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.
373 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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. 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. 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. 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. 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
Desabastecimiento de agua potable en San Rafael Abajo de Desamparados
The Constitutional Chamber granted an amparo action filed by a resident of San Rafael Abajo de Desamparados against the Costa Rican Institute of Aqueducts and Sewers (AyA) and the Public Services Regulatory Authority (ARESEP) due to water cuts lasting up to 30 hours. The resident reported that water was only available from midnight to 5 a.m. with weak flow…
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. 23389-2024 Sala Constitucional2024 · Sala Constitucional
Garantía de suministro de agua potable a comunidad Monserrat
The Constitutional Chamber granted an amparo petition filed by a resident of Monserrat de Alajuela against the Costa Rican Institute of Aqueducts and Sewers (ICAA/AyA). The community had suffered prolonged interruptions in drinking water service for several months, with rationing of up to 9 hours per day. The ICAA argued that the causes were hydraulic…
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. 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. 23556-2024 Sala Constitucional2024 · Sala Constitucional
Derecho al agua potable en Gravilias de Desamparados
The Constitutional Chamber granted an amparo action against the Costa Rican Institute of Aqueducts and Sewers (ICAA) for violating the fundamental right to drinking water in the Gravilias sector of Desamparados. Residents experienced prolonged service interruptions without adequate justification, affecting rights to health, life, and a healthy environment.…
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. 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
Sala IV ordena garantizar suministro de agua potable ante suspensiones prolongadas en San Rafael de Escazú
The Constitutional Chamber granted an amparo filed by a resident of San Rafael de Escazú, who claimed that a scheduled drinking water suspension on November 26, 2024, extended beyond 37 hours, affecting her basic needs and those of her elderly mother. The respondent, the Costa Rican Institute of Aqueducts and Sewers (AyA), justified the outage as…
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. 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 Quintas La Ceiba no viola derechos fundamentales
The Constitutional Chamber denied the amparo petition filed by the president of the Quintas La Ceiba neighborhood association against MINAE and AyA. The Court found that MINAE's order to close the well that supplied water to 100 families was not arbitrary and did not violate the right to water or due process. Evidence showed the well was illegally drilled…
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. 27545-2023 Sala Constitucional2023 · Sala Constitucional
Filtración de aguas negras en Urbanización Deyco: amparo parcialmente concedido
The Constitutional Chamber reviewed an amparo petition filed by a property owner in Deyco urbanization, Patalillo district, Vázquez de Coronado, who reported persistent infiltration of sewage and wastewater from neighboring homes into her property, affecting her health and right to a healthy environment. Despite numerous inspections, dye tests, health…
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. 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. 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. 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. 26065-2022 Sala Constitucional2022 · Sala Constitucional
Contaminación por metabolitos de clorotalonil en nacientes de la ASADA de Cipreses
The Constitutional Chamber granted an amparo action regarding contamination with metabolites of the fungicide chlorothalonil in two springs used for human consumption in Cipreses de Oreamuno, Cartago. Analyses revealed metabolite concentrations of 19.36 µg/L and 1.73 µg/L, exceeding the regulatory limit of 0.1 µg/L. Although the respondents argued lack of…
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. 15449-2021 Sala Constitucional2021 · Sala Constitucional
Declaratoria de conveniencia nacional del acueducto de Atenas no es inconstitucional
