AyA Must Compensate Before Taking Over Water System Managed by UNAIZONAyA debe indemnizar antes de asumir acueducto administrado por UNAIZON

Nº 13- 2012 ADMINISTRATIVE LITIGATION COURT, FOURTH SECTION. II Judicial Circuit. San José, at ten o'clock on February ninth, two thousand twelve.- Ordinary proceeding, filed by the Instituto Costarricense de Acueductos y Alcantarillados, represented by its general judicial attorney Alfredo Monge Rojas, identity card number CED87195, against the Unión de Asociaciones de Acueductos Integrados de la Zona Norte, legal identification number CED87196, represented by its special judicial attorney Alfredo Monge Rojas, identity card number CED87195. All are of legal age, attorneys, married in first marriage, and residents of Heredia. Processed under case file number 10-000810-1027-CA.

WHEREAS

I.The purpose of this ordinary proceeding is to declare that the Instituto Costarricense de Acueductos y Alcantarillados must operate, administer, maintain, and develop the transmission line and other components of the system currently managed by the Unión de Asociaciones de Acueductos Integrados de la Zona Norte, in order to guarantee the quantity, quality, and continuity of the potable water service for the populations of Dirección13007, San Juan and San Antonio de Monterrey, la Unión de Monterrey, Chambacú de Monterrey, Santa Roca de Pocosol, and los Lirios de los Chiles. And that the plaintiff possesses the authority to establish mechanisms for the defendant's participation in such systems, and the defendant must be ordered to pay the damages caused by problems with the water supply (folios 1 to 14 and 182 to 184 of the court record).

II.Once the proper transfer was granted, the defendant opposed the action and filed the exceptions of statute of limitations (withdrawn at the preliminary hearing), expiration (withdrawn at the preliminary hearing), lack of right, and lack of active and passive standing. Moreover, at the trial hearing, it stated that it recognizes the legal powers that the legal system grants to the plaintiff entity, to which it does not object, but that it must be compensated for the properties and infrastructure built (folios 1 to 14 and 182 to 184 of the court record).

III.This proceeding was declared to be of a complex nature, in accordance with Article 111 of the Código Procesal Contencioso Administrativo, and the judgment has been issued in accordance with Article 47 of its regulations.

IV.The proper legal requirements have been observed in the proceedings, and no defects or omissions capable of producing nullity of the actions taken or defenselessness to the parties are observed. This decision is issued after deliberation, within the legal term, and unanimously.

Drafted by Judge Espinoza Salas; and

WHEREAS

I)- REGARDING THE FACTS: I.1)- PROVEN FACTS: The following facts of interest for the resolution of this matter are deemed proven, as they are consistent with the evidence cited in their support: 1) That the water transmission and supply system fed by the spring (naciente) at Dirección10188 in Dirección13008, near la Fortuna de San Carlos, consists of a catchment area, a transmission line measuring 11.5 kilometers, a distribution tank located in Dirección13009 in Monterrey de San Carlos, called the Cedros tank, five distribution lines with macro-meters, and five aqueducts (testimony of expert witness Nombre110364, Nombre110365, Nombre110366, and Víctor Rojas Carrillo). 2) That the Aqueducts of Dirección13007, San Juan and San Antonio de Monterrey, la Unión de Monterrey, Chambacú de Monterrey, Santa Rosa de Pocosol, and los Lirios de los Chiles, are supplied by the Transmission Line from the Quebrada Platanillo spring (uncontroverted fact, folios 16 to 17 of the judicial file for the precautionary measure, testimonial statement of expert witness Nombre110364, Nombre110367, Nombre110366, Nombre110368, Nombre110365, and Víctor Rojas Carrillo). 3) That the transmission line from the Quebrada Platanillo spring that reaches the distribution tank located in Dirección13009 in Monterrey de San Carlos, called the Cedros tank, is administered, improved, repaired, operated, and maintained by Nombre110369 up to and including said tank, in which it allocates flow rates by means of macro-meters to each of the affiliated or user associations, of which Nombre5630 has had knowledge (folios 16 to 17 of the judicial file for the precautionary measure, testimony of expert witness Nombre110364, Nombre110367, Nombre110365, Nombre110368, Nombre110366, and Víctor Rojas Carrillo). 5) The aqueducts of Santo Domingo de Monterrey, San Juan and San Antonio de Monterrey, la Unión and Mirador de Monterrey, Chambacú and la Orquídea, Santa Rosa de Pocosol, and los Lirios de los Chiles, are supplied by the Transmission Line from the Quebrada Platanillo spring, by means of distribution lines starting from the Cedros tank, which are administered, maintained, and repaired through the ASADAS of each locality (testimony of expert witness Nombre110364, Nombre110366, and Nombre110368). 6) That the water transmission and supply system fed by the Quebrada Platanillo in Dirección13008, consisting of the transmission line and the Cedros distribution tank, was built with the help of Funds from FODESAF, the Instituto Costarricense de Acueductos y Alcantarillados, and the Community (testimony of expert witness Nombre110364, Víctor Rojas Carrillo, Nombre110367, Nombre110368, Nombre110366, and Nombre110365). 7) That since its construction in 1987, the ASADAS and subsequently Nombre110369 have been providing maintenance, development, and repair to the catchment system, transmission line, and distribution tank of the water transmission and supply system of the Quebrada Platanillo spring (testimony of expert witness Nombre110364, Nombre110366, and Nombre110368). 8) That the Instituto Costarricense de Acueductos y Alcantarillados invested, for the years 1987, 1988, and 1992, the amount of sixty-three million six hundred eighty-five thousand nine hundred ninety colones and sixty-two céntimos in the water supply project for Monterrey de San Carlos (folio 91 of the judicial file for the precautionary measure). 9) That the Unión de Asociaciones de Acueductos Integrados de la Zona Norte was established on December 9, 2005, by the Asociaciones Administradoras de Acueducto y Alcantarillado (ASADAS) of Santo Domingo de Monterrey, San Juan and San Antonio de Monterrey, la Unión de Monterrey, Chambacú de Monterrey, Santa Rosa de Pocosol, and los Lirios de los Chiles, with the purpose of maintaining, operating, and administering the system comprising the common-use area, consisting of the catchment area, transmission lines, and the Cedros tank, standardizing rates across all aqueducts, and collecting payments from the Associations of 1% for water service rates (folios 14 to 15 and 140 to 149 of the judicial file for the precautionary measure). 10) That the community of Santa Rosa de Pocosol has experienced unforeseen population growth, requiring a greater quantity of services and experiencing a water shortage, which has generated difficulties with the other communities due to the demand for water service (folios 56 to 81, 116 to 120, 156 to 159, and 165 to 169 of the judicial file for the precautionary measure, statement of Nombre110365 and Nombre110368). 11) That on October 26, 2006, the ASADAS of the integrated aqueduct of Monterrey and Pocosol met, and it was determined that the valve regulating the flow to Santa Rosa de Pocosol would be solely in the hands of that community, and regarding the macro-meter, the key would be in the hands of that community and of Nombre110369 (folios 116 to 120 of the judicial file for the precautionary measure). 12) That the community of Santa Rosa de Pocosol has been allocated a flow rate of 27.78 liters per second by Nombre110369, with a real consumption deficit of 2.72 liters per second, but without said ASADA contributing its maintenance fee, nor being affiliated with Nombre110369 (folios 56, and 156 to 157 of the judicial file for the precautionary measure, statement of Nombre110365 and Nombre110368). 13) Through a meeting held on August 16, 2007, the officials of Acueductos y Alcantarillados and the representatives of the ASADAS that make up UNAIZON signed agreements regarding the proper administration of the transmission lines, in which Nombre5630 requested financial statements from them (folios 165 to 168 of the judicial file for the precautionary measure). 14) That the ASADAS of Santo Domingo de Monterrey, San Juan and San Antonio de Monterrey, and la Unión de Monterrey do not have a delegation agreement from the Instituto Costarricense de Acueductos y Alcantarillados (folios 16 to 17 and 169 to 172 of the judicial file for the precautionary measure). 15) That the ASADAS of Chambacú de Monterrey, Santa Rosa de Pocosol, and los Lirios de los Chiles have a delegation agreement from the Instituto Costarricense de Acueductos y Alcantarillados (folios 16 to 17 and 169 to 172 of the judicial file for the precautionary measure). 16) That on February 22, 23, and 24, 2010, in the Communities of los Lirios and Santa Rosa de Pocosol, there was no water service (folios 82 to 90 of the judicial file for the precautionary measure and statements of Nombre110367, Nombre110365, Nombre110366, and Víctor Rojas Carrillo). 17) That on March 12, 2010, the Instituto Costarricense de Acueductos y Alcantarillados took the transmission line of the Quebrada Platanillo spring into precautionary possession (folios 99 to 100 of the Quebrada Platanillo spring). 18) That the Instituto Costarricense de Acueductos y Alcantarillados registered, without prejudice to third parties with a better right for population supply, the Quebrada Platanillo spring (folios 92 to 93 of the judicial file for the precautionary measure).

I.2)- UNPROVEN FACTS: The plaintiffs did not prove: 1) That the manipulation of valves in the Cedros Tank was the cause of the non-supply of water on February 22, 23, and 24, 2010, in the Communities of los Lirios and Santa Rosa de Pocosol (the court records). 2) That Nombre110369 caused damages to the Instituto Costarricense de Acueductos y Alcantarillados and the ASADA of Pocosol as a result of the non-supply of water and the unaccounted-for water on February 22, 23, and 24, 2010, in the Communities of los Lirios and Santa Rosa de Pocosol (the court records). 3) Who the owners of the land are for the properties through which the transmission line passes (the court records). 4) The contributions and investments made by Nombre5630 in the transmission line from the Quebrada Platanillo spring and in the Cedros tank (the court records). 5) That Nombre110369 is providing a poor service and has unduly manipulated, to the detriment of the ASADA of Santa Rosa, the valves that control the flow allocation from the transmission line of the Quebrada Platanillo spring and in the Cedros tank (the court records). 6) That the investment made by Nombre5630 covers the entire value of the Quebrada Platanillo Spring system, such that there is no amount to compensate. 7) The reasons why, despite efforts having been made by Nombre110369 to become a concessionaire of the water service, the A y A has not carried out the activities under its responsibility, or undertaken any activity to regularize the situation.

I.3)- EVIDENCE FOR BETTER RESOLUTION: During the oral trial, the documentation on folios 16 to 303 and 329 to 347 of the precautionary measure file being processed in this proceeding, as well as the entirety of the administrative file consisting of 546 folios, titled UNAIZON, was ordered as evidence for better resolution in accordance with Article 50.2 of the Código Procesal Contencioso Administrativo.

II)- ON THE MERITS: II.1)- ON THE REGULATORY LEGAL REGIME FOR THE ADMINISTRATION, OPERATION, MAINTENANCE, AND DEVELOPMENT OF AQUEDUCT AND SEWER SYSTEMS: Law number 2726 of April 14, 1961, the Constitutive Law of the Instituto Costarricense de Acueductos y Alcantarillados, provides in its first article that Nombre5630 is the autonomous institution responsible for directing, setting policies, establishing and applying standards, as well as promoting, within the national territory, the planning, financing, and development of everything related to the supply of potable water and the collection and disposal of wastewater and liquid industrial waste, as well as the regulatory aspect of storm sewer systems in urban areas. Likewise, it must ensure that aqueduct and sanitary sewer systems comply with the principles of public service (second article of Regulation 32529 of February 2, 2005, Reglamento de las Asociaciones Administradoras de Sistemas de Acueductos y Alcantarillados Comunales). An aqueduct must be understood as a system formed by accessory works, pipes, or conduits of different characteristics, whose purpose is to capture, treat, and distribute potable water, using gravity or energy for its corresponding pumping, with the aim of providing water to a specific population center, also encompassing the factors involved in the conservation of the natural resource and the infrastructure works, their construction, maintenance, replacement, and sustainability (Regulation 30413 of March 25, 2002, Reglamento Sectorial para la regulación de los servicios de acueducto y alcantarillado sanitario). In the same vein, Nombre5630 is responsible for determining the priority, convenience, and viability of the different projects proposed to build, reform, expand, or modify aqueduct and sewer works, which cannot be executed without its approval (second article). For its part, subsection g) of the second article of the aforementioned Law states that it is responsible for directly administering and operating the aqueduct and sewer systems throughout the country, which it must progressively take over, taking into account convenience and availability of resources, and that systems currently administered and operated by municipal corporations may continue to be in their charge, as long as they provide efficient service. This is indeed a programmatic norm intended for the public entity to progressively assume the total supply of water at the national level, but aware that it was not possible at that historical moment. In turn, the legislator provided that the institution is empowered to agree with local bodies on the administration of such services or to administer them through administrating boards of mixed integration between the Institute and the respective communities, whenever this is suitable for the better provision of services and in accordance with the respective regulations, as well as to create regional administrating boards involving several municipalities. Similarly, said entity has the authority to set the rates for aqueducts through the Autoridad Reguladora de los Servicios Públicos, which will be set in a special manner in the event that the community has contributed to the construction, operation, and maintenance of the work. For its part, the fifth article of the aforementioned Law states that, for the better fulfillment of its purposes, such governing body of the water resource shall have the power to contract and formalize all types of documents, necessary or convenient, for the better achievement of its purposes, to acquire movable and immovable property, to process the necessary expropriations of the land required for the conservation and protection of water resources, as well as for the constructions necessary for the catchment, conduction, treatment, and distribution of water for the purpose of establishing populations, or related to the disposal and treatment of wastewater. Furthermore, after prior notification to the owners, possessors, users, administrators, or their representatives, to carry out the necessary studies and investigations within their properties and buildings, except domiciliary ones, to achieve legal purposes. Similarly, Regulation 32529 of February 2, 2005, called Reglamento de las Asociaciones Administradoras de Sistemas de Acueductos y Alcantarillados Comunales, establishes that Nombre5630 may delegate the administration, operation, maintenance, and development of communal aqueduct and/or sewer systems to associations called ASADAS (article three). Such entities shall have the purpose of the construction, administration, operation, maintenance, and development of the aqueduct and sewer systems delegated by AyA, as well as the conservation and rational use of the waters necessary for the supply to the populations (article 16 of the aforementioned regulation), and in the event that such entities do not guarantee the public service, Nombre5630 may assume by operation of law the administration, operation, maintenance, and development, with all its duties, obligations, and assets (article four ibid). In turn, such ASADAS may form themselves into federations, leagues, unions, or confederations (article 19 of the cited regulation). Regarding rates, the cited regulation states that the ASADAS, for the provision of services (administration, maintenance, operation, and development), shall have as a source of income the rates reviewed by Nombre5630 and approved by ARESEP for communal systems, collection of fees, and community contribution (article 25 ibid). Regarding the regulatory asset regime of goods intended for the aqueduct system, article 18 of the aforementioned Law 2726 states that all properties and installations of State bodies intended for the provision of services related to the catchment, treatment, and distribution of potable water are national heritage. Likewise, Regulation 32529 states that all movable and immovable assets used by the ASADAS in the administration, operation, maintenance, and development of the aqueduct and sewer systems are considered public domain; they may not be disposed of (article 18 and article 21, subsection 10), and in the event of rescission of the delegation agreement or dissolution of the ASADAS (article 21, subsection 13), they shall be delivered to AyA, which shall inventory, register, and place them in its name, assuming ownership to allocate them to that public service (article 22, subsection 11). For its part, the Ley de Aguas, number 276 of August 27, 1942, in its articles 99 and following, states that to utilize public waters that pass through private properties, the imposition of a forced easement (servidumbre) of aqueduct, after prior compensation, shall be employed. For its part, on this important issue, the Constitutional Chamber has established, in ruling 5606-2006 of 15:21 hours on April 26, 2006, that in the case of water, services had originally been given to the Municipalities by the Ley General de Agua Potable, number 1634 of September 18, 1953, and that subsequently, with the creation of the Institute, that function passed to the Instituto Costarricense de Acueductos y Alcantarillados, which turns the water situation into a national and not a local problem. Regarding the right of access to potable water, the Constitutional Chamber has repeatedly established that it is a fundamental human right as it is an integral part of the right to health, life, and the environment, which must be provided efficiently by the entities in charge because it is a public service (see, among many others, Ruling number 5606-2006 of 15:21 hours on April 26, 2006, and number 5676-2010 of 17:06 hours on September 21, 2010, in relation to article 264 of the Ley General de Salud). In the same sense, it is pertinent to indicate that, although the cited regulations state that Nombre5630 has the power to take charge of the aqueduct systems and the movable and immovable assets that comprise them, operated by the ASADAS, and that such assets are allocated to the public domain, it is not possible to accept that such transfer of assets occurs without the payment of any compensation, because admitting the contrary would imply consenting to a confiscatory regime of the assets and investments made by the ASADAS or various private entities that provide public potable water services, which is contrary to constitutional article 45. Such a position was adopted by the Eighth Section of this Court, in ruling number 191-2011, of 16:00 hours on October 14, 2011, in which Nombre5630 is ordered to compensate a private provider of the public water service for the payment of the required assets and easements, when the governing entity assumes, by judicial order, the operation, maintenance, administration, and development of the aqueduct in question; and this position is generally shared by this Section of the Court.

