The Public Service Company of Heredia (ESPH) has begun rationing water to its customers, less than a week after the national water authorities warned of water shortages in the Central Valley's future.

The rationing comes after the company noticed a 35 percent decrease in the flow of water from its aquifers. ESPH officials do not believe that the drop is due to the presence of El Niño, which has forced dry weather across the country this year, and said they are investigating the problem and hope to find a solution by Oct. 3.

Until workers determine the cause, however, residents of San Rafael, San Isidro and surrounding areas will have water shut-offs from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m.

During the next two months, meteorologists forecast that the Central Valley will receive 25 percent less rainfall than average.

Last week, officials from Costa Rican Water and Sewer Institute (AyA) said citizens must decrease the amount of water they consume everyday by 20 percent - 40 liters per person per day - for the next three months if country is to avoid water shortages and rations next summer (TT Daily News, Sept. 24).