The Constitutional Chamber dismissed the unconstitutionality action against Executive Decree No. 40675-MINAE, which declared the 'Improvements to the Atenas Water Supply System' project of national convenience. The plaintiff argued the decree allowed tree felling in the Los Chorros Recreational Park, allegedly State Natural Heritage, violating the…
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. 06275-2020 Sala Constitucional2020 · Sala Constitucional
Contaminación por bromacil en fuentes de agua de Aguas Zarcas obliga a plan remedial
The Constitutional Chamber grants an amparo action regarding the contamination with bromacil —a pesticide banned since 2017— of water sources that supply the communities of Los Llanos and Santa Fe in Aguas Zarcas, San Carlos. Although state institutions had implemented a 'Single Attention Plan' and closed the contaminated well, the Chamber finds that…
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. 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…
Res. 00519-2026 Sala Primera de la Corte2026 · Sala Primera de la Corte
Improcedencia de expropiación e indemnización por restricciones del AyA en zona de protección del acuífero Moín-Limón
The First Chamber rejects the appeals of the plaintiffs and interested third parties against the ruling that dismissed the claim. The case concerned the legality of AyA Board agreements 2007-177 and 2011-112, which established land-use restrictions in zone 6 of the Moín-Limón aquifer, where the plaintiffs' property is located. The lower court upheld the…
Res. 00713-2025 Sala Primera de la Corte2025 · Sala Primera de la Corte
Condena en costas en proceso ambiental sobre alcantarillado sanitario
The First Chamber of the Supreme Court heard a cassation appeal filed by a citizen against a ruling of the Administrative and Civil Tax Court that dismissed his lawsuit against the Municipality of Alajuela and AyA. The plaintiff sought the rehabilitation and expansion of Alajuela's sanitary sewer networks, as well as contracting studies for a master plan…
Res. 00298-2025 Tribunal Agrario2025 · Tribunal Agrario
Reposición forestal obligatoria tras derribo de árbol en zona de protección de río
The Agrarian Court confirms the authorization to fell an Almendrillo tree in a river protection area but modifies the lower court's judgment to order the plaintiff to reforest with native species within one month. The decision is based on Articles 33 (Forestry Law) and 145 (Water Law), and Article 50 of the Constitution requiring the State to guarantee a…
Res. 04383-2025 Tribunal Contencioso Administrativo2025 · Tribunal Contencioso Administrativo
Aclaración del AYA sobre radio de protección en pozos de abastecimiento y pérdida de interés actual
The court dismissed the suit filed by possessors of a property affected by the Edward and Corteza N°1 wells, which sought the annulment of several AyA (Costa Rican Institute of Aqueducts and Sewers) technical reports and a declaration that article 8, rather than article 31, of the Water Law governs the setback for drilled wells. The plaintiffs argued that…
Res. 04964-2025 Tribunal Contencioso Administrativo Sección IV2025 · Tribunal Contencioso Administrativo Sección IV
Reivindicación de tierras con nacientes y servidumbre de aguas en San Carlos
The Contentious-Administrative and Civil Treasury Court, Section IV, resolved a civil proceeding involving a main claim and counterclaim over land possession and water use in San Carlos, Alajuela. Plaintiffs, owners of properties under environmental-services payment contracts, alleged the defendant companies usurped portions of their land for water intakes…
Res. 00885-2025 Tribunal Agrario2025 · Tribunal Agrario
Corta de árboles inclinados sobre quebrada y reposición con especies nativas
The Agrarian Tribunal heard a summary felling proceeding in which the plaintiff sought authorization to cut down two trees located within the protection area of a creek, due to the danger of them falling onto her property caused by erosion from the Chipanzo River. The lower court had only granted the subsidiary claim, authorizing pruning of 50% of the…
Res. 09841-2025 Tribunal Contencioso Administrativo2025 · Tribunal Contencioso Administrativo
Demanda por supuesta acequia construida por la Municipalidad es rechazada al probarse que se trata de una quebrada natural