II.2) SPECIFIC CASE: Applying the foregoing to the resolution of this matter, we find that the plaintiff, Instituto Costarricense de Acueductos y Alcantarillados, is partially correct in its claims, because from the study of the court records, the regulations cited in whereas clause II.1, and the evidence gathered in the proceeding, it is observed that, as admitted by the defendant itself at the trial hearing, the plaintiff entity indeed has the authority, in accordance with Law number 2726 of April 14, 1961, Constitutive Law of the Instituto Costarricense de Acueductos y Alcantarillados, Regulation 32529 of February 2, 2005, called Reglamento de las Asociaciones Administradoras de Sistemas de Acueductos y Alcantarillados Comunales, and Regulation 30413 of March 25, 2002, Reglamento Sectorial para la regulación de los servicios de acueducto y alcantarillado sanitario, to plan, finance, and develop everything related to the supply of potable water, ensuring that the aqueduct and sanitary sewer systems comply with the principles of public service and to directly administer and operate the aqueducts and sewers throughout the country, which it must progressively assume, taking into account convenience and availability of resources. AyA is indeed correct in its legal standing, competence, and authority in its claims to assume the operation, administration, maintenance, and development of the transmission line and other components of the system currently managed by the Unión de Asociaciones de Acueductos Integrados de la Zona Norte, in order to guarantee the quantity, quality, and continuity of the potable water service for the populations of Santo Domingo de Monterrey, San Juan and San Antonio de Monterrey, la Unión de Monterrey, Chambacú de Monterrey, Santa Roca de Pocosol, and los Lirios de los Chiles, as well as to establish participation mechanisms for Nombre110369 that it deems viable. While the plaintiff is empowered, in accordance with Regulation 32529 of February 2, 2005, called Reglamento de las Asociaciones Administradoras de Sistemas de Acueductos y Alcantarillados Comunales, to delegate the administration, operation, maintenance, and development of communal aqueduct and/or sewer systems to associations called ASADAS, this does not imply an absolute or unrestricted delegation. It should be noted that during the oral and public trial, it was argued that the operation of Nombre110369 was illegal by operation of law, due to the type of legal entity it was, which must be rejected, because as indicated, it is legally possible for some activities of the water supply system to be delegated to ASADAS and for these to be able to form Federations or Confederations, so the type of legal entity does not in itself render the activity of Nombre110369 unlawful. On the other hand, and due to the principle of legitimate trust, it can be seen that the union has carried out the provision of the service publicly, without there being any lack of knowledge on the part of the plaintiff. That being said, this does not mean that Nombre529 y Nombre529 does not have the authority, by operation of law, to take charge of the administration of such water systems, which it may carry out unilaterally through the rescission procedure, all in order to guarantee the adequate provision of the public service (article 4 and 20 of regulation 32529). In the present matter, apart from the fact that such delegation has not been operative in the record in the case of the ASADAS of Dirección13007, San Juan and San Antonio de Monterrey, and la Unión de Monterrey, as they lack a delegation agreement (fourteenth proven fact) and are therefore operating outside the provisions of the aforementioned regulations, the action filed is based on the fact that, based on the aforementioned regulations, Nombre5630 may assume, by operation of law, to guarantee the adequate provision of the public service, the administration, operation, maintenance, and development of said aqueduct system, with all its duties, obligations, and assets (article four ibid), subject to prior compensation through an expropriation procedure (constitutional article 45), and especially in this matter where there is consent from the defendant for the plaintiff to assume such powers. It cannot be forgotten in this regard that even though the conduct of these associations implies a breach of legal requirements (as with UNAIZON) due to the lack of the cited agreement, that does not mean that the governing public entity was not aware of the situation for a long time and has acted with inertia by not seeking regularization of the situation. Especially since public powers do not prescribe, which does not prevent it from now resuming the exercise of the public competencies entrusted to it. However, such power is not unrestricted, but is subject, in this particular case, to the just compensation of constitutional origin arising from article 45. In this regard, it is pertinent to indicate that, although the cited regulations state that Nombre5630 has the authority to take charge of the aqueduct system and the movable and immovable assets that comprise it, and that such assets are allocated to the public domain, it is not possible to accept that such transfer of assets occurs without the payment of just compensation; to argue the contrary would imply consenting to a confiscatory regime of the assets and investments made by the ASADAS or various private entities that provide public potable water services, which is contrary to constitutional principles and the national legal regime, and was established in that manner by the Eighth Section of the Administrative Litigation Court, in the aforementioned judgment. The fifth article of Law 2726 empowers AyA, for the better fulfillment of its purposes, to acquire movable and immovable property, to process the necessary expropriations of land required for the conservation and protection of water resources, as well as for the constructions necessary for the catchment, conduction, treatment, and distribution of water to establish populations, or related to the disposal and treatment of wastewater. In the present matter, we have that the water transmission and supply system fed by the Quebrada Platanillo on the faldas del Volcán Arenal, near la Fortuna de San Carlos, consists of a catchment area, a transmission line measuring 11.5 kilometers, and a distribution tank located in Alto Los Cedros in Monterrey de San Carlos, called the Cedros tank (first proven fact). This water transmission and supply system was built in 1987 with the help of Funds from FODESAF as a donation, with contributions from the Instituto Costarricense de Acueductos y Alcantarillados (without it having been proven what these contributions and investments consisted of, especially since the eighth proven fact demonstrates amounts invested but in the Monterrey project) and from the Community (seventh proven fact). Furthermore, since its construction, it has been maintained, operated, and administered by the ASADAS of the communities of Santo Domingo de Monterrey, San Juan and San Antonio de Monterrey, la Unión de Monterrey, Chambacú de Monterrey, Santa Rosa de Pocosol, and los Lirios de los Chiles, which it serves (fifth proven fact). Subsequently, these ASADAS formed the Unión de Asociaciones de Acueductos Integrados de la Zona Norte, which since 2005, and through common contributions, has been maintaining, operating, and administering the common-use area of the aqueducts, consisting of the catchment area, transmission lines, and Cedros tank. This means that the community, through that entity that represents it in that task of common interest, such as water, has been making investments, caring for, developing, buying land, and building infrastructure and works in that water system.

In view of the foregoing, although Nombre5630 has the power to appropriate such works and lands, in this case it cannot do so without incurring indemnification duties to the community, represented in this case by UNAIZON, in its capacity as manager and administrator of the conduction line from the Quebrada Platanillo spring (naciente). During the oral and public trial, the representative of the public entity argued that the defendant would not have the right to charge any amount for the distribution line because it was established many years after the creation of the public work, which is incorrect. It is evident from the proven facts that the Union was indeed established many years later and that different sectors participated in the public work; however, it is clear that said Union has administered the infrastructure under satisfactory conditions, aside from the problem in February 2010, which in any case was not proven to be its responsibility, which entails that there are maintenance expenses for the supply that the public entity cannot ignore. Furthermore, regarding standing, it is a notorious fact that the private entity is administering the infrastructure, which entails that in some explicit or implicit manner it subrogated the rights of other persons, and therefore it has standing to claim the indemnification rights for any item that does not correspond to public investment. Consequently, it must bear the corresponding payments to UNAIZON, through the expropriation process, for the lands destined for that purpose that said Union had registered in its name or in the name of any of the ASADAs that comprise it, for the works carried out in the catchment sector, the conduction line measuring 11.5 kilometers, and the distribution tank located at Dirección13009 in Monterrey de San Carlos, called the Cedros tank. Likewise, in accordance with Article 99 of the Water Law, number 276 of August 27, 1942, it must establish compulsory easements (servidumbres forzosas) on the private properties through which such system passes or is located, this being so because, given its great length, there could be third parties in good faith who would be affected. In view of the foregoing, it is highlighted that during the oral and public trial, evidence was presented showing that the line, the catchment area, and the tank are located on lands belonging to persons who are not parties to the proceeding, without having proven who they are, but who have rights under Article 45 of the Constitution, for which reason the public entity is called upon to provide what is pertinent for the cancellation of the corresponding indemnifications. It should be noted that the Court chooses to refer to the expropriation process in the event that Nombre5630 exercises its authority to administer and operate the distribution line, for several reasons, and since it is reasonable to think that there is damage against the defendant, which it is imperative to set forth. Mainly because said process is a direct consequence of the oft-cited Article 45 of the Constitution, thus righting the constitutional course; on the other hand, the process establishes a series of mechanisms (especially an administrative appraisal and at least one judicial appraisal if required) seeking to ensure that the fair market value of the asset is effectively paid, with full guarantee of the right to due process and especially the right to defense. Finally, in another order of matters, it remains to be indicated regarding the issue of the rates set by Nombre110369 for water services and maintenance fees of the ASADAs of the conduction line from the Quebrada Platanillo spring (naciente) and their illegality (proven fact six), that it is of no interest to address this aspect, because since the defendant has accepted that Nombre5630 take over the administration of the water system, it is unnecessary to address the legality of such charges.

II.3) REGARDING THE CLAIMS FOR DAMAGES FILED BY Nombre5630: The petitioner claims that Nombre110369 must pay the expenses it incurred as damages resulting from the emergency that occurred on February 22, 23, and 24, 2010, in the Communities of Los Lirios and Santa Rosa de Pocosol, due to the lack of water service (proven fact sixteen) and its intervention in the water system as a result of the provisionalísima precautionary measure. For this, it requires for this concept (folios 39 to 41 of the case file), for the period from March 16 to April 26, 2010, the sum of ten million three hundred five thousand colones for employee salaries, per diem, fuel, contracting of a water tanker, and contracting of security. It also claims the amount of eight million four hundred thousand colones for the pecuniary loss caused to the ASADA of Santa Rosa de Pocosol, in the period between February 23, 2010, and March 15, 2010, for unaccounted-for water, alleging patrimonial damages to said ASADA, produced by the problems with the drinking water supply, due to which the system users did not pay for the service, also claiming legal interest on such sums. However, such claims are not receivable and must be denied, because the causal relationship with the harmful events claimed was not proven in the case file; although it demonstrated having incurred expenses, as well as the harmful event, it could not establish that the party responsible for such events was Nombre110369. Thus, the establishment of the essential requirements for determining extracontractual civil liability is unmet, such as an act or omission attributable to the defendant resulting from a willful or negligent action and the existence of a direct cause-and-effect relationship between the act attributed and the damage produced, which legitimize the harm caused. From the evidence provided in the case file, the plaintiff does not demonstrate through reliable and indubitable evidence that the manipulation of valves at the Cedros Tank was the cause of the non-supply of water on February 22, 23, and 24, 2010, in the Communities of Los Lirios and Santa Rosa de Pocosol, and that Nombre110369 caused damages to the Instituto Costarricense de Acueductos y Alcantarillados and the ASADA of Pocosol as a result of the non-supply of water and the unaccounted-for water on February 22, 23, and 24, 2010, in the Communities of Los Lirios and Santa Rosa de Pocosol. The cause of such events is uncertain and could not be established, and the assertion that it was a manipulation of the valves is speculative and hypothetical, and without it having been possible to attribute willful or negligent participation to the plumber of UNAIZON, Mr. Nombre110366. The responsibilities in the water system are divided, such that Nombre110369 is solely responsible for the conduction line from the Quebrada Platanillo spring (naciente) that reaches the distribution tank located at Dirección13009 in Monterrey de San Carlos, called the Cedros tank, where it allocates flow rates through bulk meters to each of the affiliated and user associations (proven fact four). For its part, from the distribution lines onward, each ASADA is responsible for its own aqueduct, for which they independently hire personnel for the purpose of monitoring and assisting the adequate and correct water transition (proven fact five). Thus, from the evidence presented, it is not possible to establish in which sector the cause of the water not being supplied on those dates originated, which prevents the establishment of responsibilities in this regard. Although witnesses were provided by the plaintiff (Víctor Rojas Carrillo, Nombre110367, Nombre110365), their testimonies refer to the problem of water shortage in the communities of Santa Rosa de Pocosol and Los Lirios, which has been a historical problem in those localities given the growing demand for services (proven facts ten through thirteen), but without that situation being the origin of the water shortage on February 22, 23, and 24, 2010. It is observed in this regard that the ASADAs took measures accordingly and met on October 26, 2006, agreeing that the valve that regulates the flow to Santa Rosa de Pocosol will be solely in the hands of that community and regarding the bulk meter, the key will be held by said community and Nombre110369 (proven fact thirteen). Rather, it is noteworthy that the plaintiff's own official, Nombre110365, states that as a result of the situation, they observed with the bulk meter that on those dates 26 and 28 liters per second were passing, and 38 were needed, from which no violation whatsoever can be inferred on the part of the defendant, because as stated in proven fact twelve, a flow rate of 27.78 liters per second had been assigned to the community of Santa Rosa de Pocosol by UNAIZON years before. Consequently, the expenses incurred by the plaintiff cannot be causally attributed to the defendant, nor can the latter be held as the responsible party. Regarding the claim for the patrimonial loss caused to the ASADA of Santa Rosa de Pocosol, in the period between February 23, 2010, and March 15, 2010, for unaccounted-for water, it is rejected because the plaintiff lacks active standing to act on behalf of the ASADA of Santa Rosa de Pocosol and Los Lirios, as these are claims that such entity should have filed directly, in addition to the fact that claiming for unsold water is a hypothetical, future, eventual, and uncertain fact that fails to meet the requirements of Article 196 of the General Law of Public Administration, which stipulates for its indemnification that the damage must be certain and real.

