the requirements by providing a CFIA contract number. The Chamber held that although there is a fundamental…
Res. 00235-2021 Sala Constitucional2021 · Sala Constitucional
Plan remedial por vertido de aguas residuales a los ríos Bermúdez y Virilla
Residents of the Lomas de Cariari and Bosques de Doña Rosa subdivisions filed an amparo action against the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Environment and Energy, ARESEP, and the Municipality of Belén for the contamination of the Virilla and Bermúdez rivers caused by the direct discharge of untreated wastewater from those developments. They alleged…
Res. 00662-2021 Sala Constitucional2021 · Sala Constitucional
Acceso al agua potable y concesión de pozo privado en Quepos
The Constitutional Chamber dismissed an amparo action filed on behalf of two elderly residents of Quepos who claimed violation of their right to potable water. They had been supplied by a well on private property, but the Ministry of Environment and Energy (MINAE) denied their application for a water concession from that well, holding that the intended use…
Res. 01180-2021 Sala Constitucional2021 · Sala Constitucional
Denegación de disponibilidad de agua en Andrómeda III por falta de capacidad hídrica e infraestructura
The Constitutional Chamber hears an amparo filed by a resident of the Andrómeda III community in Balsa de Atenas against the Costa Rican Institute of Aqueducts and Sewers (ICAA) and the local ASADA. The petitioner seeks a certificate of water availability to build a house, arguing that the community receives water by tanker truck three times a week under…
Res. 01216-2021 Sala Constitucional2021 · Sala Constitucional
Denegatoria de disponibilidad de agua por nitratos en pozo
The Constitutional Chamber dismisses an amparo action against ASADA Residencial El Molino and other entities, filed by a property owner who requested potable water availability for her lot. The Chamber finds that the repeated denial of her requests is not arbitrary but based on objective technical grounds: the well supplying the aqueduct has high nitrate…
Res. 03870-2021 Sala Constitucional2021 · Sala Constitucional
Acceso al agua potable y contaminación por arsénico en ASADA rural
The Constitutional Chamber hears an amparo against the ASADA of Labrador de San Mateo, AyA, and the Ministry of Health for supplying arsenic-contaminated water to residents of Hacienda Mi Quinta. It finds that since 2014 arsenic levels exceeding permissible limits were detected; despite installation of a removal plant, the problem persisted. The…
Res. 04276-2021 Sala Constitucional2021 · Sala Constitucional
Ampliación de plazo para proyecto de agua potable en Quebrada Grande
The Constitutional Chamber addresses a post-judgment proceeding in amparo 17-015023-0007-CO, where the Costa Rican Institute of Aqueducts and Sewers (AyA) requests an extension to comply with judgment 2018-002405. That judgment ordered improvements to the aqueduct systems and provision of potable water to the petitioner and his community. AyA and INDER are…
Res. 03903-2021 Sala Constitucional2021 · Sala Constitucional
Derecho al agua potable y control de calidad de ASADA
In this amparo action, residents of Miravalles claimed that the local ASADA (rural aqueduct association) failed to test water quality, endangering health. The Constitutional Chamber found that, while a 2019 technical study noted the absence of N3 tests, the National Water Laboratory conducts periodic monitoring and the supply has always been potable,…
Res. 05027-2021 Sala Constitucional2021 · Sala Constitucional
Denegatoria de disponibilidad de agua en Andrómeda III por falta de capacidad hídrica
The Constitutional Chamber dismissed an amparo action against the ASADA of Balsa de Atenas and AyA regarding the denial of drinking water availability for a house in Andrómeda III. The petitioner argued the denial violated his fundamental right to water and that the authorities had failed to comply with previous rulings ordering a solution to the water…
Res. 06373-2021 Sala Constitucional2021 · Sala Constitucional
Amparo por revocación de disponibilidad de agua y permiso de construcción
The Constitutional Chamber heard an amparo filed on behalf of Katherine Romero Solano against the Municipality of Aserrí. The plaintiff alleged that the Municipality granted her water availability and a partially compliant land use certificate for a property, but later revoked the water availability and imposed additional requirements for the building…
Res. 07018-2021 Sala Constitucional2021 · Sala Constitucional
AyA no vulneró derecho de petición de usuario de ASADA
The Constitutional Chamber heard an amparo filed by Alberto Antonio Trejos Quirós against the Costa Rican Institute of Aqueducts and Sewers (AyA). The petitioner claimed that AyA had failed to respond to a complaint and information request filed on February 25, 2021, concerning the management of the Porrosatí ASADA, including the administrator’s…
Res. 07046-2021 Sala Constitucional2021 · Sala Constitucional
Derecho de acceso al agua potable y obligaciones de las ASADAS
The Constitutional Chamber hears an amparo filed by residents of San José de la Montaña de Poás de Aserrí against the ASADA of Poás, AyA, the Municipality of Aserrí, and MINAE, for the prolonged denial of water availability and lack of response to requests since 2009. The Chamber finds a violation of the fundamental right of access to water, derived from…
Res. 08549-2021 Sala Constitucional2021 · Sala Constitucional
Sellado de pozo ilegal no vulnera derechos al no existir permiso de perforación
The Constitutional Chamber reviews an amparo action filed by the ASADA of Piedras Negras de Mora and the Development Association against the Water Directorate of MINAE and AyA. The plaintiffs claim that the order to seal a well drilled to supply drinking water violates their rights, since they had AyA’s endorsement. The Chamber finds that AyA only endorsed…
Res. 12084-2021 Sala Constitucional2021 · Sala Constitucional
Suspensión de nuevos servicios de agua en Playa Grande por zona deficitaria
The Sala Constitucional dismissed an amparo filed by the Playa Grande ASADA against ICAA, which had declared the aqueduct's coverage area as a deficit zone and suspended new water availability certificates. The petitioner claimed a threat to the human right to water access. The Court found the matter involved technical and ordinary legality issues…
Res. 12118-2021 Sala Constitucional2021 · Sala Constitucional
