Costa Rica's energy crisis meant no power and, consequently, no water yesterday afternoon for some parts of the San José area, and these water outages are expected to continue today and tomorrow, as blackouts leave no electricity for water pumps, according to a statement from the National Water and Sewage Institute (AyA).

According to a schedule of water outages for today and tomorrow released by AyA, parts of San Antonio de Escazú, west of San José, including Lotes Badilla, El Carmen, Tiquicia, Bebedero, Cuesta Grande, Alto Carrizal and Corazón de Jesús, will be without power and water from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Areas of Coronado, east of San José, will lack these services from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., including the center of Coronado, San Antonio de Patalillo, Dulce Nombre, Los Angeles, El Rodeo, San Francisco, San Martín and Los Cedros.

Additionally, parts of Goicochea, north of downtown, including El Carmen, Purral Arriba, Los Angeles de Ipis, La Facio, Zetillal, Nazareno, La Mora, Los Cuadros and El Pueblo, will be without water and electricity from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.

The country's energy crisis became evident April 19 when a massive blackout left most of the country in the dark for hours, and blackouts have become the norm since then as the Costa Rican Electricity Institute (ICE) rations the country's limited energy supply (TT, April 27).

For schedules of blackouts scheduled around the rest of the country today, visit ICE's Web site, www.grupoice.com and click on the blue banner on the right side of the page reading “ Planes de cortes eléctricos,” to view the schedules, which are subject to change.

Stay tuned to The Tico Times Daily News page for updates on power and water outages