The Administrative Litigation Court dismissed the lawsuit filed by Ana Lucía Víquez Hidalgo and La Casita de Esmeralda S.A. against the Municipality of Cartago. The plaintiffs sought damages and the relocation of what they claimed was an illegally built ditch on their properties, arguing it impaired residential use and diminished value. Based on technical…
Res. 10221-2025 Tribunal Contencioso Administrativo2025 · Tribunal Contencioso Administrativo
Improcedencia de información posesoria sobre terrenos con reserva de dominio hídrico
The Administrative Court partially granted the claim filed by the Costa Rican Water and Sewerage Institute (AyA) against Las Guiguisas, S.A., declaring that the property subject to possessory information proceedings (cadastral map A-259229-1995) is entirely affected by the reserve domain zone established in Article 31 of the Water Law, given its location…
Res. 10636-2025 Tribunal Contencioso Administrativo2025 · Tribunal Contencioso Administrativo
Tribunal Contencioso declara inadmisibles pretensiones principales pero admite reclamo patrimonial de ASADAS por contaminación de acuíferos
The Administrative Court ruled on a lawsuit filed by three rural water associations (ASADAS) from Río Cuarto against AyA, the State, and SFE. The plaintiffs alleged administrative omissions leading to agrochemical contamination of their aquifers, violation of participation and information rights, and sought compensation for material and moral damages. The…
Res. 00685-2024 Sala Primera de la Corte2024 · Sala Primera de la Corte
Competencia en contaminación de acuíferos por piñeras
The First Chamber of the Supreme Court resolved a jurisdictional conflict arising in an administrative contentious proceeding brought by three Rural Aqueduct Administrative Associations (ASADAS) from Río Cuarto, Alajuela, against the Costa Rican Institute of Aqueducts and Sewers (AyA) and the State Phytosanitary Service. The plaintiffs claimed that the…
Res. 01627-2024 Sala Primera de la Corte2024 · Sala Primera de la Corte
Conexión de agua en proyecto urbanístico irregular y disponibilidad hídrica
The First Chamber of the Supreme Court hears a cassation appeal filed by the plaintiff against the judgment of the Contentious-Administrative Court, which dismissed his claim against the Costa Rican Institute of Aqueducts and Sewers (AyA). The plaintiff, owner of a lot segregated from an informal urban development called 'Nuevo Guápiles', sought an order…
Res. 02160-2024 Tribunal Contencioso Administrativo2024 · Tribunal Contencioso Administrativo
Disponibilidad de agua potable sin infraestructura del AYA
The Administrative Appeals Court ruled on a lawsuit filed by Carlos Alberto Rodríguez Morales against the Costa Rican Institute of Aqueducts and Sewers (AyA). The plaintiff sought to annul AyA’s denial of a water and sewer availability certificate for his property in Santa Ana, arguing lack of motivation and violation of his fundamental right to water. The…
Res. 02966-2024 Tribunal Contencioso Administrativo2024 · Tribunal Contencioso Administrativo
Rechazo de uso de suelo por protección de naciente
The Administrative Court upholds the denial of two land-use permits for housing by the Municipality of San Carlos, because the properties fall within the protection radius of a spring used for human consumption, pursuant to Articles 31 of the Water Law and 33-34 of the Forestry Law. The Court rejects the appellant's arguments of discrimination based on…
Res. 03149-2024 Tribunal Contencioso Administrativo2024 · Tribunal Contencioso Administrativo
Falta de legitimación pasiva de ESPH en reclamo por limitaciones legales a inmueble con tomas de agua
The Administrative Litigation Court dismissed the claim filed by Inmobiliaria Tres AN del Sur S.A. against the Public Services Company of Heredia (ESPH) on the grounds of lack of passive standing. The plaintiff, owner of a property affected by two water supply intakes—Mata de Maíz and Mata de Café—sought either payment for the full value of the property or…
Res. 03245-2024 Tribunal Contencioso Administrativo2024 · Tribunal Contencioso Administrativo
Denegatoria de disponibilidad de agua por falta de factibilidad técnica y omisión en construcción de tanque de almacenamiento
The ruling resolves a contentious-administrative claim against the Playa Potrero-Surfside ASADA and the National Water and Sewer Institute (AyA) for refusing to connect water and failing to build a storage tank. The plaintiff alleged omissions. The Court dismisses both claims. On the first, it finds no omission because the plaintiff requested water…
