After months of uncertainty, residents of the small Caribbean-slope community of El Cairo can once again drink their own tap water.

Recent tests conducted by Costa Rica's National Water and Sewer Institute (AyA) confirmed the local aqueduct free of agrochemicals that had prompted a drinking water ban earlier this year.

According to Darner Mora, director of the institute's water testing laboratory, tests came up clean for three pesticides – Bromacil, Duirón and Triadimefon -- chemicals used in large amounts in surrounding pineapple plantations.

Further tests, scheduled for this month and next, will continue to monitor the regional aqueduct.

Last month, officials argued that even trace concentrations of contaminants were unacceptable in public water supplies. Local pineapple companies countered that the chemicals were present, but only in levels considered safe by international standards.

The Public Health Ministry settled the dispute – closing the water supply and forcing delivery by cistern truck to the affected communities.

The number of hectares planted with pineapple increased more than any other crop last year - and 208% since 2000.

Costa Rica's industrial pineapple plantations are ravenous consumers of agrochemicals, according to a recent report released by the National University (UNA). On average, according to scientists, they consume 24.5 kg of herbicide per hectare per year – almost triple that of coffee crops.