Q COSTA RICA — The municipality of Montes de Oca (San Pedro), a major commercial, academic, and cultural hub on the eastern side of the San José metropolitan area, plans to build more apartment towers in the canton even as residents continue to suffer from severe flooding caused by sewage overflow.
The establishment of hundreds of new apartments and commercial spaces, without proper urban planning, risks worsening the current flooding problems in neighborhoods already plagued by sewage contamination.
Local residents have raised serious concerns about the health and environmental impact of these floods, which bring raw sewage into streets and homes.
One affected neighbor described how every time it rains, not only does liquid sewage back up into homes, but solid waste and foul odors become an unbearable part of daily life.
Experts and community members warn that adding high-density housing without addressing the existing drainage and sewage infrastructure problems will only increase the frequency and severity of these public health hazards.
The lack of appropriate planning for these new developments risks turning floods into a chronic crisis, exposing more people to unsanitary conditions.
This situation highlights a critical gap between development ambitions and the urgent need for sustainable infrastructure solutions in the canton. Without immediate action to upgrade sewage and drainage systems, the push for more apartment towers could deepen the environmental and social challenges faced by the community.
For more details, see the full report at Semanario Universidad here. https://semanariouniversidad.com/pais/municipalidad-pretende-mas-torres-de-apartamentos-mientras-el-canton-aun-se-inunda-con-materia-fecal/