Government announces expansion of Cibao Central water system

The Dominican government plans to add water capacity for Moca, Santo Domingo and Cotuí as part of a major expansion of the country’s potable water infrastructure.

President Luis Abinader announced a new direct line to Moca through the expansion of the Cibao Central Aqueduct. The line would carry two cubic meters of water per second. Greater Santo Domingo would receive an additional five cubic meters per second, while Cotuí would gain 500 liters per second.

The projects were presented during the second edition of La Agenda Semanal, alongside a review of drinking-water, sewerage and ravine-sanitation works. Wellington Arnaud, director of the National Institute of Potable Water and Sewers, said his institution had invested more than 37 billion pesos in water infrastructure. He said spending on the works had quintupled compared with previous administrations.

Arnaud said more than 3,000 kilometers of pipelines had been installed, adding 3.5 cubic meters of water per second and bringing potable water to more than 2.5 million people. Another 1.5 million people receive wastewater-treatment services, he said. New aqueducts are under construction in communities including Baitoa and Sabaneta.

In Greater Santo Domingo, water production has risen 38% since 2020, according to Felipe “Fellito” Suberví, director of the Santo Domingo Aqueduct and Sewer Corporation. The agency has expanded the Barrera de Salinidad and San Antonio de Guerra systems, installed about 600 kilometers of pipes and connected more than 200 neighborhoods to formal distribution networks. It has also delivered 63 wells, rehabilitated 14 storage tanks and worked on sanitation projects covering 19 kilometers of 24 ravines.