II.4)- DEFENSES: In accordance with the foregoing, pursuant to the cited regulations and the stated factual grounds, it is observed that the present claim must be partially granted. This is so because the legal system grants such powers and competencies to the plaintiff and, furthermore, because the defendant did not oppose its claims insofar as it would be indemnified accordingly. In view thereof, the defense of lack of right is partially rejected, understood as granted in what was denied and dismissed in what was expressly admitted. Regarding the defense of lack of active standing ad causam, it is partially denied, because although Nombre5630 holds the claimed right to manage the administration, operation, maintenance, and development of the conduction line from the Quebrada Platanillo spring (naciente), it does not have standing to claim damages on behalf of the ASADA of Santa Rosa de Pocosol. As for the defense of lack of passive standing ad causam, it is not receivable, because Nombre110369 effectively has the status of defendant, as relevant, pertinent, and key aspects regarding the water conduction line it administers are being discussed. A ruling is omitted on the defenses of expiration and statute of limitations that the defendant interposed in its statement of defense, because it withdrew them at the preliminary hearing.

• III)COSTS: In accordance with Articles 119, 193, and 194 of the Contentious-Administrative Procedure Code, it is resolved to decide this proceeding without special condemnation for costs, this being so because the plaintiff was defeated in part of its claims and the defendant had sufficient reason to litigate. As can be observed from the rendered judgment, the plaintiff's claims for damages were rejected and defenses invoked by the defendant were partially granted. Likewise, the issue discussed in this proceeding is relevant and of national importance because it refers to the fundamental right to water; in view of this, the defendant had sufficient reason to exercise its defense and partially oppose the claim, asserting its interests, whereby the exoneration of costs in its favor operates on the basis that the reasons it invoked in its arguments also had a serious foundation and adequate legal and technical support.

THEREFORE:

This claim is declared partially with merit, granting the defense of lack of right in what is not expressly conceded and rejecting it in what is granted. The operation, administration, maintenance, and development of the conduction line and other system components currently managed by the Unión de Asociaciones de Acueductos Integrados de la Zona Norte is granted to the Instituto Costarricense de Acueductos y Alcantarillados, for which it may establish mechanisms for the defendant's participation in such systems, which it may execute only until it indemnifies, through an expropriation process, the Unión de Asociaciones de Acueductos Integrados de la Zona Norte for the lands that said Union had registered in its name for such purpose or in that of any of the ASADAs that comprise it, as well as the works carried out in the catchment sector, the conduction line measuring 11.5 kilometers, and the distribution tank located at Dirección13009 in Monterrey de San Carlos, called the Cedros tank, as well as establishing compulsory easements (servidumbres forzosas) on the private properties through which such system passes or is located. The claimed damages are rejected, and the defense of lack of active standing is partially granted, while the defense of lack of passive standing is dismissed. It is resolved without special condemnation for costs. LET IT BE NOTIFIED.- Carlos Espinoza Salas Ricardo A. Madrigal Jiménez David Fallas Redondo Case No. 10-000810-1027-CA Ordinary Proceeding.

Plaintiff: Instituto Costarricense de Acueductos y Alcantarillados.

Against: La Unión Nacional de Acueductos Integrados de la Zona Norte.

Goicoechea, Dirección01, 50 meters west of BNCR, in front of Dirección02. Telephones: 2545-0003 - 2545-0004. Fax: 2241-5664 and 2545-0006. Email: ...01 Nº 13- 2012 TRIBUNAL PROCESAL CONTENCIOSO ADMINISTRATIVO, SECCION CUARTA. II Circuito Judicial. San José, at ten o'clock on the ninth of February of the year two thousand twelve.- Ordinary Proceeding, filed by the Instituto Costarricense de Acueductos y Alcantarillados, represented by its general judicial attorney Alfredo Monge Rojas, identity card number CED87195, against the Unión de Asociaciones de Acueductos Integrados de la Zona Norte, legal identification number CED87196, represented by its special judicial attorney Alfredo Monge Rojas, identity card number CED87195. All are of legal age, lawyers, married in first marriage, and residents of Heredia. Processed under case file number 10-000810-1027-CA.

RESULTANDO

I.With the present ordinary proceeding, action is taken with the object of declaring that the Instituto Costarricense de Acueductos y Alcantarillados must operate, administer, maintain, and develop the conduction line and other system components currently managed by the Unión de Asociaciones de Acueductos Integrados de la Zona Norte, in order to guarantee the quantity, quality, and continuity of the drinking water service for the populations of Dirección13007, San Juan and San Antonio de Monterrey, La Unión de Monterrey, Chambacú de Monterrey, Santa Rosa de Pocosol, and Los Lirios de los Chiles. And that the plaintiff possesses the authority to establish mechanisms for the defendant's participation in such systems, the defendant being ordered to pay the damages caused by problems with the water supply (folios 1 to 14 and 182 to 184 of the case file).

II.Once the proper transfer was granted, the defendant opposed the action and formulated the defenses of statute of limitations (withdrawn at the preliminary hearing), expiration (withdrawn at the preliminary hearing), lack of right, and lack of active and passive standing. Furthermore, at the trial hearing, it stated that it recognizes the legal powers that the legal system grants to the plaintiff entity, which it does not oppose, but that it must be indemnified for the properties and infrastructure constructed (folios 1 to 14 and 182 to 184 of the case file).

III.That the present proceeding was declared of complex processing, in accordance with Article 111 of the Contentious-Administrative Procedure Code, and the judgment has been rendered in accordance with Article 47 of its regulations.

IV.In the proceedings, the pertinent legal requirements have been observed, and no defects or omissions capable of producing nullity of the actions or defenselessness to the parties are observed. This resolution is rendered after deliberation, within the legal term, and by unanimity.

Drafted by Judge Espinoza Salas; and C O N S I D E R A N D O I)- REGARDING THE FACTS: I.1)- PROVEN FACTS: The following facts of interest for the resolution of this matter are deemed demonstrated, as they are consistent with the elements of conviction cited in their support: 1) That the water conduction and supply system fed by the Dirección10188 in the Dirección13008, near Fortuna de San Carlos, consists of a catchment sector, a conduction line measuring 11.5 kilometers, a distribution tank located at Dirección13009 in Monterrey de San Carlos, called the Cedros tank, five distribution lines with bulk meters, and five aqueducts (testimony of the expert witness Nombre110364, Nombre110365, Nombre110366, and Víctor Rojas Carrillo). 2) That the Aqueducts of Dirección13007, San Juan and San Antonio de Monterrey, La Unión de Monterrey, Chambacú de Monterrey, Santa Rosa de Pocosol, and Los Lirios de los Chiles are supplied by the Conduction line from the Quebrada Platanillo spring (naciente) (uncontested fact, folios 16 to 17 of the judicial file for the precautionary measure, testimonial statement of the expert witness Nombre110364, Nombre110367, Nombre110366, Nombre110368, Nombre110365, and Víctor Rojas Carrillo). 3) That the conduction line from the Quebrada Platanillo spring (naciente) that reaches the distribution tank located at Dirección13009 in Monterrey de San Carlos, called the Cedros tank, is administered, improved, repaired, operated, and maintained by Nombre110369 up to and including said tank, where it allocates flow rates through bulk meters to each of the affiliated or user associations, of which Nombre5630 has had knowledge (folios 16 to 17 of the judicial file for the precautionary measure, testimony of the expert witness Nombre110364, Nombre110367, Nombre110365, Nombre110368, Nombre110366, and Víctor Rojas Carrillo).

• 5)The aqueducts of Santo Domingo de Monterrey, San Juan and San Antonio de Monterrey, la Unión and Mirador de Monterrey, Chambacú and la Orquídea, Santa Rosa de Pocosol and los Lirios de los Chiles, are supplied from the transmission line (línea de conducción) of the Quebrada Platanillo spring (naciente), by means of distribution lines from the Cedros tank, which they administer, maintain, and repair through the ASADAS of each locality (declaration of the expert witness Nombre110364, Nombre110366, and Nombre110368). 6) That the water transmission and supply system fed by Quebrada Platanillo at Dirección13008, composed of the transmission line and the Cedros distribution tank, was built with the help of Funds from FODESAF, the Instituto Costarricense de Acueductos y Alcantarillados, and the Community (declaration of the expert witness Nombre110364, of Víctor Rojas Carrillo, Nombre110367, Nombre110368, Nombre110366, and Nombre110365). 7) That since its construction in 1987, the ASADAS and subsequently Nombre110369 have been providing maintenance, development, and repair to the intake system, transmission line, and distribution tank of the water transmission and supply system of the Quebrada Platanillo spring (declaration of the expert witness Nombre110364, Nombre110366, and Nombre110368). 8) That the Instituto Costarricense de Acueductos y Alcantarillados invested, for the years 1987, 1988, and 1992, the amount of sixty-three million six hundred eighty-five thousand nine hundred ninety colones and sixty-two cents in the water supply project for Monterrey de San Carlos (folio 91 of the judicial precautionary measure file). 9) That the Unión de Asociaciones de Acueductos Integrados de la Zona Norte was constituted on December 9, 2005, by the Asociaciones Administradoras de Acueducto y Alcantarillado (ASADAS) of Santo Domingo de Monterrey, San Juan and San Antonio de Monterrey, la Unión de Monterrey, Chambacú de Monterrey, Santa Rosa de Pocosol, and los Lirios de los Chiles, with the purpose of maintaining, operating, and administering the system composed of the common-use sector, which consists of the intake area, transmission lines, and the Cedros tank, standardizing fees across all aqueducts, and collecting payments from the Associations of 1% for water service fees (folios 14 to 15 and from 140 to 149 of the judicial precautionary measure file). 10) That the community of Santa Rosa de Pocosol has experienced unforeseen population growth, requiring a greater quantity of services and having a water shortage, which has generated difficulties with the other communities due to the demand for water service (folios 56 to 81, 116 to 120, from 156 to 159, and from 165 to 169 of the judicial precautionary measure file, declaration of Nombre110365 and Nombre110368). 11) That on October 26, 2006, the ASADAS of the integrated aqueduct of Monterrey and Pocosol met, and it was determined that the valve regulating the flow to Santa Rosa de Pocosol will be solely in the hands of said community, and regarding the master meter, the key will be in the hands of that community and of Nombre110369 (folios 116 to 120 of the judicial precautionary measure file). 12) That the community of Santa Rosa de Pocosol has been assigned by Nombre110369 a flow rate of 27.78 liters per second, with a real consumption deficit of 2.72 liters per second, but without said ASADA contributing its maintenance fee, nor being affiliated with Nombre110369 (folios 56, and from 156 to 157 of the judicial precautionary measure file, declaration of Nombre110365 and Nombre110368). 13) Through a meeting held on August 16, 2007, the officials of Acueductos y Alcantarillados and the representatives of the ASADAS members of UNAIZON signed agreements regarding the correct administration of the transmission lines, in which Nombre5630 requested financial statements from them (folios 165 to 168 of the judicial precautionary measure file). 14) That the ASADAS of Santo Domingo de Monterrey, San Juan and San Antonio de Monterrey, and la Unión de Monterrey do not have a delegation agreement from the Instituto Costarricense de Acueductos y Alcantarillados (folios 16 to 17 and from 169 to 172 of the judicial precautionary measure file). 15) That the ASADAS of Chambacú de Monterrey, Santa Rosa de Pocosol, and los Lirios de los Chiles have a delegation agreement from the Instituto Costarricense de Acueductos y Alcantarillados (folios 16 to 17 and from 169 to 172 of the judicial precautionary measure file). 16) That on February 22, 23, and 24, 2010, in the Communities of los Lirios and Santa Rosa de Pocosol, there was no water service (folios 82 to 90 of the judicial precautionary measure file and declarations of Nombre110367, Nombre110365, Nombre110366, and Víctor Rojas Carrillo). 17) That on March 12, 2010, the Instituto Costarricense de Acueductos y Alcantarillados has the transmission line of the Quebrada Platanillo spring in precautionary possession (folios 99 to 100 of the Quebrada Platanillo spring). 18) That the Instituto Costarricense de Acueductos y Alcantarillados registered the Quebrada Platanillo spring for population supply, without prejudice to a third party with a better right (folios 92 to 93 of the judicial precautionary measure file).

I.2)- FACTS NOT PROVEN: The plaintiffs did not demonstrate: 1) That the manipulation of valves at the Cedros Tank was the cause of the lack of water supply on February 22, 23, and 24, 2010, in the Communities of los Lirios and Santa Rosa de Pocosol (the case records). 2) That Nombre110369 caused damages and losses to the Instituto Costarricense de Acueductos y Alcantarillados and the ASADA of Pocosol as a result of the lack of water supply and the non-revenue water on February 22, 23, and 24, 2010, in the Communities of los Lirios and Santa Rosa de Pocosol (the case records). 3) Who the owners of the lands of the properties through which the transmission line passes are (the case records). 4) The contributions and investments made by Nombre5630 in the transmission line of the Quebrada Platanillo spring and in the Cedros tank (the case records). 5) That Nombre110369 is providing poor service and has improperly manipulated, to the detriment of the ASADA of Santa Rosa, the valves that control the allocation of flow rates in the transmission line of the Quebrada Platanillo spring and in the Cedros tank (the case records). 6) That the investment made by Nombre5630 covers the total value of the Quebrada Platanillo Spring system, such that there is nothing to compensate. 7) The reasons why, despite efforts having been made by Nombre110369 to become a concessionaire of the water service, the AyA has not carried out the activities under its responsibility, or produced any activity to regularize the situation.