Legalización de pozo artesanal y acceso al agua
The Constitutional Chamber denied an amparo filed by a landowner who claimed violation of her fundamental rights due to the failure to resolve her application for legalization of an artesanal well, filed in 2002 and reiterated in 2020. She argued that the Water Directorate of MINAE had not decided her request, ordered the well sealed, and filed a criminal…
Res. 13193-2021 Sala Constitucional2021 · Sala Constitucional
Disponibilidad de agua potable sujeta a requisitos técnicos y legales
The Constitutional Chamber hears an amparo action filed by residents of Abrojo Sur, Corredores, who request that the Costa Rican Institute of Aqueducts and Sewers (ICAA) be ordered to provide them with potable water service, alleging that the spring water they consume artisinally is not potable and that the ASADA of Abrojo Norte and the ICAA refuse to…
Res. 14396-2021 Sala Constitucional2021 · Sala Constitucional
Municipalidad debe completar alcantarillado pluvial para proteger salud y ambiente
The Constitutional Chamber heard an amparo action filed by the owner of a property in the INVU development in La Garita, Alajuela. The petitioner claimed that due to the lack of adequate sanitary and storm drainage, approximately 30 homes discharge wastewater and rainwater onto his property, causing a deep trench, foul odors, and flooding, thereby…
Res. 14415-2021 Sala Constitucional2021 · Sala Constitucional
Sistema séptico en residencial y obligación estatal de alcantarillado
The Constitutional Chamber denies an amparo action filed by a resident of the Avenida San Rafael (Cinco Estrellas) residential development in La Unión, Cartago, who claimed that the Costa Rican Water and Sewer Institute (ICAA) and the Municipality failed to address malfunctioning septic tanks in each home and denied her requests to connect the development…
Res. 15456-2021 Sala Constitucional2021 · Sala Constitucional
Amparo por invasión de zona de protección en Quebrada Seca, Garabito
The Constitutional Chamber granted the amparo filed by a resident of Jacó de Garabito against MINAE, the Ministry of Health, and the Municipality of Garabito. The complainant denounced the invasion of the protection zone of the Quebrada Seca river by the informal settlement "El Hueco," in violation of Article 33 of the Forestry Law. The Chamber verified…
Res. 15951-2021 Sala Constitucional2021 · Sala Constitucional
Incumplimiento de órdenes sobre aguas negras en La Ponderosa y abastecimiento en Miravalles
The Constitutional Chamber resolves noncompliance proceedings filed by David Zamora Aymerich regarding judgment N° 2019-012231, which addressed the shortage of potable water in the Miravalles I development and the discharge of raw sewage in the La Ponderosa area of Curridabat. The Chamber dismisses the noncompliance claim concerning the reactivation of the…
Res. 16098-2021 Sala Constitucional2021 · Sala Constitucional
Denegatoria de disponibilidad de agua potable por falta de calidad domiciliar en Escazú
The Constitutional Chamber reviewed an amparo action against AyA for denying water availability for a house in San Antonio de Escazú. The petitioner argued violation of the rights to water and equality, noting that in 2014 availability had been granted to another lot from the same subdivision and that other neighbors still receive service. However, AyA…
Res. 16102-2021 Sala Constitucional2021 · Sala Constitucional
Agua potable contaminada en Tres Ríos no vulnera derechos si el municipio actúa con diligencia
The Constitutional Chamber denies an amparo filed by a resident of Residencial Monserrat, in Tres Ríos, La Unión. She claimed that the municipal water supply had high levels of sediment, making it unhealthy and causing her two-year-old daughter diarrhea and fever. The Chamber found that the municipality has conducted water quality analyses for over ten…
Res. 17268-2021 Sala Constitucional2021 · Sala Constitucional
Denegatoria de servicio de agua potable por imposibilidad técnica y legal
The Constitutional Chamber reviews an amparo action filed by residents of El Palmar de Horquetas de Sarapiquí against the Pablo Presbere Rural Aqueduct Administrative Association. The plaintiffs claim that since 2009 they have unsuccessfully sought connection to the drinking water service, despite promises from various institutions. The respondent…
Res. 17933-2021 Sala Constitucional2021 · Sala Constitucional
Acceso al expediente para denunciante cualificado en conexión ilícita de agua
The Constitutional Chamber reviewed an amparo filed by a citizen who reported an illegal drinking water connection to supply a swimming pool. AyA investigated and removed the connection but, when the complainant requested copies of the administrative file, he was required to provide a power of attorney from the property owner under Article 1253 of the…
Res. 18422-2021 Sala Constitucional2021 · Sala Constitucional
Desobediencia por incumplimiento de cierre de pozo contaminado con nitratos
The Constitutional Chamber addresses a non-compliance claim filed by a resident of Residencial El Molino in Cartago, who argues that the respondent authorities have failed to comply with a prior ruling ordering the supply of potable water from a new well within six months, later extended by another six. The petitioner insists that the Municipality of…
Res. 19121-2021 Sala Constitucional2021 · Sala Constitucional
Improcedencia de amparo por exclusión de proyecto de acueducto en Tres Rosales
The Constitutional Chamber denied an amparo filed by residents of Tres Rosales, Sarapiquí, who claimed fundamental rights violations due to their exclusion from the "Ampliación y Rehabilitación del Acueducto Integrado de Sarapiquí" project. The plaintiffs, owners of 35 parcels, argued the project passed in front of their properties and they had a right to…
Res. 22344-2021 Sala Constitucional2021 · Sala Constitucional
Improcedencia de amparo por denegatoria de agua en zona de riesgo
The Constitutional Chamber dismisses on the merits an amparo filed by residents of Alto Loaiza in Orosí de Paraíso, whose water service was cut off and reinstatement denied by the local water board (ASADA). The petitioners alleged violations of their rights to water, health, and decent housing, claiming that the ASADA, the National Emergency Commission…
Res. 22428-2021 Sala Constitucional2021 · Sala Constitucional
Reiteración de cumplimiento al ICAA sobre acueducto Tierra Blanca