Res. 00583-2024 Tribunal Agrario2024 · Tribunal Agrario
Improcedencia del interdicto agrario en conflictos por aprovechamiento hídrico
The Agrarian Tribunal upholds the lower court’s ruling that an interdictal action is inadmissible when the core dispute concerns water use. A construction company sued neighbors for allegedly entering its land to lay a 400-meter water pipe along a stream, seeking an order to cease the invasion, remove the illegal water intake, and pay damages. The Tribunal…
Res. 03530-2024 Tribunal Contencioso Administrativo2024 · Tribunal Contencioso Administrativo
Limitaciones ambientales de protección de nacientes no son expropiatorias ni indemnizables
The Administrative-Contentious Court rejects the claim by the Padilla Pérez family seeking compensation for the total value of their properties in Puriscal, which are located within the protection zones of two water springs (permanent and intermittent). The plaintiffs argued that the restrictions under Articles 33 and 34 of the Forestry Law and Article 149…
Res. 04850-2024 Tribunal Contencioso Administrativo2024 · Tribunal Contencioso Administrativo
Restauración del humedal Laguna Pochotal por omisión estatal
The Administrative Court partially grants a lawsuit filed by a private attorney against the State and SINAC, ordering the restoration of the Pochotal Lagoon Wetland ecosystem in Playa Hermosa, Jacó. The ruling finds that the wetland has suffered severe deterioration due to human actions, especially the construction of artificial drainage channels that…
Res. 05178-2024 Tribunal Contencioso Administrativo2024 · Tribunal Contencioso Administrativo
Reivindicación de terrenos con áreas de protección de nacientes y servidumbres de acueducto rural
The plaintiff company, owner of a forested property under a payment-for-environmental-services contract, sued two rural aqueduct associations (ASADAS) and the national water institute (AyA) for allegedly occupying approximately seven hectares with water intakes and pipelines, seeking restitution, moral and material damages, and lost profits. The…
Res. 07290-2024 Tribunal Contencioso Administrativo2024 · Tribunal Contencioso Administrativo
Rechazo de proyecto por prevalencia de Ley de Aguas sobre Ley Forestal en nacientes captadas
The Administrative and Civil Hacienda Tribunal (second circuit) dismisses the lawsuit filed by Industrias Alimenticias JE de Costa Rica S.A. against the National Institute of Housing and Urbanism (INVU) seeking annulment of the Colina Real condominium project rejection and damages. The court finds that the project site lies within the 200‑meter protection…
Res. 01143-2024 Tribunal Agrario2024 · Tribunal Agrario
Imposibilidad de interdicto posesorio en materia de aguas
The Agrarian Tribunal rules that a possessory-interdict action is inadmissible when based on water-related works (tank, dredge, and piping of a spring). The court holds that Article 212 of the Water Law expressly bars the interdict route for disputes over the use of waters, springs, streams, and water easements, reserving only the ordinary declaratory…
Res. 00015-2023 Sala Primera de la Corte2023 · Sala Primera de la Corte
Sala Primera anula dimensionamiento de resolución tarifaria de ARESEP por falta de motivación y ordena devolución de diferencias a empresa de piscicultura
The First Chamber of the Supreme Court of Justice rules on a cassation appeal filed by the National Groundwater, Irrigation and Drainage Service (SENARA) against a judgment of the Contentious-Administrative Tribunal that partially annulled ARESEP's administrative acts. Aquacorporación Internacional S.A., an aquaculture company operating in the Arenal…
Res. 02357-2023 Sala Primera de la Corte2023 · Sala Primera de la Corte
Improcedencia de aplicar Decreto 35271 cuando usos de agua no son para consumo humano
The First Chamber of the Supreme Court, in Resolution No. 02357-2023, rejects the State's cassation appeal against the Contentious-Administrative Court's judgment that annulled MINAE resolutions denying Parque Central S.A. a groundwater concession for well AB-2313 for irrigation, fire protection, and office cooling. The lower court had annulled the…
Res. 04935-2023 Tribunal Contencioso Administrativo2023 · Tribunal Contencioso Administrativo
Improcedencia de responsabilidad municipal por certificado de uso de suelo con advertencia ambiental
