Bromelia

The communities of Milano, El Cairo, La Francia, and Luisiana are located in the municipality of Siquirres, which is located in the province of Limon.  It has been years since these four towns have had clean drinking water that was not dsitributed from a tanker truck.  There are some days where people go without clean water for four days.  May, 2015 is the eight year mark of their dependence on tanker trucks for clean water.  Let’s rewind.  The first warning of possible water contamination in Milano was reported in 1996.  Then, in 2003 the National University’s Regional Institute for Studies in Toxic Substances found a cocktail of agrochemicals in the water supply of Milano: diuron, bromacil, and triadimefon.  The Costa Rican National Water and Sewer Institute showed signs of possible contamination in 2004 and took no action.  The issue was officially made public in 2007.  The Health Minister of the time, Maria Luisa Avila, declared the water unsafe.  August 22, 2007 marked the first day water trucks rolling into Milano.