The Constitutional Chamber addresses a non-compliance claim brought by the petitioner against the Costa Rican Institute of Aqueducts and Sewers (ICAA), for failing to enforce rulings No. 2020-10200 and No. 2020-17650. Those prior rulings ordered the ICAA to regularize the aqueduct service in Tierra Blanca, Nicoya, and to assess the petitioner's water…
Res. 22461-2021 Sala Constitucional2021 · Sala Constitucional
Municipalidad debe solucionar inundaciones por entubamiento de quebrada Quebradilla
The Constitutional Court granted an amparo action against the Municipality of Escazú for failing to solve recurrent flooding from the Quebradilla stream, which inundates the petitioner's properties. The Court found that despite a 2017 technical report recommending hydraulic improvements and a 2019 municipal agreement declaring a cantonal emergency, the…
Res. 24197-2021 Sala Constitucional2021 · Sala Constitucional
Coordinación institucional para el suministro de agua potable en Asentamiento Finca San Juan
The Constitutional Chamber reviewed an amparo action filed by a resident of the Finca San Juan Settlement in Pavas, who claimed that since 1999 she had lacked drinking water service, even though the houses were built in 1997 by the Housing Promotion Foundation (FUPROVI) and had basic infrastructure. AyA repeatedly denied service requests (2001, 2011, 2020)…
Res. 15449-2021 Sala Constitucional2021 · Sala Constitucional
Constitucionalidad de la declaratoria de conveniencia nacional para proyecto de abastecimiento de agua en Atenas
The Constitutional Chamber dismisses the unconstitutionality action against Executive Decree No. 40675-MINAE, which declared the “Mejoras al Sistema de Abastecimiento de Atenas” project a matter of national convenience, to be developed by AyA. Petitioners argued it violated the principle of forest irreducibility and the right to a healthy environment by…
Res. 21905-2021 Sala Constitucional2021 · Sala Constitucional
Responsabilidades institucionales sobre alcantarillado sanitario y aguas pluviales en Guápiles
The Constitutional Chamber partially upholds an amparo action against the Municipality of Pococí, the Ministry of Health, and the Costa Rican Institute of Aqueducts and Sewers (ICAA), filed by a landowner affected by stormwater and wastewater discharges onto his property. The Court rules that the municipality violated due process by failing to respond in…
Res. 26529-2021 Sala Constitucional2021 · Sala Constitucional
Eliminación de captación de agua de concesión privada por parte de ASADA
The Constitutional Chamber reviews an 'amparo' filed by two individuals holding a surface water use concession (File 19181A) granted by the Water Directorate of MINAE. They claim that the president of the ASADA of El Rodeo de Tarrazú, without any authorization, removed their original water intake, built new works on the stream bed, and altered the water…
Res. 26568-2021 Sala Constitucional2021 · Sala Constitucional
Falta de agua potable en Montserrat de Coronado por déficit hídrico y descoordinación entre ASADA e ICAA
The Constitutional Court heard an amparo filed by a resident of Montserrat de Cascajal de Coronado against the Cascajal ASADA and the Costa Rican Institute of Aqueducts and Sewers (ICAA), due to the lack of drinking water supply in their rural community. The ASADA expressed its intention to extend the service, but faced a water deficit and lack of economic…
Res. 26592-2021 Sala Constitucional2021 · Sala Constitucional
Amparo por falta de fuente pública de agua potable tras suspensión del servicio
The Constitutional Chamber hears an amparo filed by a resident of the El Cucuy informal settlement in Alajuela against AyA, the state water utility. The plaintiff alleged that, due to an accumulated debt for water bills dating back to 2019, AyA disconnected her service in April 2021 and failed to provide an alternative water supply. During the proceedings,…
Res. 27086-2021 Sala Constitucional2021 · Sala Constitucional
ASADA niega servicio de agua pese a constancia de capacidad hídrica previa
The Constitutional Chamber reviewed an amparo action against the Pablo Presbere Rural Aqueduct Administrative Association (ASADA) for denying potable water service to a person who had a hydraulic capacity certificate and construction permits. The ASADA argued that a 2019 technical study recommended suspending new service availabilities due to hydraulic…
Res. 27655-2021 Sala Constitucional2021 · Sala Constitucional
Acceso al agua potable e imposibilidad técnica
The Constitutional Chamber reviewed an amparo filed by the president of a water-committee on behalf of the Bajo Barranca community. The petitioners claimed that approximately 20 families lack access to potable water despite existing water resources and multiple requests to the Costa Rican Institute of Aqueducts and Sewers (ICAA). The Chamber analyzed sworn…
Res. 24616-2021 Sala Constitucional2021 · Sala Constitucional
Amparo ambiental sobre protección de nacientes y aguas subterráneas en proyecto urbanístico
The Constitutional Chamber addressed an amparo petition against the Municipality of Alajuela and SETENA concerning permits granted to the 'Condominio Horizontal Residencial FFPI Lankaster' project, located near the Lankaster and Gutiérrez springs. The claimant argued the construction permit was issued in violation of Article 43 of the Municipal Regulatory…
Res. 28033-2021 Sala Constitucional2021 · Sala Constitucional
Incumplimiento de orden de solución definitiva de agua potable en Salamá
The Constitutional Court grants partial amparo relief to residents of Salamá settlement in Osa, who claimed that INDER leased three hectares to a livestock association, jeopardizing their sole access to water, and that they lack a definitive potable water supply. The Court notes its prior 2018 ruling had ordered AyA to provide a permanent solution within…
Res. 28041-2021 Sala Constitucional2021 · Sala Constitucional
Disponibilidad de agua potable vencida y negativa por razones técnicas de la ASADA
The Constitutional Court analyzes whether the Communal Water Supply Association (ASADA) of Los Altos de San Rafael in Ciudad Colón violated the fundamental rights of a resident by denying his connection to the potable water service. The claimant obtained an availability letter in June 2019, but due to delays caused by the pandemic, the construction permit…
Res. 28043-2021 Sala Constitucional2021 · Sala Constitucional
Disponibilidad hídrica para proyecto habitacional denegada por imposibilidad material
