Dominican Republic water infrastructure disputes

The National Institute of Potable Water and Sewerage (Inapa) has initiated new infrastructure projects in the Dominican Republic, though these efforts have been met with public scrutiny.

In September 2026, Inapa began the expansion of the Baitoa-Taveras aqueduct, a 995 million peso project designed to serve 35,000 residents in the Santiago and La Vega provinces. The project includes a water treatment plant and extensive piping. The groundbreaking ceremony was marked by local criticism regarding the long-standing delays in securing a reliable water supply for the area.

Simultaneously, community organizations in the San Cristóbal province are pursuing legal action against Inapa and its director, Wellington Arnaud. These groups are seeking accountability for over 3.8 billion pesos allocated to various water projects in Hato Damas, Villa Altagracia, and Bajos de Haina. Residents claim that despite massive increases in funding through multiple addenda since 2003, the investments have failed to alleviate persistent water shortages.

Specifically, the Fundación Pro Desarrollo La Trinitaria (FUNPRO-DET) highlighted that a contract for an aqueduct in El Ramón-San Francisco, originally valued at approximately RD$23 million in 2003, was expanded through nine addenda to exceed RD$3.8 billion. Community leaders have criticized the lack of tangible infrastructure, describing some projects as a “virtual aqueduct.”