Photo: Institute of Oceanology of Costa Rica.
A Criminal Court in Santa Cruz has declared ineffective a resolution from an administrative law judge, which ordered a community (ASADA) to turn over control of an aqueduct to the national water company (AyA), issued on February 7. The decision had sparked a tense stand off between police and protesters in the community who had objected to AyA taking control over their water supply.
The ruling came after an administrator from AyA sought to have criminal charges brought against the director of the ASADA for disobeying the order of the administrative court, and putting the community at risk. The criminal court judge instead sided with the ASADA and nullified the original order.
The water conflict in Playa Potrero started in 2013 when a resident obtained a ruling from the Constitutional Court to improve the water supply in the area. Community residents assert that the aqueduct is independent from AyA because it was constructed with local resources.