The government yesterday announced a $113 million plan to improve sewers and build new aqueducts around the country beginning next year.

President Oscar Arias made this announcement alongside Ricardo Sancho, president of the National Water and Sewer Institute (AyA), and Alfredo Ortuño, a representative of the Central American Bank for Economic Integration, according to a statement from Casa Presidencial.

A chunk of this money came from a $68.5 million loan the bank made the institute; another $44.5 million came from the institute's own funds.

The project aims to guarantee “sustainability of potable water systems for the next 20 years,” improving aqueduct and sewer systems in the San José metropolitan area as well as in Puerto Viejo, on the southern Caribbean coast, the statement said.

It also seeks to benefit communities in the Pacific province of Puntarenas including Buenos Aires, Esparza, Palmar Norte, Coto Brus, Golfito, Jacó and Ciudad Neilly as well as parts of the northwestern Guanacaste province including Nicoya and Liberia. In the province of Alajuela, San Ramón, Palmares, San Mateo, Poasito and Atenas are included.

“We can't hope to be a developed country by 2021 if our system of sewers and aqueducts does not develop along with us,” the President said.

-Tico Times