A plaintiff sued the Municipality of Montes de Oca for material and moral damages after purchasing a lot that was later found unbuildable due to its total location within a 100-meter protection radius of a permanent water spring under Article 33 of the Forestry Law. The plaintiff claimed that the land-use certificate declared the zoning compatible for…
Res. 05687-2023 Tribunal Contencioso Administrativo2023 · Tribunal Contencioso Administrativo
Limitación de propiedad por radio de protección de naciente no vacía el derecho
The Third Section of the Contentious-Administrative and Civil Treasury Tribunal heard a claim by a company that owned two properties in Alajuela, partially affected by the 200-meter protection radius of the La Pradera spring, which the municipality had tapped for potable water. The plaintiff argued that this restriction, along with an alleged loss of…
Res. 02347-2022 Sala Primera de la Corte2022 · Sala Primera de la Corte
Invasión de zona marítimo terrestre y manglares en proceso de lesividad
The First Chamber summarily dismisses the cassation appeal filed by the defendant companies against the Administrative Contentious Tribunal's ruling that granted the State's lesividad action. The lawsuit sought nullification of 16 property registrations and cadastral maps for encompassing public domain assets: maritime terrestrial zone, mangrove areas, and…
Res. 02605-2022 Sala Primera de la Corte2022 · Sala Primera de la Corte
Conflicto de competencia sobre derribo de árbol en área de protección de quebrada
The First Chamber resolves a competence conflict between the Agrarian Court and the Civil and Labor Court of Cañas regarding an action for tree felling of a Guanacaste tree. The petitioner sought to cut and use the wood to build his home on a 507 m² property in Las Juntas de Abangares, Guanacaste. The Ministry of Environment and Energy had denied the…
Res. 00227-2022 Tribunal Agrario2022 · Tribunal Agrario
Deber de reforestación en área de protección de quebrada al autorizar derribo
The Agrarian Court hears an appeal against a ruling that authorized the removal of two trees (oak and guanacaste) located in a stream's protection area. The Attorney General's Office requested adding the obligation to replace the cut trees with native species, based on Article 145 of the Water Law and Article 50 of the Political Constitution. The Court…
Res. 01126-2021 Sala Primera de la Corte2021 · Sala Primera de la Corte
Nulidad de título de propiedad en zona restringida de la ZMT por incumplir requisito de posesión
The First Chamber of the Supreme Court of Justice dismisses the cassation appeals filed by the State and Naciente Selva Cristal S.A. and upholds the ruling that declared the possessory information proceedings carried out by Mario Golcher Avendaño null and void, leading to the cancellation of property N° 044889-000, located entirely within the restricted…
Res. 00203-2020 Tribunal Contencioso Administrativo Sección III2020 · Tribunal Contencioso Administrativo Sección III
Nulidad de suspensión de obra en zona de protección de naciente por vicios en certificado de uso de suelo
The Administrative Contentious Court, Section III, annulled the order of the Mayor of Puriscal that suspended the construction of a house located within the protection zone of a spring. The owner held a municipal land-use certificate and construction permit indicating she could build while observing an eight-meter setback from the property line, with no…
Res. 00490-2020 Tribunal Agrario2020 · Tribunal Agrario
Acceso de ASADA para mantenimiento de acueducto y protección del bosque en medida cautelar agraria
The Agrarian Tribunal overturns the denial of a precautionary measure requested by an ASADA to allow its officials to enter a private property for maintenance and inspection of an aqueduct that supplies several communities. The ASADA had not filed a counterclaim, but the Tribunal holds that the protection of human health and access to drinking water…
Res. 01226-2019 Tribunal Contencioso Administrativo2019 · Tribunal Contencioso Administrativo
Cierre vehicular parcial y deberes de control en zona marítimo terrestre de Playa Conchal
The Administrative Contentious Court ruled on a precautionary measure requested by Desarrollos Hoteleros Guanacaste S.A. to ban vehicular traffic on the maritime-terrestrial zone of Conchal Beach and protect the Mixed Wildlife Refuge and State Natural Heritage. Although it found fumus boni iuris based on municipal oversight duties and environmental…