The Constitutional Chamber dismissed the amparo action brought by the representative of a social housing project against the Municipality of Santa Bárbara. The claimant alleged violation of fundamental rights because the municipality denied a potable water availability letter without adequate response or justification. The Chamber found that the…
Res. 25386-2021 Sala Constitucional2021 · Sala Constitucional
Constitucionalidad del Reglamento de registro de pozos sin número y habilitación del trámite de concesión de aguas subterráneas
The Constitutional Chamber reviewed Executive Decree 41851-MP-MINAE-MAG, which establishes an amnesty procedure to register illegally drilled wells and enable groundwater concessions. The action, brought by the Costa Rican Federation for Environmental Conservation, alleged multiple violations: decriminalization of conduct through a regulatory decree,…
Res. 17783-2021 Sala Constitucional2021 · Sala Constitucional
Intervención controlada en humedales para infraestructura pública — interpretación constitucional del Decreto 39838-MINAE
The Constitutional Chamber reviewed the unconstitutionality claim against Executive Decree No. 39838-MINAE, which empowered SINAC to authorize controlled interventions in wetland ecosystems for state public infrastructure projects declared of national convenience. The plaintiffs alleged violations of the right to a healthy environment, the principle of…
Res. 20336-2020 Sala Constitucional2020 · Sala Constitucional
Falta de acueducto en Alto de la Perica lesiona derecho al agua potable
The Constitutional Chamber heard an amparo action filed by residents of Chitaría and Alto de la Perica, who alleged a lack of potable water and absence of a formal aqueduct project. Regarding Chitaría, the Court found that a system already exists, managed by the Municipality of Turrialba, and dismissed that claim. As for Alto de la Perica, it found that…
Res. 20894-2020 Sala Constitucional2020 · Sala Constitucional
Falta de agua en San Josecito de Alajuelita durante pandemia por COVID-19
The Constitutional Chamber addresses an amparo action filed by residents of San Josecito de Alajuelita alleging a shortage of potable water by the Costa Rican Institute of Aqueducts and Sewers (AyA). The Chamber rules out a violation of the right to water, finding that AyA did respond to complaints, carried out repairs and upgrades to the pumping system,…
Res. 20892-2020 Sala Constitucional2020 · Sala Constitucional
Denegatoria de disponibilidad de agua por ASADA por falta de capacidad hídrica del acueducto
The Constitutional Chamber hears an amparo action filed by a resident of Parrita, Puntarenas, against the Administrative Association of the Las Lomas de Parrita Aqueduct and the Costa Rican Institute of Aqueducts and Sewers. The petitioner seeks an order to provide potable water service to her home, which has been denied on multiple occasions. The Chamber…
Res. 20906-2020 Sala Constitucional2020 · Sala Constitucional
Permiso de construcción denegado por ubicación en zona de protección de naciente
The Constitutional Chamber rejects an amparo action filed by a property owner who had requested a construction permit from the Municipality of Aserrí. The municipality initially granted a land-use permit in 2017, but when the permit expired and a renewal was requested in 2020, it was denied after verification through the National Water Resources…
Res. 22344-2020 Sala Constitucional2020 · Sala Constitucional
Denegatoria de disponibilidad de agua por déficit hídrico
The Constitutional Chamber rejected an amparo action filed by a housing voucher beneficiary against the Costa Rican Institute of Aqueducts and Sewers (ICAA). The petitioner alleged that ICAA denied her availability of potable water for building her house in Quebrada Grande, Liberia, despite a previous favorable certification that had expired. She argued…
Res. 22314-2020 Sala Constitucional2020 · Sala Constitucional
Denegatoria de disponibilidad de agua en comunidad con desabastecimiento crítico
The Constitutional Chamber heard an amparo filed by a resident of San Juan Sur, Corralillo, Cartago, after the local ASADA and AyA denied her a water availability letter needed to subdivide a lot and build a home. The denial was based on the chronic water shortage affecting the community for decades, with an allocated flow of only 2.36 liters per second,…
Res. 23292-2020 Sala Constitucional2020 · Sala Constitucional
Racionamiento de agua y respuesta a gestión en Jericó de Desamparados
The Constitutional Chamber analyzes an amparo filed by a resident of Jericó de Desamparados against the Costa Rican Institute of Aqueducts and Sewers (ICAA). The plaintiff claims that water rationing in her community is excessive and that she received no response to a complaint filed with the ICAA's Service Comptroller. The Chamber finds that the rationing…
Res. 23808-2020 Sala Constitucional2020 · Sala Constitucional
Disponibilidad hídrica para complejo comercial considerada nuevo proyecto
The Constitutional Chamber dismissed an amparo filed by Inversiones Comerciales Remo ICR S.A. against the ASADA La Garita de Santa Cruz and the Costa Rican Institute of Aqueducts and Sewers (AyA). The petitioner sought the connection of twelve potable water services for the 'Villas el Sol del Pacífico' complex, comprising dwellings and a commercial…
Res. 24224-2020 Sala Constitucional2020 · Sala Constitucional
Inundaciones por desviación de aguas pluviales en Atenas
The petitioners, owners of the El Cenízaro property in Balsa de Atenas, filed an amparo against the Municipality of Atenas and SINAC, alleging that road works in November 2019 diverted stormwater onto their land without consent or studies, causing erosion, damage to an old cenízaro tree, and harm to the Andrómeda Forest Reserve. The Constitutional Chamber…
Res. 24459-2020 Sala Constitucional2020 · Sala Constitucional
Suspensión de servicio de agua potable por morosidad y disconformidad con el monto facturado
The Constitutional Chamber examines an amparo action against the Costa Rican Institute of Aqueducts and Sewers for suspension of drinking water service, the billed amount, and a request for a meter change. The Chamber recalls its case law on the fundamental right to water, derived from the rights to health, life, and a healthy environment, and that the…
Res. 01351-2020 Sala Constitucional2020 · Sala Constitucional
Derecho fundamental al agua potable y deber de las instituciones