I.3)- EVIDENCE FOR BETTER RESOLUTION: During the oral trial, as evidence for better resolution in accordance with article 50.2 of the Código Procesal Contencioso Administrativo, the documentation on folios 16 to 303 and from 329 to 347 of the precautionary measure file being processed in this proceeding was ordered; as well as the entirety of the administrative file consisting of 546 folios, titled UNAIZON.

II)- ON THE MERITS: II.1)- ON THE REGULATORY LEGAL REGIME FOR THE ADMINISTRATION, OPERATION, MAINTENANCE, AND DEVELOPMENT OF AQUEDUCT AND SEWER SYSTEMS: Law number 2726 of April 14, 1961, the Constitutive Law of the Instituto Costarricense de Acueductos y Alcantarillados, provides in its first article that Nombre5630 is the autonomous institution charged with directing, setting policies, establishing and applying standards, as well as promoting nationally the planning, financing, and development of everything related to the supply of drinking water and the collection and evacuation of sewage and liquid industrial waste, as well as the normative aspect of storm sewer systems in urban areas. Likewise, it must ensure that aqueduct and sanitary sewer systems comply with public service principles (second article of Regulation 32529 of February 2, 2005, Regulation of the Administrative Associations of Communal Aqueduct and Sewer Systems). An aqueduct must be understood as a system formed by accessory works, pipes, or conduits of different characteristics, whose purpose is to capture, treat, and distribute drinking water, using gravity or energy for its corresponding pumping, with the aim of providing water to a specific population center, also comprising the factors involved in the conservation of the natural resource and the infrastructure works, their construction, maintenance, replacement, and sustainability (Regulation 30413 of March 25, 2002, Sectoral Regulation for the regulation of aqueduct and sanitary sewer services). In the same vein, Nombre5630 is responsible for determining the priority, convenience, and viability of the different projects proposed to build, reform, expand, or modify aqueduct and sewer works, which cannot be executed without its approval (second article). For its part, subsection g) of the second article of the aforementioned Law states that it is responsible for directly administering and operating the aqueduct and sewer systems throughout the country, which it must gradually assume taking into account convenience and availability of resources, and that the systems currently administered and operated by municipal corporations may remain in their charge as long as they provide efficient service. It is, in effect, a programmatic norm intended to have the public entity progressively assume the total national water supply, but aware that it was not possible at that historical moment. In turn, the legislator provided that the institution is empowered to agree with local bodies on the administration of such services or to administer them through administrative boards of mixed integration between the Institute and the respective communities, whenever this is agreed for the better provision of services and in accordance with the respective regulations, as well as to create regional administrative boards involving several municipalities. Likewise, said entity has the power to set the aqueduct fees through the Autoridad Reguladora de los Servicios Públicos, which shall be set in a special manner in the event that the community has contributed to the construction, operation, and maintenance of the work. For its part, the fifth article of the aforementioned law states that for the better fulfillment of its purposes, such governing entity of the water resource shall have the power to contract and formalize all types of documents, necessary or convenient, for the better achievement of its purposes, to acquire movable and immovable property, to process the necessary expropriations of lands required for the conservation and protection of water resources, as well as for the constructions necessary for the intake, transmission, treatment, and distribution of water for the purpose of establishing populations, or related to the evacuation of wastewater and its treatment. Furthermore, upon prior notification to the owners, possessors, users, administrators, or their representatives, it may carry out the necessary studies and investigations within their properties and buildings, except domiciliary ones, for the achievement of legal purposes. Similarly, Regulation 32529 of February 2, 2005, called the Regulation of the Administrative Associations of Communal Aqueduct and Sewer Systems, establishes that Nombre5630 may delegate the administration, operation, maintenance, and development of communal aqueduct and/or sewer systems to associations called ASADAS (article three). Such entities shall have the purpose of construction, administration, operation, maintenance, and development of the aqueduct and sewer systems delegated by AyA, as well as the conservation and rational use of the waters necessary for supply to the populations (article 16 of the aforementioned regulation), and in the event that such entities do not guarantee the public service, Nombre5630 may assume by full right the administration, operation, maintenance, and development, with all their duties, obligations, and assets (article four ibid). In turn, such ASADAS may be formed into federations, leagues, unions, or confederations (article 19 of the cited regulation). Regarding fees, the cited regulation states that the ASADAS, for the provision of services (administration, maintenance, operation, and development), shall have as a source of income the fees reviewed by Nombre5630 and approved by ARESEP for communal systems, rate charges, and the community contribution (article 25 ibid). Regarding the regulatory asset regime of the goods destined for the aqueduct system, article 18 of the aforementioned Law 2726 states that all properties and installations of State bodies destined for the provision of services related to the intake, treatment, and distribution of drinking water are national heritage. Likewise, Regulation 32529 states that all movable and immovable goods used by the ASADAS in the administration, operation, maintenance, and development of aqueduct and sewer systems are considered public domain, and they cannot be disposed of (article 18 and article 21 subsection 10), and in the event of termination of the delegation agreement or dissolution of the ASADAS (article 21 subsection 13), they shall be delivered to AyA, which shall inventory, register, and record them in its name, assuming ownership to destine them to that public service (article 22 subsection 11). For its part, the Water Law, number 276 of August 27, 1942, in its articles 99 and following, states that to use public waters passing through private properties, the imposition of a forced easement (servidumbre) of aqueduct shall be resorted to, upon prior compensation. On this important topic, the Constitutional Chamber established in ruling 5606-2006 at 3:21 p.m. on April 26, 2006, that in the case of water, the services had been originally given to the Municipalities by the General Law of Drinking Water, number 1634 of September 18, 1953, and that subsequently with the creation of the Institute, that function passed to the Instituto Costarricense de Acueductos y Alcantarillados, which turns the water situation into a national and not a local problem. Regarding the right of access to drinking water, the Constitutional Chamber has repeatedly established that it is a fundamental human right, being an integral part of the right to health, life, and the environment, which must be provided efficiently by the entities in charge, as it is a public service (see among many others Ruling number 5606-2006 at 3:21 p.m. on April 26, 2006, and number 5676-2010 at 5:06 p.m. on September 21, 2010, in relation to article 264 of the General Health Law). In the same vein, it is worth stating that although the cited regulations express that Nombre5630 has the power to take charge of the aqueduct systems and the movable and immovable goods that comprise them, operated by the ASADAS, and that such goods are affected to the public domain, it is not possible to accept that such transfer of goods operates without the payment of any compensation, because admitting the contrary would imply consenting to a confiscatory regime for the goods and investments made by the ASADAS or various private entities providing public drinking water services, which is contrary to constitutional article 45.

This position was assumed by the Eighth Section of this Court, in vote number 191-2011, at 4:00 p.m. on October 14, 2011, in which Nombre5630 is ordered to compensate a borrower deprived of the public water service, for the payment of the required property and easements (servidumbres), as the governing entity assumed, by judicial order, the operation, maintenance, administration, and development of the aqueduct in dispute; and it is generally shared by this Section of the Court.

II.2) SPECIFIC CASE: Applying the foregoing to the resolution of this matter, we find that the petitioner, Instituto Costarricense de Acueductos y Alcantarillados, is partially entitled to its claims, because from the study of the case file, the regulations cited in considerando II.1, and the evidence gathered in the process, it is observed that, as the defendant herself admitted at the trial hearing, the plaintiff entity indeed has the power, in accordance with Law number 2726 of April 14, 1961, the Constitutive Law of the Instituto Costarricense de Acueductos y Alcantarillados, Regulation 32529 of February 2, 2005, called the Regulation of the Administrative Associations of Communal Aqueduct and Sewer Systems (Reglamento de las Asociaciones Administradoras de Sistemas de Acueductos y Alcantarillados Comunales), and Regulation 30413 of March 25, 2002, Sectoral Regulation for the regulation of aqueduct and sanitary sewer services (Reglamento Sectorial para la regulación de los servicios de acueducto y alcantarillado sanitario), to plan, finance, and develop everything related to the supply of potable water, ensuring that the aqueduct and sanitary sewer systems comply with the principles of public service, and to directly manage and operate the aqueducts and sewers throughout the country, which it must progressively assume, taking into account convenience and resource availability. Indeed, AyA is correct in its competence and power regarding its claims to assume the operation, administration, maintenance, and development of the pipeline (línea de conducción) and other system components currently managed by the Unión de Asociaciones de Acueductos Integrados de la Zona Norte, in order to guarantee the quantity, quality, and continuity of potable water service for the populations of Santo Domingo de Monterrey, San Juan y San Antonio de Monterrey, la Unión de Monterrey, Chambacú de Monterrey, Santa Roca de Pocosol, and los Lirios de los Chiles, as well as to establish participation mechanisms for Nombre110369 in them that it deems viable. Although the plaintiff is empowered, in accordance with Regulation 32529 of February 2, 2005, called the Regulation of the Administrative Associations of Communal Aqueduct and Sewer Systems (Reglamento de las Asociaciones Administradoras de Sistemas de Acueductos y Alcantarillados Comunales), to delegate the administration, operation, maintenance, and development of communal aqueduct and/or sewer systems in favor of associations called ASADAS, this does not imply an absolute or unrestricted delegation. It should be noted that during the oral and public trial, it was suggested that the operation of Nombre110369 was illegal by operation of law, due to the type of legal entity it was, which must be rejected, since, as indicated, it is legally possible for some activities of the water supply system to be delegated to ASADAS and for these to be constituted into Federations or Confederations, so the type of legal entity does not, in itself, make the activity of Nombre110369 illicit. On the other hand, by the principle of legitimate expectations (principio de confianza legítima), note how the union has been providing the service publicly, without this being unknown to the plaintiff. That said, this does not mean that Nombre529 does not have the power by operation of law to take charge of the administration of such water systems, which it may carry out unilaterally through the rescission procedure, all with the aim of guaranteeing the adequate provision of the public service (numbers 4 and 20 of Regulation 32529). In the present matter, apart from the fact that such delegation has not operated in the case file for the ASADAS of Dirección13007, San Juan y San Antonio de Monterrey, and la Unión de Monterrey, because they do not have a delegation agreement (proven fact fourteen) and therefore are operating outside the provisions of the aforementioned regulations, the action filed is supported by the fact that, based on the aforementioned regulations, Nombre5630 may assume by operation of law, to guarantee the adequate provision of the public service, the administration, operation, maintenance, and development of such aqueduct system, with all its duties, obligations, and assets (article four ibid), subject to prior compensation through expropriation proceedings (constitutional ordinal 45), especially in this matter where there is consent from the defendant for the plaintiff to assume such powers. On this point, it must not be forgotten that even though the conduct of these associations implies a breach of legal requirements (like UNAIZON) due to the lack of the cited agreement, this does not mean that the governing public entity was not aware of the situation for a long time and has acted with inertia in not seeking to regularize the situation. Especially since public powers do not prescribe, which does not prevent it from now resuming the exercise of the public powers entrusted to it. However, such power is not unrestricted, but is subject, in this particular case, to the constitutionally rooted just compensation arising from ordinal 45. In this regard, it is pertinent to indicate that although the cited regulations state that Nombre5630 has the authority to take charge of the aqueduct system and the movable and immovable property that composes it, and that such property is intended for the public domain, it is not possible to admit that such transfer of property operates without the payment of just compensation. To hold otherwise would imply consenting to a confiscatory regime of the property and investments made by the ASADAS or various private entities that provide public potable water services, which is contrary to constitutional principles and the national rule of law, and was established in this way by the Eighth Section of the Contentious-Administrative Court, in the aforementioned judgment. Ordinal five of Law 2726 empowers AyA, for the better fulfillment of its purposes, to acquire movable and immovable property, to process the necessary expropriations of land required for the conservation and protection of water resources, as well as for constructions necessary for the collection (captación), conveyance, treatment, and distribution of water for the purpose of establishing populations, or related to the evacuation and treatment of wastewater. In this matter, we have that the water conveyance and supply system fed by the Quebrada Platanillo on the slopes of the Arenal Volcano, near la Fortuna de San Carlos, consists of a collection sector (sector de captación), a pipeline (línea de conducción) measuring 11.5 kilometers, and a distribution tank located in Alto Los Cedros in Monterrey de San Carlos, called the Cedros tank (proven fact one). This water conveyance and supply system was built in 1987 with the help of FODESAF Funds as a donation, with contributions from the Instituto Costarricense de Acueductos y Alcantarillados (without it having been proven what these contributions and investments consisted of, especially since proven fact eight proves amounts invested but in the Monterrey project) and from the Community (proven fact seven). Furthermore, since its completion, it has been maintained, operated, and administered by the ASADAS of the communities of Santo Domingo de Monterrey, San Juan y San Antonio de Monterrey, la Unión de Monterrey, Chambacú de Monterrey, Santa Rosa de Pocosol, and los Lirios de los Chiles, which it serves (proven fact five). Subsequently, said ASADAS were constituted into the Unión de Asociaciones de Acueductos Integrados de la Zona Norte, which, since 2005, and through common contributions, has been maintaining, operating, and administering the common-use sector of the aqueducts, consisting of the collection sector (sector de la captación), pipelines (líneas de conducción), and the los cedros tank. This means that the community, through such an entity representing it in this task of common interest, such as water, has been making investments, caring for, developing, purchasing land, and building infrastructure and works in such water system. By virtue of this, although Nombre5630 has the power to appropriate such works and land, in this case, it cannot do so without this entailing duties of compensation towards the community, represented in this case by UNAIZON, in its capacity as manager and administrator of the pipeline (línea de conducción) from the Platanillo stream spring (naciente). During the oral and public trial, the representative of the public entity suggested that the defendant would not have the right to charge any amount for the distribution line, as it was constituted many years after the generation of the public work, which is incorrect. It is evident from the proven facts that the Union was indeed constituted many years later and that different sectors participated in the public work; however, it is clear that said Union has administered the infrastructure under satisfactory conditions, apart from the problem in the month of February 2010, which in any case was not proven to be its responsibility, which entails that there are maintenance expenses for the supply that the public entity cannot ignore. In addition, regarding standing (legitimación), it is a notorious fact that the private entity is administering the infrastructure, which entails that it has, in some explicit or implicit way, subrogated the rights of other persons, and therefore is legitimized to claim the compensatory rights for any item that does not correspond to public investment. Consequently, it must pay UNAIZON, through the expropriation process, the corresponding amounts for the land destined for this purpose that said Union has registered in its name or in the name of one of the ASADAS that compose it, for the works carried out in the collection sector (sector de captación), the pipeline (línea de conducción) with a measure of 11.5 kilometers, and the distribution tank located in Dirección13009 in Monterrey de San Carlos, called the Cedros tank. Likewise, in accordance with ordinal 99 of the Water Law (Ley de Aguas), number 276 of August 27, 1942, it must constitute mandatory easements (servidumbres forzosas) on the private estates through which such system passes or is located, this being so, because due to its extensive length, there could be bona fide third parties who would be affected. By virtue of this, it is highlighted that during the oral and public trial, evidence was produced that showed how the line, the collection area, and the tank are located on land belonging to persons who are not part of this process, without it having been proven who they are, but who have rights under constitutional numeral 45, so the public entity is called upon to provide what is pertinent for the payment of the corresponding compensation. It should be noted that the Court opts to refer matters to the expropriation process in the event that Nombre5630 exercises its power to manage and operate the distribution line, for several reasons, and it being reasonable to think of the existence of damage against the defendant, which reasons it is imperative to set forth. Mainly because said process is a direct consequence of the oft-cited constitutional ordinal 45, thereby correcting the constitutional course; on the other hand, the process establishes a series of mechanisms (in particular an administrative appraisal and at least one judicial appraisal if required) ensuring that the market value (valor venal) of the property is effectively paid, with full guarantee of the right to due process and especially the right of defense. Finally, in another order of things, it remains to be indicated regarding the issue of the rates set by Nombre110369 for the water services and maintenance fees of the ASADAS of the pipeline (línea de conducción) from the Platanillo stream spring (naciente quebrada platanillo) and their illegality (proven fact six), that it is of no interest to refer to this aspect, because as the defendant has accepted that Nombre5630 take over the administration of the water system, it is unnecessary to address the legality of such charges.

