Water infrastructure projects face environmental and social scrutiny in Dominican Republic and Uruguay

In the Dominican Republic, the Sociedad Ecológica de Paraíso (Soepa) has raised alarms regarding the environmental impact of proposed dams on the Nizaíto River. Environmentalists report that forest areas feeding the aquifer are being cleared due to a lack of surveillance from the Ministry of Environment. This deforestation, reportedly driven by agricultural expansion, threatens water supplies for approximately 200,000 people in Barahona and Pedernales. Meanwhile, the National Institute of Hydraulic Resources (Indrhi) is conducting studies to address rising water demands for human consumption, agriculture, and tourism.

In Uruguay, authorities are advancing the Casupá dam project in Florida. Officials have outlined plans to integrate local benefits, including improvements to health clinics in Casupá and Gaitán, infrastructure upgrades such as road paving and lighting, and potential tourism development. The bidding process is expected to open in mid-October, with an environmental report anticipated by the end of the year. The project aims to prioritize local labor and small businesses from the Florida and Lavalleja regions.