The Constitutional Chamber heard an amparo action filed by a resident of Las Juntas de Abangares, Santa Lucía, who claimed that the community had not received drinking water for years, as the water came from a stream surrounded by cattle farms and during the rainy season arrived muddy or turbid. She also reported frequent service suspensions without prior…
Res. 06275-2020 Sala Constitucional2020 · Sala Constitucional
Contaminación con bromacil de fuentes de agua en Aguas Zarcas
The Constitutional Chamber heard an amparo action regarding bromacil contamination of a spring supplying communities in Aguas Zarcas, despite the agrochemical having been banned since 2017. The Chamber found that, despite an inter-institutional plan and previous orders in similar rulings, the respondent authorities —Ministry of Health, Water and Sewerage…
Res. 13848-2020 Sala Constitucional2020 · Sala Constitucional
ASADA de Pital vs. contaminación por Bromacil en fuentes de agua
The Constitutional Chamber dismisses an amparo action filed by the ASADA of Pital de San Carlos against several public authorities (Ministry of Health, MAG, AyA) for alleged omissions in addressing the contamination of its water sources with the herbicide Bromacil. The Chamber finds that, at the time of the ruling, the Pital ASADA sources are free of toxic…
Res. 19856-2020 Sala Constitucional2020 · Sala Constitucional
Falta de Plan de Manejo y Estudio Hidrogeológico en Zona Protectora El Chayote
The Constitutional Chamber hears an amparo action against SINAC concerning the alleged lack of protection of the El Chayote Protected Zone. The petitioner claimed there was no effective management plan, no delimitation of aquifer recharge areas through a hydrogeological study, and inaction regarding environmental complaints. The Chamber finds that the…
Res. 00695-2019 Sala Constitucional2019 · Sala Constitucional
Contaminación de acuíferos por piñera en Río Cuarto — deber de coordinación interinstitucional
The Constitutional Chamber upheld an amparo filed by community water boards (ASADAs) of Santa Rita, La Tabla and Santa Isabel de Río Cuarto de Alajuela, due to contamination of their drinking water sources with agrochemicals (bromacil) attributed to a pineapple plantation. The Chamber found that despite complaints filed since 2011 with the Environmental…
Res. 02553-2019 Sala Constitucional2019 · Sala Constitucional
Cumplimiento de orden sanitaria para descontaminar Estero de Puntarenas
The Constitutional Chamber granted an amparo filed by residents of Chacarita, Puntarenas, regarding authorities' failure to address pollution in the Estero de Puntarenas. The court found solid waste, untreated wastewater, and lack of a sewage system in a protected mangrove wetland, harming health, the environment, and biodiversity. It ordered the…
Res. 06994-2019 Sala Constitucional2019 · Sala Constitucional
Suspensión de obra vial por riesgo a mantos acuíferos en Naranjo
The Constitutional Chamber partially granted an amparo action against the Municipality of Naranjo regarding the widening and paving of the road "La Casona", located within the 200-meter protection zone of springs that supply drinking water to local communities. The court applied the precautionary principle after finding that the hydrogeological study…
Res. 07690-2019 Sala Constitucional2019 · Sala Constitucional
Contaminación de acueductos rurales por bromacil: deber estatal de saneamiento
The Constitutional Chamber reviews an amparo filed by the rural aqueduct association (ASADA) of Veracruz de San Carlos against several state agencies. Since 2016, its seven water springs were closed due to high levels of bromacil, a herbicide used in nearby pineapple farms, and the authorities have not implemented definitive remediation solutions. Although…
Res. 09734-2019 Sala Constitucional2019 · Sala Constitucional
Acceso de ASADA a naciente en propiedad privada para mantenimiento del acueducto comunal
The Constitutional Chamber reviewed an amparo action filed by members of the ASADA of Concepción and Los Negritos de Aguas Zarcas against the owners of a property where the spring supplying drinking water to approximately 1,165 people is located. The owners installed a gate and a livestock fence that prevented ASADA personnel from accessing the site for…
Res. 12312-2019 Sala Constitucional2019 · Sala Constitucional
Estese a lo resuelto: medidas de saneamiento de nacientes contaminadas por bromacil ordenadas en sentencia previa
The Constitutional Chamber reviews an amparo filed by a community water board (ASADA) representative from Pital de San Carlos against several government agencies for their alleged failure to protect water resources from contamination with bromacil and oxamil, agrochemicals used in pineapple farming. Although studies by the CICA-UCR confirmed contamination…
Res. 06589-2018 Sala Constitucional2018 · Sala Constitucional
Transitorio de plaguicidas en agua potable viola principio precautorio
The Constitutional Chamber granted an amparo appeal against Executive Decree No. 39144‑S, which added a transitional provision to the Drinking Water Quality Regulation (Decree No. 38924‑S). The transitional provision suspended for three years the maximum limits for pesticide residues originally based on European standards, replacing them with EPA and WHO…
Res. 06340-2017 Sala Constitucional2017 · Sala Constitucional
Exoneración de planta de tratamiento requiere criterio previo de SENARA ante acuífero confinado
The Constitutional Chamber reviewed an amparo action against ICAA, SETENA and SENARA concerning a residential project in Naranjo that was exempted from building a wastewater treatment plant in favor of septic tanks, without prior approval from SENARA or modification of the environmental viability by SETENA. The Chamber granted the amparo only against ICAA,…
Res. 09565-2017 Sala Constitucional2017 · Sala Constitucional
Cambio de uso de suelo por protección de naciente y demora de la Dirección de Aguas
The Constitutional Chamber reviewed an amparo action against the Municipality of Poás and the Water Directorate of MINAE. The petitioner claimed that the municipality arbitrarily changed the land use of his properties (from residential to non-buildable) after detecting a possible spring, and that the Water Directorate had not determined whether the water…
Res. 20057-2017 Sala Constitucional2017 · Sala Constitucional
Concesiones en Zona Marítimo Terrestre sin estudios hidrogeológicos y afectación al Patrimonio Natural del Estado