II.3) ON THE CLAIMS FOR DAMAGES (DAÑOS Y PERJUICIOS) FILED BY Nombre5630: The petitioner claims that Nombre110369 must pay the expenses it incurred as damages (daños y perjuicios) resulting from the emergency that occurred on February 22, 23, and 24, 2010, in the Communities of los Lirios and Santa Rosa de Pocosol, due to the lack of water service (proven fact sixteen) and its intervention in the water system as a result of the extremely provisional measure (medida cautelar provisionalísima). To this end, it requests for this concept (pages 39 to 41 of the case file), for the period from March 16 to April 26, 2010, the sum of ten million three hundred five thousand colones for employee salaries, per diem (viáticos), fuel, hiring of a tanker truck (cisterna), and hiring of security. It also quantifies the amount of eight million four hundred thousand colones for the pecuniary damage caused to the ASADA of Santa Rosa de Pocosol, in the period between February 23, 2010, and March 15, 2010, for unaccounted-for water, alleging pecuniary damage to said ASADA caused by problems with the supply of potable water, due to which the system users did not pay for the service, also claiming legal interest on these sums. However, such claims are not admissible and must be denied, because the causal link (relación causal) with the harmful events quantified was not proven in the case file. Although it demonstrated having incurred expenses, as well as the harmful event, it could not attribute responsibility for such events to Nombre110369. Thus, the establishment of the essential requirements for the determination of non-contractual civil liability is unmet, such as an act or omission attributable to the defendant as a result of a willful or negligent action and the existence of a direct cause-and-effect relationship between the act attributed and the damage produced, which would legitimize the prejudice produced. From the evidence provided in the case file, the plaintiff does not demonstrate through reliable and undeniable evidence that the manipulation of valves in the Cedros Tank was the cause of the non-supply of water on February 22, 23, and 24, 2010, in the Communities of los Lirios and Santa Rosa de Pocosol, and that Nombre110369 caused damages (daños y perjuicios) to the Instituto Costarricense de Acueductos y Alcantarillados and to the ASADA of Pocosol as a result of the non-supply of water and the unaccounted-for water on February 22, 23, and 24, 2010, in the Communities of los Lirios and Santa Rosa de Pocosol. The cause of such events is uncertain and could not be established, and the assertion of it being a manipulation of the valves is speculative and hypothetical, and without it being possible to attribute willful or negligent participation to UNAIZON's plumber, Mr. Nombre110366. The responsibilities in the water system are divided, such that Nombre110369 is solely in charge of the pipeline (línea de conducción) from the Platanillo stream spring (naciente quebrada platanillo) that reaches the distribution tank located in Dirección13009 in Monterrey de San Carlos, called the Cedros tank, in which it allocates flow rates through macro-meters to each of the affiliated and user associations (proven fact four). For their part, from the distribution lines onward, each ASADA is responsible for its own aqueduct, for which they independently hire personnel to monitor and assist the correct and efficient transition of water (proven fact five). Thus, from the evidence produced, it is not possible to establish in which sector the cause of the water not being supplied on those dates was generated, which prevents the establishment of responsibilities in this regard. Although witnesses were provided by the plaintiff (Víctor Rojas Carrillo, Nombre110367, Nombre110365), their statements refer to the problem of water shortage in the communities of Santa Rosa de Pocosol and Los Lirios, which has been a historical problem in these localities given the growing demand for services (proven facts ten through thirteen), but without this situation being the origin of the water shortage on February 22, 23, and 24, 2010. It is observed in this regard how the ASADAS took measures accordingly and met on October 26, 2006, agreeing that the valve regulating the flow to Santa Rosa de Pocosol will be solely in the hands of said community, and as for the macro-meter, the key will be held by said community and Nombre110369 (proven fact thirteen). Rather, it is noteworthy how the plaintiff's own official, Nombre110365, stated that as a result of the situation, with a macro-meter they observed that on those dates 26 and 28 liters per second were passing, and 38 were needed, from which no violation whatsoever by the defendant can be extracted, because as stated in proven fact twelve, a flow rate of 27.78 liters per second had been assigned to the community of Santa Rosa de Pocosol by UNAIZON for years. Consequently, the expenses incurred by the plaintiff cannot be causally attributed to the defendant, nor can the latter be held as the responsible author. Regarding the claim for the pecuniary damage caused to the ASADA of Santa Rosa de Pocosol, in the period between February 23, 2010, and March 15, 2010, for unaccounted-for water, it is rejected because the plaintiff lacks standing (legitimación activa) to act on behalf of the ASADA of Santa Rosa de Pocosol and los Lirios, these being claims that such entity should have filed directly; besides, quantifying unsold water is a hypothetical, future, eventual, and uncertain event that fails to meet the requirements of ordinal 196 of the General Law of Public Administration (Ley General de la Administración Pública), which stipulates for its compensation that the damage must be certain and real.

II.4)- DEFENSES (EXCEPCIONES): In accordance with the foregoing, according to the cited regulations and the stated factual grounds, it is observed that this claim must be partially granted. This is so, because the legal system grants such powers and powers to the plaintiff, and also because the defendant did not oppose its claims insofar as it would be compensated accordingly. By virtue of this, the defense (excepción) of lack of right (falta de derecho) is partially rejected, being understood as granted in what was denied and rejected in what was expressly admitted. Regarding the defense of lack of active standing (falta de legitimación ad causam activa), it is partially denied, because although Nombre5630 holds the title to the claimed right to manage the administration, operation, maintenance, and development of the pipeline (línea de conducción) from the Platanillo stream spring (naciente quebrada platanillo), it does not have standing to claim damages on behalf of the ASADA of Santa Rosa de Pocosol. As for the defense of lack of passive standing (falta de legitimación ad causam pasiva), it is not admissible, because Nombre110369 indeed has the condition of defendant, as pertinent, relevant, and key aspects regarding the water pipeline (línea de conducción) it administers are being discussed. The Court refrains from ruling on the defenses of expiry (caducidad) and statute of limitations (prescripción) that the defendant interposed in its statement of defense, because it withdrew from them at the preliminary hearing.

• III)COSTS (COSTAS): In accordance with ordinals 119, 193, and 194 of the Contentious-Administrative Procedure Code (Código Procesal Contencioso Administrativo), this process must be resolved without a special award of costs (costas), this being so because the plaintiff was defeated in part of its claims and the defendant had sufficient reason to litigate. As observed from the judgment rendered, the plaintiff's claims for damages were rejected, and defenses invoked by the defendant were partially granted. Likewise, the issue discussed in this process is relevant and of national importance, as it refers to the fundamental right to water. By virtue of this, the defendant had sufficient reason to exercise its defense and partially oppose the claim, claiming for its interests, whereby the exoneration from costs in its favor operates by virtue of the fact that the reasons it invoked in its arguments also had serious grounding and adequate legal and technical support.

POR TANTO:

This claim is declared partially admissible, the defense of lack of right being granted in what is not expressly conceded and rejected in what is granted. The Instituto Costarricense de Acueductos y Alcantarillados is granted the operation, administration, maintenance, and development of the pipeline (línea de conducción) and other system components currently managed by the Unión de Asociaciones de Acueductos Integrados de la Zona Norte, for which it may establish mechanisms for the participation of the defendant in such systems, which it may execute only once it compensates, through expropriation proceedings, the Unión de Asociaciones de Acueductos Integrados de la Zona Norte for the land that said Union has registered in its name for such purpose or in the name of one of the ASADAS that compose it, as well as the works carried out in the collection sector (sector de captación), the pipeline (línea de conducción) with a measure of 11.5 kilometers, and the distribution tank located in Dirección13009 in Monterrey de San Carlos, called the Cedros tank, as well as to constitute mandatory easements (servidumbres forzosas) on the private estates through which such system passes or is located. The liquidated damages are rejected, and the defense of lack of active standing is partially granted, whereas the defense of lack of passive standing is denied. It is resolved without a special award of costs (costas). NOTIFIQUESE.- Carlos Espinoza Salas Ricardo A.

Madrigal Jiménez</span><span style=\"font-family:Tahoma; font-weight:bold\">&#xa0;</span><span style=\"font-family:Tahoma; font-weight:bold\">&#xa0;</span><span style=\"font-family:Tahoma; font-weight:bold\">&#xa0;</span><span style=\"font-family:Tahoma; font-weight:bold\">&#xa0;</span><span style=\"font-family:Tahoma; font-weight:bold\">&#xa0;</span><span style=\"font-family:Tahoma; font-weight:bold\">&#xa0;</span><span style=\"font-family:Tahoma; font-weight:bold\">&#xa0;</span><span style=\"font-family:Tahoma; font-weight:bold\">&#xa0;</span><span style=\"font-family:Tahoma; font-weight:bold\">&#xa0;</span><span style=\"font-family:Tahoma; font-weight:bold\">&#xa0;</span><span style=\"font-family:Tahoma; font-weight:bold\">&#xa0;</span><span style=\"font-family:Tahoma; font-weight:bold\">&#xa0;</span><span style=\"font-family:Tahoma; font-weight:bold\">&#xa0;</span><span style=\"font-family:Tahoma; font-weight:bold\">&#xa0;</span><span style=\"font-family:Tahoma; font-weight:bold\">&#xa0;</span><span style=\"font-family:Tahoma; font-weight:bold\">&#xa0;</span><span style=\"font-family:Tahoma; font-weight:bold\">&#xa0;</span><span style=\"font-family:Tahoma; font-weight:bold\">&#xa0;</span><span style=\"font-family:Tahoma; font-weight:bold\">&#xa0;</span><span style=\"font-family:Tahoma; font-weight:bold\">&#xa0;</span><span style=\"font-family:Tahoma; font-weight:bold\">&#xa0;</span><span style=\"font-family:Tahoma; font-weight:bold\">&#xa0;</span><span style=\"font-family:Tahoma; font-weight:bold\"> David Fallas Redondo</span></p><p style=\"margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt\"><span>&#xa0;</span></p><p style=\"margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Tahoma; font-weight:bold\">Exp Nº 10-000810-1027-CA</span></p><p style=\"margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Tahoma; font-weight:bold\">Proceso de conocimiento.</span></p><p style=\"margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Tahoma; font-weight:bold\">Actor: Instituto Costarricense de Acueductos y Alcantarillados. </span></p><p style=\"margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Tahoma; font-weight:bold\">Contra: La Unión Nacional de Acueductos Integrados de la Zona Norte. </span></p><p style=\"margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:8pt\"><span style=\"color:#010101\">EXP: 10-000810-1027-CA</span></p><p style=\"margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:1pt; text-align:center; font-size:8pt\"><span style=\"color:#010101\">Goicoechea, Dirección01 , 50 metros oeste del BNCR, frente a Dirección02 . Teléfonos: 2545-0003 - 2545-0004. Fax: 2241-5664 y 2545-0006. Correo electrónico: ...01</span></p><p style=\"margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt\"><span>&#xa0;</span></p></div></body></html> Such entities shall have as their purpose the construction, administration, operation, maintenance and development of the aqueduct and sewer systems delegated by AyA, as well as the conservation and rational use of the waters necessary for the supply to the populations (Article 16 of the aforementioned regulation) and in the event that such entities do not guarantee the public service, AyA may assume by operation of law the administration, operation, maintenance and development, with all their duties, obligations and assets (Article 4 ibid). In turn, such ASADAS may form federations, leagues, unions or confederations (numeral 19 of the cited regulation). Regarding tariffs, the cited regulation states that the ASADAS, for the provision of services (administration, maintenance, operation and development), shall have as a source of income the tariffs reviewed by AyA and approved by ARESEP for communal systems, charges for fees, and the community contribution (Article 25 ibid). Regarding the regulatory property regime for assets destined for the aqueduct system, numeral 18 of the aforementioned Law 2726 states that all properties and installations of State bodies destined for the provision of services related to the collection, treatment and distribution of potable waters are national patrimony. Likewise, Regulation 32529 states that all movable and immovable property used by the ASADAS in the administration, operation, maintenance and development of the aqueduct and sewer systems are considered public domain, they may not be disposed of (Article 18 and Article 21 subsection 10), and in case of rescission of the delegation agreement or dissolution of the ASADAS (numeral 21 subsection 13), they shall be delivered to AyA, which shall inventory, register and inscribe them in its name, assuming ownership to destine them to that public service (Article 22 subsection 11). For its part, the Water Law (Ley de Aguas), number 276 of August 27, 1942, in its Articles 99 and following, states that to take advantage of public waters that pass through private lands, one must resort to the imposition of a forced aqueduct easement (servidumbre forzosa de acueducto), after prior indemnification. For its part, on this important topic, the Constitutional Chamber (Sala Constitucional) established in ruling 5606-2006 of 15:21 hours on April 26, 2006, that in the case of water, the services had originally been given to the Municipalities by the General Potable Water Law (Ley General de Agua Potable), number 1634 of September 18, 1953, and that subsequently, with the creation of the Institute, that function passed to the Instituto Costarricense de Acueductos y Alcantarillados, which turns the water situation into a national and not a local problem. Regarding the right of access to potable water, the Constitutional Chamber has repeatedly established that this is a fundamental human right, being an integral part of the right to health, to life, and to the environment, which must be provided efficiently by the entities in charge, as it is a public service (see among many others Ruling number 5606-2006 of 15:21 hours on April 26, 2006, and number 5676-2010 of 17:06 hours on September 21, 2010, in relation to Article 264 of the General Health Law). In the same sense, it is feasible to indicate that although it is expressed in the cited regulations that AyA has the power to take charge of the aqueduct systems and the movable and immovable property that compose them, operated by the ASADAS, and that such property is encumbered for public domain, it is not possible to accept that such transfer of property operates without the payment of any indemnification, because admitting the contrary would imply consenting to a confiscatory regime of the property and investments made by the ASADAS or diverse private entities that provide public potable water services, which is contrary to constitutional ordinal 45. Such a position was taken by the Eighth Section of this Tribunal, in ruling number 191-2011, of 16:00 hours on October 14, 2011, in which AyA is condemned to indemnify a private provider of the public water service, for the payment of the required property and easements (servidumbres), when the governing entity assumes, by judicial order, the operation, maintenance, administration and development of the aqueduct in question; and in a general manner it is shared by this Section of the Tribunal.

