# Dominican Republic water and sanitation: progress and crises > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/dominican-republic-water-sanitation-program > Updated: 2026-08-07T21:44:49.000Z. Sources: 35. Developments: 15. The Abinader administration is pursuing a universal sanitation agenda through large-scale infrastructure projects, even as the sector faces criticism over management and funding execution. Key infrastructure milestones include the RD$4 billion expansion of the San Francisco de Macorís aqueduct and the Damajagua-Maizal project in Valverde. In Santo Domingo, CAASD’s RD$900 million "La CAASD te escucha" program is overhauling drainage and water supply in districts including San Carlos, Villa Juana, Villa Consuelo, Villas Agrícolas, and Villa Francisca. Additionally, a wastewater treatment plant in Mao is nearing 80% completion. Efforts to promote sustainable tourism include a planned aqueduct and sewerage project for Verón-Punta Cana. However, significant challenges persist. The opposition Fuerza del Pueblo has criticized the government for low execution rates of US$293.5 million in World Bank-funded projects, noting that the Moca-Gaspar Hernández project has faced delays and reduced targets. Furthermore, the Monte Grande Dam project faces controversy due to rising costs and the removal of irrigation canals. These administrative and structural issues coincide with acute water shortages. Residents in San Juan de la Maguana, Moca, and parts of Samaná have experienced prolonged outages. In Samaná, water and power instability has threatened the tourism industry. Meanwhile, INAPA officials continue to advocate for a new national Water Law to consolidate the sector's 18 governing bodies. ## Timeline ### 2026-08-07: Water services face disruptions in Puerto Rico and Dominican Republic Utility works and water supply issues are affecting residents in Cupey, Puerto Rico, and several neighborhoods in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. 6 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/water-services-face-disruptions-in-puerto-rico-and-dominican-republic ### 2026-07-20: Inapa begins construction of Damajagua‑Maizal aqueduct in Valverde Inapa broke ground on the Damajagua‑Maizal aqueduct in Valverde, Dominican Republic, to supply 14,500 people with upgraded water service under a RD 444 M investment. 5 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/inapa-begins-construction-of-damajaguamaizal-aqueduct-in-valverde ### 2026-07-19: Santo Domingo starts 7,600 new sanitation connections in Villa Consuelo CAASD launches a RD 300 million sewer upgrade in Villa Consuelo, adding 7,600 household connections and improving sanitation for over 40,000 residents. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/santo-domingo-starts-7600-new-sanitation-connections-in-villa-consuelo ### 2026-07-18: Samaná, Dominican Republic faces water and power shortages threatening tourism Water scarcity in Las Galeras and a July power outage in Las Terrenas highlight infrastructure shortfalls threatening Samaná’s tourism‑driven economy. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/saman-dominican-republic-faces-water-and-power-shortages-threatening-tourism ### 2026-07-12: CAASD educates over 10,000 citizens on water conservation in Santo Domingo CAASD's first‑half 2026 education drive reached over 10,000 people in Santo Domingo, delivering 225 school talks, community workshops and training for public and private institutions on water conservation. 4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/caasd-educates-over-10000-citizens-on-water-conservation-in-santo-domingo ### 2026-07-12: Dominican Republic water supply crisis deepens as projects stall Water shortages in San Juan de la Maguana and delayed, scaled‑down World Bank projects in Moca and Gaspar Hernández expose infrastructure failures and government mismanagement in the Dominican Republic. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/dominican-republic-water-supply-crisis-deepens-as-projects-stall ### 2026-07-09: Nicaragua and Dominican Republic upgrade water supply systems ENACAL starts water system upgrades in Palacagüina, Nicaragua for 2,300 families; INAPA begins a RD$3.7 bn expansion in San Francisco de Macorís, Dominican Republic to serve 285,200 residents. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/nicaragua-and-dominican-republic-upgrade-water-supply-systems ### 2026-07-09: INAPA to invest nearly RD$4 billion in San Francisco de Macorís water‑supply expansion INAPA will spend about RD$4 billion to expand San Francisco de Macorís's water system, adding treatment capacity, reservoirs and thousands of meters of pipe for over 285,000 residents. 4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/inapa-to-invest-nearly-rd4-billion-in-san-francisco-de-macors-watersupply-expansion ### 2026-07-09: Monte Grande Dam project in Dominican Republic faces delays and cost overruns Dominican Republic’s Monte Grande Dam, 16 years in, has jumped to US$588.9 M, faces design cuts that threaten irrigation for 250 k farms, and delayed land compensation for displaced communities. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/monte-grande-dam-project-in-dominican-republic-faces-delays-and-cost-overruns ### 2026-07-07: Dominican Republic water projects funded by World Bank face low execution and delays Dominican Republic's FP party says World Bank‑funded water modernization ($293 m) has only 24% disbursed, multiple restructurings and reduced targets, calling it a national shame. 7 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/dominican-republic-water-projects-under-world-bank-funding-face-low-execution-says-fuerza-del-pueblo ### 2026-07-02: Santo Domingo water agency launches major sanitary system overhaul CAASD started a major sanitary drainage overhaul in San Carlos and Villa Juana, investing over RD$900 million to replace pipes, benefit 50k+ residents and curb sewage flooding. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/santo-domingo-water-agency-launches-major-sanitary-system-overhaul ### 2026-06-28: Dominican Republic and Spain launch major water infrastructure projects CAASD starts a RD$900 million drainage and water upgrade in northern Santo Domingo, while Spain's Castilla‑La Mancha will activate a long‑idle pipeline to supply 13 Cuenca municipalities in September. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/dominican-republic-and-spain-launch-major-water-infrastructure-projects ### 2026-06-26: Dominican Republic's Inapa pushes Mao wastewater treatment plant to 80% completion Inapa’s Wellington Arnaud says Mao’s wastewater treatment plant is 80 % complete and set for year‑end delivery, benefiting dozens of neighborhoods and reflecting Dominican government’s sanitation push. 8 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/wellington-arnaud-backs-80-complete-sewage-project-in-mao-dominican-rep ### 2026-06-23: Wellington Arnaud urges water law as Dominican Republic expands sanitation projects Wellington Arnaud called for a Dominican Republic Water Law and highlighted major sanitation works—including the Gurabo stream project, new aqueducts and a coastal sanitation program—while noting IDB praise and 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/wellington-arnaud-urges-water-law-as-dominican-republic-expands-sanitation-projects ### 2026-06-04: Dominican Republic Advances Water Sanitation with LatinoSan 2026 Conference Dominican President Abinader highlighted a million‑person water‑sanitation project at LatinoSan 2026, while officials praised national progress and announced Belize as the next host. 4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/dominican-republic-advances-water-sanitation-with-latinosan-2026-conference --- Cite as: Dominican Republic water and sanitation: progress and crises. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/dominican-republic-water-sanitation-program