Towards sustainable environmental sanitation in Costa Rica

Historically, Costa Rica has invested greater efforts to conserve bio-diversity than to pollution control and to waste disposal (Silva, 2002). Thus, significant problems with regard to drinking water quality, wastewater treatment, and solid waste management have been identified (MIVAH, 2006). The integrated management of drinking water, wastewater, solid waste, and rainwater is referred to as environmental sanitation, and is a relatively new topic of study in Costa Rica. To better understand and address environmental sanitation issues, guided by the constructivist inquiry paradigm (Lincoln & Guba, 1985), this study asked: What are the current challenges, opportunities, and recommendations for sustainable environmental sanitation practices in Costa Rica? The sample comprised of 117 stakeholders at national, local, community, and household levels in urban, rural, and semi-urban sites. In-depth individual and focus-group interviews were conducted to understand their perspectives on environmental sanitation. Atlas.ti 7 was used to analyze data.;A majority of stakeholders identified wastewater management as the foremost environmental sanitation challenge in Costa Rica. Due to historical lack of investment in large-scale wastewater infrastructure, householders are primarily responsible for treating household wastewater through septic tanks. However, excessive and inappropriate reliance on this technology has threatened surface and groundwater sources. Second, solid waste management has advanced more than wastewater management. The recently enacted law on Integrated Waste Management has started an institutional platform towards changing practices. Third, there are several challenges associated with drinking water availability, quality, and protection, as well as with recognizing the social value of water. Particularly, drinking water is threatened by uncontrolled urbanization processes and an absence of long-term planning. Fourth, rainwater management is characterized by a lack of attention to design of storm water systems in urban planning, and inappropriate handling of solid waste. According to stakeholders, current opportunities to address these challenges are continuous monitoring of compliance with laws, penalties for those who pollute the environment, community involvement, and reward for good practices (e.g., voluntary environmental programs and standards). For the long-term, stakeholders recommend a comprehensive policy on environmental sanitation, strengthening local governments, promoting environmental sanitation education, and using proper technology to promote sustainable environmental sanitation practices in Costa Rica. While social work presence is absent, social workers should advocate for sustainable social development emphasizing environmental justice and social rights in the environmental sanitation planning and implementation processes.