**II.2) CONCRETE CASE:** Applied, that which was previously set forth to the resolution of this matter, we find that **the claimant, Instituto Costarricense de Acueductos y Alcantarillados, has a partial right** , in its claims, because from the study of the case file, the regulations cited in Considerando II.1, and the evidence gathered in the process, it is observed that, as the defendant herself admitted in the trial hearing, the plaintiff entity indeed has the power, in accordance with Law number 2726 of April 14, 1961, Constitutive Law of the Instituto Costarricense de Acueductos y Alcantarillados, Regulation 32529 of February two, 2005, called Regulation of Communal Aqueduct and Sewer System Administration Associations (Reglamento de las Asociaciones Administradoras de Sistemas de Acueductos y Alcantarillados Comunales), and Regulation 30413 of March 25, 2002, Sectoral Regulation for the regulation of potable water and sanitary sewer services, to plan, finance and develop everything related to the supply of potable water, ensuring that the aqueduct and sanitary sewer systems comply with the principles of public service, and to administer and directly operate the aqueducts and sewers throughout the country, which it must gradually assume taking into account convenience and availability of resources. Indeed, AyA is correct, has competence and power, in its claims to assume the operation, administration, maintenance and development of the conduction line and other components of the system currently managed by the Unión de Asociaciones de Acueductos Integrados de la Zona Norte, in order to guarantee the quantity, quality and continuity of the potable water service for the populations of Santo Domingo de Monterrey, San Juan and San Antonio de Monterrey, la Unión de Monterrey, Chambacú de Monterrey, Santa Roca de Pocosol and los Lirios de los Chiles, as well as to establish participation mechanisms that it deems viable for UNAIZON in them. Although the plaintiff is empowered, in accordance with Regulation 32529 of February two, 2005, called Regulation of Communal Aqueduct and Sewer System Administration Associations, to delegate the administration, operation, maintenance and development of the communal aqueduct and/or sewer systems in favor of associations called ASADAS, this does not imply an absolute or unrestricted delegation. It must be noted that during the oral and public trial, it was pointed out that UNAIZON's operation was illegal by operation of law, due to the type of legal entity it was, which must be rejected, because as indicated, it is legally possible that some activities of the water supply system are delegated to ASADAS and that these can be constituted into Federations or Confederations, so the type of legal entity does not in itself cause UNAIZON's activity to become illicit. On the other hand, and by the principle of legitimate trust, see how the union has carried out the provision of the service in a public manner, without the plaintiff lacking knowledge of it. Now then, that does not mean that AyA does not have the power by operation of law to take charge of the administration of such water systems, which it may carry out unilaterally through the rescission procedure, all for the purpose of guaranteeing the adequate provision of the public service (numeral 4 and 20 of Regulation 32529). In the present matter, apart from the fact that such delegation has not operated in the case file for the ASADAS of Santo Domingo de Monterrey, San Juan and San Antonio de Monterrey and la Unión de Monterrey, as they do not have a delegation agreement (proven fact fourteen) and therefore are functioning outside the scope of the provisions in the aforementioned regulations, the filed action is supported by the fact that, based on the aforementioned regulations, AyA may assume by operation of law, to guarantee the adequate provision of the public service, the administration, operation, maintenance and development of such aqueduct system, with all its duties, obligations and assets, (Article 4 ibid), after prior indemnification through an expropriation procedure (constitutional ordinal 45), and especially in this matter where there is consent from the defendant for the plaintiff to assume such powers. It cannot be forgotten regarding this point that even though the conduct of those associations implies a breach of legal requirements (as with UNAIZON) due to the lack of the cited agreement, that does not mean that the governing public entity was unaware of the situation for a long time and that it has acted with inertia by not seeking the regularization of the situation. Especially since public powers do not prescribe, which does not prevent it from now retaking the exercise of the public competencies that have been entrusted to it. However, such power is not unrestricted, but is subject, in this particular case, to the just indemnification of constitutional origin that arises from ordinal 45. In this regard, it is feasible to indicate that, although it is expressed in the cited regulations that AyA has the authority to take charge of the aqueduct system and the movable and immovable property that compose it, and that such property is encumbered for public domain, it is not possible to admit that such transfer of property operates without the payment of just indemnification; to maintain the contrary would imply consenting to a confiscatory regime of the property and investments made by the ASADAS or diverse private entities that provide public potable water services, which is contrary to constitutional principles and the national rule of law, and was established in that manner by the Eighth Section of the Contentious-Administrative Tribunal, in the aforementioned ruling. Ordinal five of Law 2726 empowers AyA, for the better fulfillment of its purposes, to acquire own movable and immovable property, to process the necessary expropriations of lands required for the conservation and protection of water resources, as well as for the constructions that become necessary in the collection, conduction, treatment and distribution of waters for the purpose of establishing populations, or related to the evacuation and treatment of residual waters. In the present matter, we have that the water conduction and supply system fed by the Quebrada Platanillo on the Faldas del Volcán Arenal, near Fortuna de San Carlos, is composed of a collection sector, a conduction line measuring 11.5 kilometers and a distribution tank located in Alto Los Cedros in Monterrey de San Carlos, called Tanque Cedros (proven fact one). Such water conduction and supply system was built in 1987 with help from FODESAF Funds as a donation, with contributions from the Instituto Costarricense de Acueductos y Alcantarillados (without having proven what those contributions and investments consisted of, especially since proven fact eight credits amounts invested but in the Monterrey project) and from the Community (proven fact seven). Additionally, since its construction, it has been maintained, operated and administered by the ASADAS of the communities of Santo Domingo de Monterrey, San Juan and San Antonio de Monterrey, la Unión de Monterrey, Chambacú de Monterrey, Santa Rosa de Pocosol and los Lirios de los Chiles, which it serves (proven fact five). Subsequently, said ASADAS formed the Unión de Asociaciones de Acueductos Integrados de la Zona Norte, which since the year 2005, and through common contributions, has been maintaining, operating and administering the common use sector of the aqueducts, which consists of the collection sector, conduction lines and the Tanque Los Cedros. This means that the community, through such entity that represents it in that task of common interest, such as water, has been making investments, taking care, developing, buying lands, and building infrastructure and works in such water system. In virtue of this, although AyA has the power to appropriate such works and lands, in this case it cannot do so without it entailing indemnification duties towards the community, represented in this case by UNAIZON, in its capacity as manager and administrator of the conduction line from the Quebrada Platanillo spring (naciente). During the oral and public trial, the representative of the public entity pointed out that the defendant would have no right to collect any amount for the distribution line because it was constituted many years after the creation of the public work, which is incorrect. It is evident from the proven facts that indeed the Union was constituted many years later and that different sectors participated in the public work; however, it is clear that said Union has administered the infrastructure under satisfactory conditions, aside from the problem in the month of February 2010, which in any case was not proven to be its responsibility, which entails that there are maintenance expenses for the supply that the public entity could not ignore. Additionally, regarding standing, it is a notorious fact that the private entity is administering the infrastructure, which entails that in some explicit or implicit way, it was subrogated to the rights of other persons, therefore it has standing to claim the indemnification rights for any item that does not correspond to public investment. Consequently, AyA must effect the corresponding payments to UNAIZON, through the expropriation procedure, for the lands destined for such purpose that said Union had registered in its name or in the name of any of the ASADAS that compose it, for the works carried out in the collection sector, the conduction line with a measure of 11.5 kilometers and the distribution tank located in Alto Los Cedros in Monterrey de San Carlos, called Tanque Cedros. Likewise, in accordance with ordinal 99 of the Water Law, number 276 of August 27, 1942, it must constitute the forced easements (servidumbres forzosas) on the private lands where such system passes or is located, this being so, because given its extensive length, there could be third parties acting in good faith who would be affected. In merit of this, it is highlighted that during the oral and public trial, evidence was presented showing how the line, the collection area and the tank are located on lands of persons who are not joined in the process, without having proven who they are, but who present rights under the protection of constitutional numeral 45, therefore the public entity is called upon to provide what is pertinent for the payment of the corresponding indemnifications. It should be noted that the Tribunal chooses to remit to the expropriation procedure in the event that AyA exercises its faculty to administer and operate the distribution line, on several grounds, and since it is reasonable to believe in the existence of damage against the defendant, which it is imperative to discuss. Mainly because said process is a direct consequence of the repeatedly cited constitutional ordinal 45, therefore the constitutional course would be straightened; on the other hand, the process establishes a series of mechanisms (especially an administrative appraisal and at least one judicial one in case it is required) seeking that the market value of the property is effectively paid, with full guarantee of the right to due process and especially the right of defense. Finally, in another order of things, it remains to be indicated regarding the issue of the tariffs set by UNAIZON for water services and maintenance fees of the ASADAS for the conduction line from the Quebrada Platanillo spring and their illegality (proven fact six), that it is of no interest to refer to that aspect, because having accepted the defendant that AyA take over the administration of the water system, it becomes unnecessary to address the legality of such charges.” 3) That the pipeline (línea de conducción) from the Quebrada Platanillo spring (naciente) to the distribution tank (tanque de distribución) located at Dirección13009 in Monterrey de San Carlos, called the Cedros tank (tanque Cedros), is administered, improved, repaired, operated, and maintained by Nombre110369 up to and including said tank, in which it allocates flow rates (caudales) by means of bulk meters (macromedidores) to each of the affiliated or user associations, of which Nombre5630 has had knowledge (folios 16 to 17 of the precautionary measure judicial file, testimony of the expert witness Nombre110364, Nombre110367, Nombre110365, Nombre110368, Nombre110366 and Víctor Rojas Carrillo). 5) The aqueducts of Santo Domingo de Monterrey, San Juan and San Antonio de Monterrey, la Unión and Mirador de Monterrey, Chambacú and la Orquídea, Santa Rosa de Pocosol and los Lirios de los Chiles, are supplied from the pipeline (línea de conducción) of the Quebrada Platanillo spring (naciente), through distribution lines (líneas de distribución) starting from the Cedros tank (tanque Cedros), which they administer, maintain, and repair through the ASADAS of each locality (testimony of the expert witness Nombre110364, Nombre110366 and Nombre110368). 6) That the water conveyance and supply system (sistema de conducción y abastecimiento de agua) fed by the Quebrada Platanillo at Dirección13008, composed of the pipeline (línea de conducción) and the Cedros distribution tank (tanque de distribución), was built with the help of Funds from FODESAF, the Instituto Costarricense de Acueductos y Alcantarillados, and the Community (testimony of the expert witness Nombre110364, of Víctor Rojas Carrillo, Nombre110367, Nombre110368, Nombre110366 and Nombre110365). 7) That since its construction in 1987, the ASADAS and subsequently Nombre110369 have been providing maintenance, development, and repair to the intake system (sistema de captación), pipeline (línea de conducción), and distribution tank (tanque de distribución) of the water conveyance and supply system (sistema de conducción y abastecimiento de agua) of the Quebrada Platanillo spring (naciente) (testimony of the expert witness Nombre110364, Nombre110366 and Nombre110368). 8) That the Instituto Costarricense de Acueductos y Alcantarillados invested, for the years 1987, 1988, and 1992, the amount of sixty-three million six hundred eighty-five thousand nine hundred ninety colones and sixty-two céntimos in the water supply project for Monterrey de San Carlos (folio 91 of the precautionary measure judicial file). 9) That the Unión de Asociaciones de Acueductos Integrados de la Zona Norte was established on December 9, 2005, by the Administrative Associations of Aqueduct and Sewerage (Asociaciones Administradoras de Acueducto y Alcantarillado, ASADAS) of Santo Domingo de Monterrey, San Juan and San Antonio de Monterrey, la Unión de Monterrey, Chambacú de Monterrey, Santa Rosa de Pocosol, and los Lirios de los Chiles, with the purpose of maintaining, operating, and administering the system comprised of the common use sector (sector de uso común), consisting of the intake area (área de la captación), pipelines (líneas de conducción), and the Cedros tank (tanque los cedros), standardizing rates in all aqueducts, and collecting payments from the Associations of 1% for water service rates (folios 14 to 15 and 140 to 149 of the precautionary measure judicial file). 10) That the community of Santa Rosa de Pocosol has experienced unforeseen population growth, requiring a greater quantity of services and having a water deficit, which has generated difficulties with the other communities due to the demand for water service (folios 56 to 81, 116 to 120, 156 to 159, and 165 to 169 of the precautionary measure judicial file, testimony of Nombre110365 and Nombre110368). 11) That on October 26, 2006, the ASADAS of the integrated aqueduct of Monterrey and Pocosol met, and it was determined that the valve regulating the flow rate (caudal) to Santa Rosa de Pocosol will be solely in the hands of said community, and regarding the bulk meter (macromedidor), the key will be in the hands of said community and of Nombre110369 (folios 116 to 120 of the precautionary measure judicial file). 12) That the community of Santa Rosa de Pocosol has been assigned by Nombre110369 a flow rate (caudal) of 27.78 liters per second, with a real consumption deficit of 2.72 liters per second, but without said ASADA paying its maintenance fee, nor being affiliated with Nombre110369 (folios 56, and 156 to 157 of the precautionary measure judicial file, testimony of Nombre110365 and Nombre110368). 13) Through a meeting held on August 16, 2007, the officials of Acueductos y Alcantarillados and the representatives of the ASADAs that are members of UNAIZON entered into agreements regarding the proper administration of the pipelines (líneas de conducción), in which Nombre5630 requested financial statements from them (folios 165 to 168 of the precautionary measure judicial file). 14) That the ASADAS of Santo Domingo de Monterrey, San Juan and San Antonio de Monterrey, and la Unión de Monterrey do not have a delegation agreement (convenio de delegación) from the Instituto Costarricense de Acueductos y Alcantarillados (folios 16 to 17 and 169 to 172 of the precautionary measure judicial file). 15) That the ASADAS of Chambacú de Monterrey, Santa Rosa de Pocosol, and los Lirios de los Chiles have a delegation agreement (convenio de delegación) from the Instituto Costarricense de Acueductos y Alcantarillados (folios 16 to 17 and 169 to 172 of the precautionary measure judicial file). 16) That on the 22nd, 23rd, and 24th of February 2010, in the Communities of los Lirios and Santa Rosa de Pocosol, there was no water service (folios 82 to 90 of the precautionary measure judicial file and testimonies of Nombre110367, Nombre110365, Nombre110366 and Víctor Rojas Carrillo). 17) That on March 12, 2010, the Instituto Costarricense de Acueductos y Alcantarillados has the pipeline (línea de conducción) of the Quebrada Platanillo spring (naciente) in precautionary possession (folios 99 to 100 of the Quebrada Platanillo spring). 18) That the Instituto Costarricense de Acueductos y Alcantarillados registered, without prejudice to a third party with a better right for population supply, the Quebrada Platanillo spring (naciente) (folios 92 to 93 of the precautionary measure judicial file).