Res. 00424-2019 Tribunal Contencioso Administrativo2019 · Tribunal Contencioso Administrativo
Suspensión de demolición de edificio en área de protección de naciente
The Administrative Contentious Court granted a pre-trial interim measure in favor of CORPORACIÓN ULSAN S.A., staying the effects of Resolution No. 811-19-TAA of the Environmental Administrative Tribunal (TAA) which ordered the demolition of its buildings for being within the protection area of a spring. The judge found that the requirements of fumus boni…
Res. 00041-2013 Tribunal Contencioso Administrativo Sección IV2013 · Tribunal Contencioso Administrativo Sección IV
Imposibilidad de usucapión sobre terrenos cercanos a pozos de agua potable por su carácter demanial
The Administrative Contentious Court, Section IV, dismissed in all its parts a claim seeking adverse possession (usucapión) and registration of a plot located less than 200 meters from a drinking water well in La Cartonera, Corredores. After an extensive analysis of environmental law principles and the public domain regime for waters, the ruling concludes…
Res. 00858-2012 Sala Primera de la Corte2012 · Sala Primera de la Corte
Protección de nacientes intermitentes y medida cautelar administrativa
The First Chamber of the Supreme Court dismissed the cassation appeal filed by a landowner challenging a precautionary measure imposed by the Environmental Administrative Tribunal (TAA) that forbade construction within the 60-meter protection zone around three intermittent springs on his property, part of the Mi Hogar housing development. The appellant…
Res. 00043-2011 Tribunal Contencioso Administrativo Sección VI2011 · Tribunal Contencioso Administrativo Sección VI
Nacientes intermitentes sí están protegidas — Art. 149 Ley de Aguas y medida cautelar TAA
The Contentious-Administrative Tribunal, Section VI, reviews the legality of Resolution No. 908-09-TAA of the Environmental Administrative Tribunal (TAA), which modified a precautionary measure to protect three intermittent springs on a property where the “Mi Hogar” subdivision is being developed. The plaintiff argued that Article 33 of the Forestry Law…
Res. 00219-2011 Tribunal Contencioso Administrativo Sección III2011 · Tribunal Contencioso Administrativo Sección III
Nulidad de acuerdos municipales que autorizaron proyecto urbanístico en zona de protección hídrica
The Administrative Appeals Tribunal annulled the Barva Municipal Council's agreements authorizing a deal with the Espinos de la Montaña company. The municipality lacked jurisdiction over the water system, which it had transferred to AyA and was delegated to the local ASADA. The well permit only allowed domestic use and irrigation, insufficient for a 62-lot…
Res. 00199-2010 Sala Primera de la Corte2010 · Sala Primera de la Corte
Validez de medida cautelar administrativa del MINAE en área de protección de naciente
The First Chamber annuls a precautionary measure ordered by MINAE to halt construction works in a housing development due to encroachment on a spring protection area. The measure had conditioned its effects on the final decision of the Environmental Administrative Tribunal, which declared itself incompetent and no administrative procedure was ever…
Res. 00053-2009 Tribunal Contencioso Administrativo Sección IX2009 · Tribunal Contencioso Administrativo Sección IX
Cancelación de concesión minera por riesgo al acuífero Colima Superior
The Administrative Appeals Court upholds two resolutions of the Directorate of Geology and Mines: a 2001 precautionary measure that fully suspended mining operations of Productos Pedregal S.A. after a second outcrop of the Colima Superior aquifer was discovered, and the subsequent 2002 cancellation of the concession for non-compliance. The Court…
Res. 00178-1998 Tribunal de Casación Penal de San José1998 · Tribunal de Casación Penal de San José
Zona protectora debe ser delimitada conforme a la ley vigente al momento del hecho
The Criminal Cassation Court of San José reviewed an appeal against a conviction for violating the Forestry Law. The defendant had been found guilty of cutting trees in an alleged aquifer protection zone (Pococí-Guácimo) under Executive Decree 17390-MAG-S of 1986. The cassation court found that this decree was a regulation of Forestry Law 7032, which had…