The Constitutional Chamber reviews an amparo against the renewal of coastal zone concessions in Bahía Drake, alleging lack of aquifer vulnerability studies, failure to identify recharge zones or springs, and failure to exclude State Natural Heritage areas. It finds that Sergio Miranda Torres' concession was renewed after excluding PNE areas and with ICT…
Res. 17950-2017 Sala Constitucional2017 · Sala Constitucional
Transitorio del Reglamento de Agua Potable suspende parámetros de plaguicidas
The Constitutional Court reviewed a claim against Executive Decree No. 39144-S, which added a transitional provision to the Drinking Water Quality Regulation (Decree No. 38924-S). This provision suspended for three years the application of the original table of pesticide residue parameters—which used global maximum admissible values—and replaced it with a…
Res. 18352-2016 Sala Constitucional2016 · Sala Constitucional
Riesgo de proyectos urbanísticos a mantos acuíferos en Poás sin estudios hidrogeológicos
The Constitutional Court partially granted an ‘amparo’ filed by residents of Poás against the Municipality, for authorizing numerous housing projects without first verifying aquifer protection, in breach of judgment 2004-1923. The Court found that ten projects (Urbanización Caliche, Los Conejos, Propiedad de Marvin Murillo, Finca Erick Lonis, Calle…
Res. 12887-2014 Sala Constitucional2014 · Sala Constitucional
Reducción de áreas de protección hídrica sin estudios técnicos viola el artículo 50 constitucional
The Constitutional Chamber, by majority vote, reviews the constitutionality of the draft law 'Integrated Water Resource Management Law' (legislative file 17.742) in response to optional legislative consultations. The court declares one consultation inadmissible due to duplicate signatures, but admits the main one, rejecting a dissenting vote that argued it…
Res. 08486-2014 Sala Constitucional2014 · Sala Constitucional
Concesión de agua en Río Veracruz para proyecto de riego anulada parcialmente
The Constitutional Court partially granted a constitutional complaint filed by residents and community organizations against MINAE and SETENA. The plaintiffs challenged the environmental viability and the concession of 163.23 liters per second from the Veracruz River for an irrigation project, arguing that adequate environmental impact studies were not…
Res. 07927-2014 Sala Constitucional2014 · Sala Constitucional
Contaminación de nacientes por piña y derecho al agua potable
The Constitutional Chamber reviews an amparo action concerning the contamination of water springs in Siquirres caused by pineapple cultivation on the Babilonia farm. The petitioners claim that, despite prior orders in 2009 to clean up the sources, the community still lacks access to drinking water and relies on tanker trucks. The Chamber reaffirms the…
Res. 18896-2014 Sala Constitucional2014 · Sala Constitucional
Protección y delimitación del Manto Acuífero Mala Noche
The Constitutional Chamber heard an amparo filed by the ASADA of Playa Sámara against several institutions for the lack of protection of the Mala Noche aquifer. The petitioner argued that no measures had been taken to protect and delimit the aquifer, that construction permits had not been suspended, and that the current regulatory plan did not include the…
Res. 08669-2013 Sala Constitucional2013 · Sala Constitucional
Riesgo de contaminación de naciente por actividad agrícola y zonas de protección
The Constitutional Chamber reviews an amparo filed by a rural water association against the owner of a property, its tenant, and several public authorities, for the risk of contamination of the "Agustín Solano" spring due to the use of agrochemicals in onion crops located within the legal protection zone. It verifies that the 200-meter protection radius…
Res. 07598-2013 Sala Constitucional2013 · Sala Constitucional
Contaminación de agua potable con arsénico en Guanacaste y zona norte
The Constitutional Court partially grants an amparo action filed by residents of communities in Guanacaste and the northern zone of Alajuela that receive drinking water contaminated with arsenic at levels exceeding the maximum allowable limit of 10 µg/L set by WHO and the Drinking Water Quality Regulation. The Court finds that, despite the sanitary…
Res. 05065-2013 Sala Constitucional2013 · Sala Constitucional
Desobediencia al Plan Único de saneamiento de fuentes contaminadas con bromacil
The Constitutional Chamber hears a non-compliance proceeding against multiple authorities for failing to execute judgment 2009-9040, which ordered the cleanup of pesticide-contaminated water sources in the communities of El Cairo, Luisiana and La Francia. The reports submitted show that, despite initial actions, the springs remain contaminated due to the…
Res. 06514-2012 Sala Constitucional2012 · Sala Constitucional
Vulneración del derecho al agua potable y ambiente sano por movimientos de tierra no autorizados
The Constitutional Chamber heard an amparo action filed by the Communal Aqueduct Association of Poás de Aserrí against the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Environment (MINAE), and the Municipality of Aserrí. The petitioner alleged that unauthorized earthworks were carried out near a water intake and supply tank, causing sedimentation and threatening…
Res. 09687-2012 Sala Constitucional2012 · Sala Constitucional
Derecho fundamental al agua potable y ejecución de acueducto ante contaminación por agroquímicos
The Constitutional Chamber granted an amparo petition filed by a resident of El Cairo, Siquirres, Limón, due to the prolonged lack of potable water in several surrounding communities. For over five years, residents have relied on hand-dug wells contaminated with agrochemicals—specifically pesticides like Bromacil, Diuron, and Triadimefon—creating serious…
Res. 07087-2012 Sala Constitucional2012 · Sala Constitucional
Tutela del acuífero de Playa Mantas y pendientes en Punta Leona
The Constitutional Chamber heard an amparo action against several public entities concerning the environmental situation in Punta Leona, Garabito. The claimant association alleged a violation of the right to a healthy environment due to uncontrolled exploitation of the coastal aquifer, the absence of comprehensive hydrogeological studies, construction on…
Res. 08892-2012 Sala Constitucional2012 · Sala Constitucional
Aplicación nacional de la Matriz de vulnerabilidad de acuíferos ante el caso del acuífero Huacas-Tamarindo y el Parque Nacional Las Baulas