I.2)- UNPROVEN FACTS: The plaintiffs did not demonstrate: 1) That the manipulation of valves in the Cedros Tank (Tanque Cedros) was the cause of the lack of water supply on the 22nd, 23rd, and 24th of February 2010 in the Communities of los Lirios and Santa Rosa de Pocosol (the court records). 2) That Nombre110369 caused damages to the Instituto Costarricense de Acueductos y Alcantarillados and to the ASADA of Pocosol as a result of the lack of water supply and the unaccounted-for water on the 22nd, 23rd, and 24th of February 2010 in the Communities of los Lirios and Santa Rosa de Pocosol (the court records). 3) Who the owners of the lands of the properties through which the pipeline (línea de conducción) passes are (the court records). 4) The contributions and investments made by Nombre5630 in the pipeline (línea de conducción) of the Quebrada Platanillo spring (naciente) and in the Cedros tank (tanque Cedros) (the court records). 5) That Nombre110369 is providing poor service and has improperly manipulated, to the detriment of the ASADA of Santa Rosa, the valves that control the allocation of flow rates (caudales) in the pipeline (línea de conducción) of the Quebrada Platanillo spring (naciente) and in the Cedros tank (tanque Cedros) (the court records). 6) That the investment made by Nombre5630 covers the total value of the Quebrada Platanillo Spring system, such that there is no amount to indemnify. 7) The reasons why, despite efforts having been made by Nombre110369 to become a concessionaire of the water service, AyA has not carried out the activities under its responsibility, or produced any activity to regularize the situation.

I.3)- EVIDENCE FOR BETTER DECISION: In the oral trial, the documentation appearing at folios 16 to 303 and 329 to 347 of the precautionary measure file being processed in this proceeding was ordered as evidence for better decision pursuant to section 50.2 of the Code of Contentious Administrative Procedure; as well as the entirety of the administrative file consisting of 546 folios, titled UNAIZON.

II)- ON THE MERITS: II.1)- ON THE REGULATORY LEGAL FRAMEWORK FOR THE ADMINISTRATION, OPERATION, MAINTENANCE, AND DEVELOPMENT OF AQUEDUCT AND SEWERAGE SYSTEMS: Law number 2726 of April 14, 1961, the Constitutive Law of the Instituto Costarricense de Acueductos y Alcantarillados, provides in its first section that Nombre5630 is the autonomous institution responsible for directing, setting policies, establishing and applying standards, as well as promoting throughout the national territory the planning, financing, and development of everything related to the supply of potable water and the collection and evacuation of sewage (aguas negras) and liquid industrial waste, as well as the regulatory aspect of storm sewer systems in urban areas. Likewise, it must ensure that aqueduct and sanitary sewer systems comply with the principles of public service (second section of Regulation 32529 of February 2, 2005, Regulation of Administrative Associations of Communal Aqueduct and Sewerage Systems). An aqueduct must be understood as a system formed by accessory works, pipes, or conduits of different characteristics, whose purpose is to capture, treat, and distribute potable water, taking advantage of gravity or the use of energy for its corresponding pumping, with the aim of providing water to a specific population center, also encompassing the factors involved in the conservation of the natural resource and infrastructure works, their construction, maintenance, replacement, and sustainability (Regulation 30413 of March 25, 2002, Sectoral Regulation for the regulation of aqueduct and sanitary sewer services). In the same vein, Nombre5630 is responsible for determining the priority, convenience, and feasibility of the different projects proposed to build, reform, expand, or modify aqueduct and sewerage works, which cannot be executed without its approval (second section). For its part, subsection g) of the second section of the aforementioned Law states that it is responsible for directly administering and operating aqueduct and sewerage systems throughout the country, which it must progressively assume taking into account convenience and availability of resources, and that systems currently administered and operated by municipal corporations may remain under their charge, provided they supply efficient service. This is indeed a programmatic norm intended for the public entity to progressively assume the total supply of water at the national level, but aware that it was not possible at that historical moment. In turn, the legislator provided that the institution is empowered to agree with local bodies for the administration of such services or to administer them through administrative boards (juntas administradoras) of mixed integration between the Institute and the respective communities, whenever such an arrangement is conducive to the better provision of services and in accordance with the respective regulations, as well as to create regional administrative boards involving several municipalities. Likewise, said entity has the power to set aqueduct rates through the Autoridad Reguladora de los Servicios Públicos, which shall be set in a special manner when the community has contributed to the construction, operation, and maintenance of the work. In turn, section five of the aforementioned law states that for the better fulfillment of its purposes, such governing body of water resources shall have the power to contract and formalize all types of documents, necessary or convenient, for the better achievement of its purposes, to acquire ownership of movable and immovable property, to process the necessary expropriations of lands required for the conservation and protection of water resources, as well as for constructions necessary for water capture, conveyance, treatment, and distribution for the purpose of establishing populations, or related to the evacuation and treatment of wastewater. Furthermore, upon prior notification to the owners, possessors, users, administrators, or their representatives, to carry out the necessary studies and investigations within their properties and buildings, except domiciliary ones, for the achievement of legal purposes. Similarly, Regulation 32529 of February 2, 2005, called the Regulation of Administrative Associations of Communal Aqueduct and Sewerage Systems, establishes that Nombre5630 may delegate the administration, operation, maintenance, and development of communal aqueduct and/or sewerage systems to associations called ASADAS (article 3). Such entities shall have the purpose of construction, administration, operation, maintenance, and development of the aqueduct and sewerage systems delegated by AyA, as well as the conservation and rational use of the waters necessary for supply to the populations (article 16 of the aforementioned regulation), and in the event that such entities do not guarantee the public service, Nombre5630 may assume by operation of law the administration, operation, maintenance, and development, with all its duties, obligations, and assets (article 4 ibid). In turn, such ASADAS may form themselves into federations, leagues, unions, or confederations (section 19 of the cited regulation). Regarding rates, the cited regulation states that ASADAS, for the provision of services (administration, maintenance, operation, and development), shall have as a source of income the rates reviewed by Nombre5630 and approved by ARESEP for communal systems, fee collections, and community contributions (article 25 ibid). Regarding the regulatory property regime of assets destined for the aqueduct system, section 18 of the aforementioned Law 2726 states that all properties and installations of State bodies destined for the provision of services related to the capture, treatment, and distribution of potable water are national heritage. Likewise, Regulation 32529 states that all movable and immovable property used by the ASADAS in the administration, operation, maintenance, and development of aqueduct and sewerage systems is considered public domain, and may not be disposed of (article 18 and 21 subsection 10), and in the event of termination of the delegation agreement or dissolution of the ASADAS (section 21 subsection 13), they shall be delivered to AyA, which shall inventory, register, and record them in its name, assuming ownership to allocate them to that public service (article 22 subsection 11). For its part, the Water Law, number 276 of August 27, 1942, in its articles 99 and following, states that to utilize public waters that pass through private properties, the imposition of a compulsory easement (servidumbre forzosa) of aqueduct shall be resorted to, upon prior indemnification. In turn, on this important matter, the Constitutional Chamber (Sala Constitucional) established in ruling 5606-2006 of 15:21 hours on April 26, 2006, that in the case of water, services had originally been given to the Municipalities by the General Law of Potable Water, number 1634 of September 18, 1953, and that subsequently, with the creation of the Institute, that function passed to the Instituto Costarricense de Acueductos y Alcantarillados, which makes the water situation a national problem and not a local one. Regarding the right of access to potable water, the Constitutional Chamber has repeatedly established that it is a fundamental human right, being an integral part of the right to health, life, and the environment, which must be provided efficiently by the responsible entities as it is a public service (see, among many others, Ruling number 5606-2006 of 15:21 hours on April 26, 2006, and number 5676-2010 of 17:06 hours on September 21, 2010, in relation to article 264 of the General Health Law).

In the same vein, it is worth noting that although the cited regulations state that Nombre5630 has the authority to take charge of the aqueduct systems and the movable and immovable property that comprise them, operated by the ASADAS, and that such property is dedicated to the public domain, it is not possible to accept that such a transfer of property operates without the payment of any compensation, because to admit the contrary would imply consenting to a confiscatory regime of the property and investments made by the ASADAS or various private entities that provide public drinking water services, which is contrary to constitutional article 45. This position was adopted by the Eighth Section of this Court, in ruling number 191-2011, at 4:00 p.m. on October 14, 2011, in which Nombre5630 is ordered to compensate a private provider of the public water service, with the payment for the required property and easements (servidumbres), when the governing entity assumes by judicial order the operation, maintenance, administration, and development of the aqueduct in dispute; and this Section of the Court generally shares this view.

**II.2) CONCRETE CASE:** Applying the foregoing to the resolution of this matter, we find that the petitioner, Instituto Costarricense de Acueductos y Alcantarillados, is partially entitled to relief in its claims, because from a study of the case file, the regulations cited in Considerando II.1, and the evidence gathered in the proceedings, it is observed that, as the defendant itself admitted at the trial hearing, the plaintiff entity indeed has the authority, in accordance with Law No. 2726 of April 14, 1961, the Constitutive Law of the Instituto Costarricense de Acueductos y Alcantarillados, Regulation 32529 of February 2, 2005, called the Regulation of the Administrative Associations of Communal Aqueduct and Sewer Systems, and Regulation 30413 of March 25, 2002, the Sectoral Regulation for the regulation of aqueduct and sanitary sewer services, to plan, finance, and develop everything related to the supply of drinking water, ensuring that the aqueduct and sanitary sewer systems comply with the principles of public service and to directly administer and operate the aqueducts and sewers throughout the country, which it must gradually assume, taking into account convenience and availability of resources. Indeed, AyA has the right, competence, and authority in its claims to assume the operation, administration, maintenance, and development of the conduction line and other system components currently managed by the Unión de Asociaciones de Acueductos Integrados de la Zona Norte, in order to guarantee the quantity, quality, and continuity of the drinking water service for the populations of Santo Domingo de Monterrey, San Juan and San Antonio de Monterrey, la Unión de Monterrey, Chambacú de Monterrey, Santa Roca de Pocosol and los Lirios de los Chiles, as well as to establish participation mechanisms it deems viable for Nombre110369 in them. Although the plaintiff is authorized, in accordance with Regulation 32529 of February 2, 2005, called the Regulation of the Administrative Associations of Communal Aqueduct and Sewer Systems, to delegate the administration, operation, maintenance, and development of communal aqueduct and/or sewer systems to associations called ASADAS, this does not imply an absolute or unrestricted delegation. It should be noted that during the oral and public trial, it was argued that the operation of Nombre110369 was illegal by operation of law, due to the type of legal entity it was, which must be rejected, as it was indicated that it is legally possible for some activities of the water supply system to be delegated to ASADAS and that these can be constituted into Federations or Confederations, so the type of legal entity does not in itself make the activity of Nombre110369 unlawful. On the other hand, and due to the principle of legitimate expectations, see how the union has provided the service publicly, without the plaintiff being unaware of it. This does not mean, however, that Nombre529 and Nombre529 do not have the authority by operation of law to take charge of the administration of such water systems, which they may carry out unilaterally through the rescission procedure, all with the aim of guaranteeing the adequate provision of the public service (articles 4 and 20 of Regulation 32529). In the present matter, apart from the fact that such delegation has not operated in the case file for the ASADAS of Dirección13007, San Juan and San Antonio de Monterrey and la Unión de Monterrey, as they lack a delegation agreement (fourteenth proven fact) and are therefore operating outside the provisions of the aforementioned regulations, the action filed is based on the fact that, based on the aforementioned regulations, Nombre5630 may assume by operation of law, to guarantee the adequate provision of the public service, the administration, operation, maintenance, and development of such aqueduct system, with all its duties, obligations, and assets (article four ibid), subject to prior compensation through expropriation proceedings (constitutional article 45), especially in this matter where there is consent from the defendant for the plaintiff to assume such powers. It cannot be forgotten in this regard that even though the conduct of these associations implies a failure to comply with legal requirements (as with UNAIZON) due to the lack of the cited agreement, that does not mean the governing public entity has been unaware of the situation for a long time and has acted with inertia by not seeking the regularization of the situation. Especially since public powers do not prescribe, which does not prevent it from now resuming the exercise of the public competencies entrusted to it. However, such power is not unrestricted, but is subject, in this particular case, to the just compensation of constitutional origin that arises from article 45. In this regard, it is worth noting that although the cited regulations state that Nombre5630 has the power to take charge of the aqueduct system and the movable and immovable property that comprise it, and that such property is dedicated to the public domain, it is not possible to admit that such a transfer of property operates without the payment of just compensation. To maintain the contrary would imply consenting to a confiscatory regime of the property and investments made by the ASADAS or various private entities that provide public drinking water services, which is contrary to constitutional principles and the national legal system and was established in that manner by the Eighth Section of the Contentious-Administrative Tribunal, in the aforementioned judgment. Article five of Law 2726 authorizes AyA, for the better fulfillment of its purposes, to acquire ownership of movable and immovable property, to process the necessary expropriations of land required for the conservation and protection of water resources, as well as for the constructions necessary for the catchment, conduction, treatment, and distribution of water for the purpose of establishing populations, or related to the evacuation and treatment of wastewater. In this matter, we have that the water conduction and supply system fed by the Quebrada Platanillo on the slopes of the Volcán Arenal, near la Fortuna de San Carlos, consists of a catchment sector, a conduction line measuring 11.5 kilometers, and a distribution tank located in Alto Los Cedros in Monterrey de San Carlos, called the Cedros tank (first proven fact). This water conduction and supply system was built in 1987 with the help of FODESAF funds as a donation, with contributions from the Instituto Costarricense de Acueductos y Alcantarillados (without it having been proven what these contributions and investments consisted of, especially since the eighth proven fact credits amounts invested but in the Monterrey project) and from the Community (seventh proven fact). Furthermore, since its construction, it has been maintained, operated, and administered by the ASADAS of the communities of Santo Domingo de Monterrey, San Juan and San Antonio de Monterrey, la Unión de Monterrey, Chambacú de Monterrey, Santa Rosa de Pocosol and los Lirios de los Chiles, which it serves (fifth proven fact). Subsequently, these ASADAS were constituted as the Unión de Asociaciones de Acueductos Integrados de la Zona Norte, which, since 2005, and through common contributions, has been maintaining, operating, and administering the common use sector of the aqueducts, consisting of the catchment sector, conduction lines, and the Cedros tank. This means that the community, through this entity that represents it in this task of common interest, such as water, has been making investments, caring for, developing, buying land, and building infrastructure and works in this water system. By virtue of this, although Nombre5630 has the authority to appropriate such works and land, in this case, it cannot do so without incurring compensation duties to the community, represented in this case by UNAIZON, in its capacity as manager and administrator of the conduction line from the spring (naciente) Quebrada Platanillo. During the oral and public trial, the representative of the public entity argued that the defendant would not have the right to charge any amount for the distribution line because it was constituted many years after the creation of the public work, which is incorrect. It is clear from the proven facts that the Unión was indeed formed many years later and that different sectors participated in the public work; however, it is clear that said Unión has administered the infrastructure under satisfactory conditions, aside from the problem in February 2010, which, in any case, was not proven to be its responsibility, which entails that there are maintenance expenses for the supply that the public entity cannot ignore. Furthermore, regarding standing, it is a notorious fact that the private entity is administering the infrastructure, which entails that it has explicitly or implicitly subrogated the rights of other persons, and therefore it has standing to claim compensation rights for any item that does not correspond to public investment. Consequently, it must make the corresponding payments to UNAIZON, through the expropriation process, for the land destined for this purpose that said Unión has registered in its name or in that of one of the ASADAS that comprise it, for the works carried out in the catchment sector, the 11.5-kilometer conduction line, and the distribution tank located at Dirección13009 in Monterrey de San Carlos, called the Cedros tank. Likewise, in accordance with article 99 of the Water Law, number 276 of August 27, 1942, it must establish the necessary easements (servidumbres forzosas) on the private properties through which or on which such system passes or is located, this being because, due to its extensive length, there could be third parties in good faith who would be affected. By virtue of this, it is highlighted that during the oral and public trial, evidence was presented showing how the line, the catchment area, and the tank are located on lands belonging to persons not joined to the process, without it having been proven who they are, but who have rights under constitutional article 45, and therefore the public entity is called upon to provide what is pertinent for the payment of the corresponding compensations. It should be noted that the Tribunal chooses to refer the matter to the expropriation process in the event that Nombre5630 exercises its authority to administer and operate the distribution line, for several reasons, and since it is reasonable to think that a damage against the defendant exists, which makes it imperative to set them forth. Mainly because said process is a direct consequence of the oft-cited constitutional article 45, thus aligning with the constitutional channel; furthermore, the process establishes a series of mechanisms (especially one administrative appraisal and at least one judicial appraisal if required) seeking to ensure that the market value of the property is effectively paid, with full guarantee of the right to due process and especially the right of defense. Finally, in another order of things, it remains to be indicated regarding the issue of the rates set by Nombre110369 for water services and maintenance fees of the ASADAS for the conduction line from the Quebrada Platanillo spring (naciente) and their illegality (sixth proven fact), that it is unnecessary to address this aspect, because since the defendant has accepted that Nombre5630 take over the administration of the water system, it is unnecessary to address the legality of such charges.