The Constitutional Chamber reviewed an amparo against SENARA and MINAET regarding the decision to apply the 'Land Use Criteria Matrix Based on Aquifer Contamination Vulnerability for Water Resource Protection' solely to the Poás canton, excluding other areas such as the Huacas-Tamarindo aquifer, which includes Las Baulas National Marine Park and its buffer…
Res. 01745-2011 Sala Constitucional2011 · Sala Constitucional
Omisión municipal en drenaje y planificación hidrográfica viola derecho a ambiente sano
The Constitutional Chamber reviews an amparo filed by residents of the Quintanar Urbanization in Escazú against the Municipality of Escazú. Among the claims, the most environmentally relevant were that the paving of Calle El Barro by a private developer lacked proper drainage works, causing rainwater accumulation, ponding, and risks of flooding, pollution,…
Res. 02913-2011 Sala Constitucional2011 · Sala Constitucional
Omisión estatal en regular vertido de aguas residuales hospitalarias
The Constitutional Chamber upheld an amparo action against the Golfito Hospital, the Ministry of Health, and the Costa Rican Institute of Aqueducts and Sewers for failing to regulate the discharge of untreated laundry wastewater directly into Golfo Dulce. The ruling elaborates on the scope of the right to a healthy environment under Article 50 of the…
Res. 16316-2011 Sala Constitucional2011 · Sala Constitucional
Viabilidad ambiental del Mall Plaza Lincoln exige planta de tratamiento de aguas residuales
The Constitutional Court partially granted an amparo against the Minister of Environment, Energy and Telecommunications for having annulled the requirement of a wastewater treatment plant for the Plaza Lincoln commercial project. The Court held that even though SETENA had initially granted environmental viability, a subsequent correction of a material…
Res. 04846-2010 Sala Constitucional2010 · Sala Constitucional
Derecho al agua potable y deber de AyA de solucionar contaminación de pozos en Palmar Sur
The Constitutional Chamber heard an amparo filed by residents of Palmar Sur, Osa, against the Costa Rican Institute of Aqueducts and Sewers (AyA). The claimants alleged that water from the wells supplying their farms arrived contaminated with sediment, fecal matter, and rust, harming their health. AyA acknowledged that since 2002, a pesticide spill had…
Res. 09122-2010 Sala Constitucional2010 · Sala Constitucional
Anulación de permiso municipal para galerón en lote protegido con naciente
The Constitutional Chamber granted an amparo action against the Municipality of Aserrí and MINAET. It found that the Municipal Council improperly authorized the construction of a pavilion on a lot containing a permanent spring, in violation of Article 33 of the Forestry Law, which mandates a 100‑meter protection zone. The Chamber confirmed the…
Res. 10750-2010 Sala Constitucional2010 · Sala Constitucional
Violación del Acuífero Barva por construcción de Ruta 27
The Constitutional Chamber reviews an amparo action filed by a landowner whose well was allegedly affected by the rupture of the Barva Aquifer during the construction of Phase II of the San José-Caldera highway, carried out by Autopistas del Sol S.A. and overseen by the National Concessions Council. The Chamber finds that, while it was not technically…
Res. 12564-2010 Sala Constitucional2010 · Sala Constitucional
Amparo contra omisión estatal en protección de nacientes y salud comunitaria
The Constitutional Chamber heard an amparo filed by a resident of Florencia de Turrialba against several authorities for the contamination of springs and streams on a fern farm. The complainant alleged that Helechos del Río Internacional S.A. sprayed chemical products without a health permit or environmental viability, contaminating drinking water and…
Res. 16943-2010 Sala Constitucional2010 · Sala Constitucional
Proyecto de mejoras al Acueducto El Coco-Ocotal — vulneraciones ambientales
The Constitutional Court partially granted the amparo action for violation of the right to a healthy and ecologically balanced environment, concerning the El Coco-Ocotal aqueduct improvement project in Carrillo, Guanacaste. The Court found that the Costa Rican Institute of Aqueducts and Sewers (ICAA/AyA) began and carried out works without environmental…
Res. 09022-2009 Sala Constitucional2009 · Sala Constitucional
Proyecto Montaña Tranquila y protección de mantos acuíferos
The Constitutional Chamber dismisses an amparo action filed by residents and associations of Carrizal and Cinco Esquinas against several state entities and the Municipality of Santa Bárbara de Heredia concerning the Montaña Tranquila Tourism Project. The petitioners argued that the works —extraction of material from a quarry, road construction, and dumping…
Res. 14840-2009 Sala Constitucional2009 · Sala Constitucional
AyA debe abstenerse de perforar pozo sin estudio técnico previo pese a cercanía de tanques sépticos
The Constitutional Chamber reviewed an amparo action against AyA and other agencies for drilling an exploratory well less than 12 meters from a dwelling and two septic tanks, without prior permission from the Water Department or a specific technical study ruling out contamination risks. The court found the well was inside the 40-meter protection perimeter…
Res. 12437-2009 Sala Constitucional2009 · Sala Constitucional
Fraccionamientos y construcciones sin estudios hídricos — Municipio debe proteger acuíferos
The Constitutional Court upheld an environmental association's amparo against the Municipality of San Rafael de Heredia. The complaint focused on the municipality's failure to respond to information requests and its allowance of construction and subdivisions in areas of high hydrogeological vulnerability, contrary to the Hydrogeological Vulnerability Map…
Res. 09040-2009 Sala Constitucional2009 · Sala Constitucional
Contaminación del agua con Bromacil por plantación de piña en Siquirres
The Constitutional Chamber granted an amparo filed by residents of Cairo, La Francia and Luisiana in Siquirres, who claimed that the pineapple plantation of Hacienda Ojo de Agua S.A. contaminated the water sources feeding their aqueducts with agrochemicals — primarily the herbicide Bromacil. The Chamber found it proven that the plantation sits atop the…
Res. 00262-2009 Sala Constitucional2009 · Sala Constitucional
Explotación del acuífero Sardinal y mejoras al acueducto El Coco-Ocotal
The Constitutional Court granted an amparo action in favor of community members, finding a violation of the right to a healthy and ecologically balanced environment. The expansion of the El Coco-Ocotal aqueduct, privately financed, was approved without scientific certainty about the real water availability in the Sardinal Aquifer, thus violating the…
Res. 09041-2009 Sala Constitucional2009 · Sala Constitucional
Contaminación por plaguicidas en fuentes de agua y abastecimiento de agua potable
The Constitutional Court reviewed an amparo filed by residents of Milano, El Cairo, Luisiana, and La Francia de Siquirres, who claimed that the pineapple company FRUTEX S.A. contaminated their drinking water sources with pesticides (bromacil and diuron), violating their rights to health and a healthy environment. They alleged omissions by the Ministry of…
Res. 12109-2008 Sala Constitucional2008 · Sala Constitucional
Protección de la Montaña del Volcán Barva y mantos acuíferos
The Constitutional Court granted an amparo action filed by an environmental foundation against multiple state entities and municipalities for violating the right to a healthy environment (Article 50 of the Constitution). The Court found that Decree-Law No. 65 of 1888, which declared inalienable a two-kilometer strip on each side of the Barva Volcano…
Res. 07126-2006 Sala Constitucional2006 · Sala Constitucional
Agua potable e insectos en el Centro de Atención Institucional La Reforma
The Constitutional Court rejects a habeas corpus action filed by an inmate against prison authorities at La Reforma Institutional Care Center, the Ministry of Justice, and the Ministry of Health. The petitioner claimed that the drinking water storage tank in Module B was contaminated by sewage spills, proximity to garbage containers, and toxic leachate,…
Res. 07768-2006 Sala Constitucional2006 · Sala Constitucional
Concesión en zona marítimo terrestre obstaculizada por investigación interna de la municipalidad
The Constitutional Chamber reviewed an amparo action brought by a company that had applied for a concession in the maritime terrestrial zone of the Osa canton. The original application, dating from 1977, remained unresolved despite repeated efforts. The municipality justified the delay by citing an ongoing investigation into allegedly illegal constructions…
Res. 07961-2006 Sala Constitucional2006 · Sala Constitucional
Contaminación del Río Peje por planta procesadora de frutas
The Constitutional Chamber reviews an amparo action against Fructa S.A., the Ministry of Health, and MINAE for the death of fish and contamination of the Peje River in April 2005. The court finds it proven that the company's wastewater treatment system collapsed, causing physical contamination of the riverbed and fish mortality. It establishes a nexus…
Res. 05606-2006 Sala Constitucional2006 · Sala Constitucional
AyA puede asumir acueductos municipales por deficiencia en el servicio
The Constitutional Chamber ruled on a constitutionality challenge filed by the Municipality of Alajuela against Article 2(g) of the AyA Organic Law and Article 41 of the Credit and Technical Assistance Regulation. The Municipality claimed violations of municipal autonomy, due process, and property rights, because AyA can unilaterally take over municipal…
Res. 18051-2006 Sala Constitucional2006 · Sala Constitucional
Movimiento de tierras sobre acuíferos — deber de coordinación y principio precautorio
The Constitutional Chamber grants an amparo against the Municipality of Osa and the company La Gruta de Plata S.A. for authorizing and carrying out earthworks in areas of possible aquifer recharge without prior technical studies from MINAE or ICAA, endangering the water supply of the communities of Uvita, Bahía, and La Colonia. It is proven that, despite…
Res. 01252-2006 Sala Constitucional2006 · Sala Constitucional
Zona de retiro en nacientes y protección de mantos acuíferos
The Constitutional Chamber reviewed an amparo action challenging a 100‑meter setback established by the water utility (AyA) around the Los Pinitos spring to allow fern cultivation. The claimant argued the distance was insufficient under the broader legal framework (200 m in flat terrain, 300 m in steep terrain) derived from the Water Law and the Land and…
Res. 01923-2004 Sala Constitucional2004 · Sala Constitucional
Aguas subterráneas, acuífero de Poás y principio precautorio en proyecto urbanístico
The Constitutional Chamber reviews the environmental clearance granted to the 'Linda Vista' high-density residential project, which relies on individual septic tanks and is situated on the recharge zone of the Poás aquifer. The Chamber finds the aquifer to be highly vulnerable to contamination, notes that existing hydrogeological studies are contradictory,…
Res. 04654-2003 Sala Constitucional2003 · Sala Constitucional
Derecho fundamental al agua potable — deber de suministro
The Constitutional Chamber recognizes a fundamental right to drinking water, derived from the rights to health, life, a healthy environment, food, and adequate housing, based on Article 50 of the Constitution and international instruments such as the Protocol of San Salvador. It grants the amparo filed by an architect against the Heredia Public Services…
Res. 05472-2002 Sala Constitucional2002 · Sala Constitucional
Contaminación de ríos por inercia administrativa y obligación preventiva
The Constitutional Chamber hears an amparo action filed by two conservation associations and residents of Ciruelas de Alajuela against MINAE, the Ministry of Health, the Municipality of Alajuela, the Environmental Administrative Tribunal, and Tunatun Internacional Costa Rica S.A., for the pollution of the Siquiares River and the Turrúcares springs. The…
Res. 01882-2001 Sala Constitucional2001 · Sala Constitucional
Contaminación del Río Siquiares por Cooperativa Dos Pinos
The Constitutional Chamber upheld an amparo action filed by residents of Turrúcares, Cebadilla, San Miguel, and Siquiares against Cooperativa de Productores de Leche R.L. (Dos Pinos) and the Ministry of Health. The plaintiffs alleged that the new dairy processing plant in El Coyol, Alajuela, discharged untreated wastewater into the Siquiares River, causing…
Res. 05906-1999 Sala Constitucional1999 · Sala Constitucional
Amparo contra contaminación del río Cañas por planta procesadora de tilapia
The Constitutional Chamber reviewed an amparo filed by a resident of Cañas, Guanacaste, against the Ministry of Health, the Costa Rican Institute of Aqueducts and Sewers (AyA), the Municipality of Cañas, and the tilapia processing company Aqua Corporación Internacional S.A. (name anonymized in the record) for polluting the Cañas River. The company…