**II.3) REGARDING THE CLAIMS FOR DAMAGES AND LOSSES (DAÑOS Y PERJUICIOS) FILED BY Nombre5630:** The petitioner claims that Nombre110369 must pay the expenses it incurred as damages and losses (daños y perjuicios) resulting from the emergency that occurred on February 22, 23, and 24, 2010, in the Communities of los Lirios and Santa Rosa de Pocosol, due to the lack of water service (sixteenth proven fact) and its intervention in the water system as a result of the provisionalísima precautionary measure. For this, it requires for this concept (folios 39 to 41 of the case file), for the period from March 16 to April 26, 2010, the sum of ten million three hundred five thousand colones for employee salaries, travel expenses, fuel, tanker truck rental, and security contracting. It also liquidates the amount of eight million four hundred thousand colones for the patrimonial harm caused to the ASADA of Santa Rosa de Pocosol, in the period between February 23, 2010, and March 15, 2010, for unaccounted-for water, alleging patrimonial damages to said ASADA, caused by problems with the drinking water supply, due to which the system users did not pay for the service, also claiming legal interest on such sums. **However, such claims are not admissible and must be denied**, because the causal link with the liquidated harmful events was not proven in the case file; although it demonstrated having incurred expenses, and the harmful event, it could not establish that Nombre110369 was responsible for such events. Thus, the essential requirements for determining non-contractual civil liability are not met, such as an action or omission attributable to the defendant resulting from a willful or negligent action and a direct cause-and-effect relationship between the act attributed and the damage produced, which legitimizes the harm caused. From the evidence provided in the case file, the plaintiff does not demonstrate through reliable and indubitable proof that the manipulation of valves in the Cedros Tank was the cause of the water supply failure on February 22, 23, and 24, 2010, in the Communities of los Lirios and Santa Rosa de Pocosol, and that Nombre110369 caused damages and losses (daños y perjuicios) to the Instituto Costarricense de Acueductos y Alcantarillados and to the ASADA of Pocosol as a result of the water supply failure and the unaccounted-for water on February 22, 23, and 24, 2010, in the Communities of los Lirios and Santa Rosa de Pocosol. The cause of these events is uncertain and could not be established, and the assertion that it was a manipulation of the valves is speculative and hypothetical, and moreover, no willful or negligent participation could be attributed to UNAIZON's plumber, Mr. Nombre110366. The responsibilities in the water system are divided, such that Nombre110369 is solely in charge of the conduction line from the Quebrada Platanillo spring (naciente) that reaches the distribution tank located at Dirección13009 in Monterrey de San Carlos, called the Cedros tank, where it allocates flow rates by means of macrometer devices to each of the affiliated and user associations (fourth proven fact). For their part, from the distribution lines onward, each ASADA is in charge of its aqueduct, for which they independently hire personnel to monitor and assist the adequate and correct water transition (fifth proven fact). Thus, from the evidence presented, it is not possible to establish in which sector the cause of the water supply failure on those dates originated, which prevents establishing responsibilities in this regard. Although witnesses were provided by the plaintiff (Víctor Rojas Carrillo, Nombre110367, Nombre110365), their testimonies refer to the problem of water shortage in the communities of Santa Rosa de Pocosol and Los Lirios, which has been a historical problem in these localities given the growing demand for services (tenth to thirteenth proven facts), but without this situation being the origin of the water shortage on February 22, 23, and 24, 2010. It is observed in this regard that the ASADAS took measures to that effect and met on October 26, 2006, agreeing that the valve regulating the flow to Santa Rosa de Pocosol would be solely in the hands of said community, and as for the macrometer device, the key would be held by said community and Nombre110369 (thirteenth proven fact). Rather, it is noteworthy that the plaintiff's own official, Nombre110365, states that as a result of the situation, with a macrometer device they observed that on those dates 26 and 28 liters per second were flowing, and 38 were needed, from which no violation by the defendant can be inferred, because, as stated in the twelfth proven fact, a flow rate of 27.78 liters per second had been assigned to the community of Santa Rosa de Pocosol by UNAIZON years earlier. Consequently, the expenses incurred by the plaintiff cannot be causally attributed to the defendant, nor can the latter be held as the responsible party. Regarding the claim for the patrimonial harm caused to the ASADA of Santa Rosa de Pocosol, in the period between February 23, 2010, and March 15, 2010, for unaccounted-for water, it is rejected because the plaintiff lacks active standing to act on behalf of the ASADA of Santa Rosa de Pocosol and Los Lirios, as these are claims that said entity should have filed directly. In addition to the fact that liquidating unsold water is a hypothetical, future, eventual, and uncertain fact that fails to meet the requirements of article 196 of the General Law of Public Administration, which stipulates for its compensation that the damage must be certain and real.

**II.4)- DEFENSES:** In accordance with the foregoing, in line with the cited regulations and the stated factual grounds, it is observed that this complaint must be partially granted. This is so because the legal system grants such powers and competencies to the plaintiff and, furthermore, because the defendant did not oppose its claims insofar as it would be compensated accordingly. By virtue of this, the defense of lack of right is partially rejected, being understood as accepted in what was denied and overruled in what was expressly granted. Regarding the defense of lack of active standing (legitimación ad causam activa), it is partially overruled because, although Nombre5630 holds the right claimed to manage the administration, operation, maintenance, and development of the conduction line from the Quebrada Platanillo spring (naciente), it does not have standing to claim damages and losses (daños y perjuicios) on behalf of the ASADA of Santa Rosa de Pocosol. As for the defense of lack of passive standing (legitimación ad causam pasiva), it is not admissible, because Nombre110369 indeed has the status of defendant, as relevant, pertinent, and key aspects concerning the water conduction line it administers are being discussed. A ruling on the defenses of expiry (caducidad) and statute of limitations (prescripción) that the defendant raised in its statement of defense is omitted, because it withdrew them at the preliminary hearing.

**III) COSTS:** In accordance with articles 119, 193, and 194 of the Contentious-Administrative Procedure Code, this process is resolved without a special order as to costs, because the plaintiff was defeated in part of its claims and the defendant had sufficient reason to litigate. As seen from the ruling issued, the plaintiff's claims for damages and losses (daños y perjuicios) were rejected, and defenses invoked by the defendant were partially accepted. Likewise, the issue discussed in this process is relevant and of national importance because it refers to the fundamental right to water. By virtue of this, the defendant had sufficient reason to exercise its defense and partially oppose the complaint, claiming for its interests, and thus the exemption from costs in its favor operates because the reasons it invoked in its arguments also had a serious foundation and adequate legal and technical support.

**POR TANTO:** The complaint is declared partially granted, accepting the defense of lack of right in what was not expressly granted and rejecting it in what was granted. The Instituto Costarricense de Acueductos y Alcantarillados is granted the operation, administration, maintenance, and development of the conduction line and other system components currently managed by the Unión de Asociaciones de Acueductos Integrados de la Zona Norte, for which it may establish mechanisms for the defendant's participation in such systems, which it may execute once it compensates the Unión de Asociaciones de Acueductos Integrados de la Zona Norte through expropriation proceedings for the land that said Unión has registered in its name for this purpose or that of one of the ASADAS that comprise it, as well as the works carried out in the catchment sector, the conduction line measuring 11.5 kilometers, and the distribution tank located at Dirección13009 in Monterrey de San Carlos, called the Cedros tank, as well as establish the necessary easements (servidumbres forzosas) on the private properties through which or on which such system passes or is located. The liquidated damages and losses (daños y perjuicios) are rejected, and the defense of lack of active standing is partially accepted, while the defense of lack of passive standing is overruled. Resolved without a special order as to costs. **NOTIFIQUESE.-** **Carlos Espinoza Salas** **Ricardo A.** Madrigal Jiménez David Fallas Redondo **Exp No. 10-000810-1027-CA** **Ordinary proceeding.** **Plaintiff: Instituto Costarricense de Acueductos y Alcantarillados.** **Defendant: La Unión Nacional de Acueductos Integrados de la Zona Norte.** Goicoechea, Dirección01, 50 meters west of BNCR, opposite Dirección02. Telephones: 2545-0003 - 2545-0004. Fax: 2241-5664 and 2545-0006. Email: ...01

Nº 13- 2012 TRIBUNAL PROCESAL CONTENCIOSO ADMINISTRATIVO, SECCION CUARTA. II Circuito Judicial. San José, a las diez horas del nueve de febrero del año dos mil doce.- Proceso de conocimiento, interpuesto por el Instituto Costarricense de Acueductos y Alcantarillados, representado por su apoderado general judicial Alfredo Monge Rojas, cédula de identidad número CED87195, en contra de la Unión de Asociaciones de Acueductos Integrados de la Zona Norte, cédula jurídica número CED87196, representada por su apoderado especial judicial Alfredo Monge Rojas, cédula de identidad número CED87195. Todos son mayores, abogados, casados en primeras nupcias y vecinos de Heredia. Tramitado bajo el expediente número 10-000810-1027-CA.

RESULTANDO

I.Con el presente proceso de conocimiento se acciona con el objeto de declarar que el Instituto Costarricense de Acueductos y Alcantarillados debe operar, administrar, mantener y desarrollar la línea de conducción y demás componentes del sistema que actualmente gestiona la Unión de Asociaciones de Acueductos Integrados de la Zona Norte, para así garantizar la cantidad, calidad y continuidad del servicio de agua potable para las poblaciones de Dirección13007 , San Juan y San Antonio de Monterrey, la Unión de Monterrey, Chambacú de Monterrey, Santa Roca de Pocosol y los Lirios de los Chiles. Y que la actora posee facultades para establecer mecanismos de participación de la demandada en tales sistemas, debiendo condenarse a la accionada al pago de los daños y perjuicios causados por problemas con el abastecimiento de agua (folios 1 al 14 y del 182 al 184 de los autos).

II.Conferido el traslado de rigor, la accionada se opuso a la acción y formuló las excepciones de prescripción (desistida en la audiencia preliminar), caducidad (desistida en la audiencia preliminar), falta de derecho y falta de legitimación activa y pasiva. Además en la audiencia de juicio manifestó que reconoce las potestades legales que el ordenamiento jurídico le reconoce a la entidad actora, a lo cual no se opone, pero que se le debe indemnizar las propiedades e infraestructura realizada (folios 1 al 14 y del 182 al 184 de los autos).

III.Que el presente proceso se declaró de trámite complejo, conforme con el artículo 111 del Código Procesal Contencioso Administrativo y la sentencia se ha dictado de acuerdo con el ordinal 47 de su reglamento.

IV.En los procedimientos se han observado las prescripciones legales de rigor, y no se observan vicios u omisiones susceptibles de producir nulidad de lo actuado o indefensión a las partes. Se dicta esta resolución previa deliberación, dentro del término de ley y por unanimidad.

Redacta el juez Espinoza Salas; y C O N S I D E R A N D O I)- SOBRE LOS HECHOS: I.1)- HECHOS PROBADOS: Se tienen por demostrados los siguientes hechos de interés para la resolución de este asunto, por ser contestes con los elementos de convicción que en su apoyo se citan: 1) Que el sistema de conducción y abastecimiento de agua que se alimenta de la Dirección10188 en las Dirección13008 , cerca de la Fortuna de San Carlos, se compone de un sector de captación, una línea de conducción que mide 11.5 kilómetros, un tanque de distribución ubicado en Dirección13009 en Monterrey de San Carlos, denominado tanque Cedros, cinco líneas de distribución con macromedidores y cinco acueductos (declaración del testigo perito Nombre110364 , Nombre110365 , Nombre110366 y Víctor Rojas Carrillo). 2) Que los Acueductos de Dirección13007 , San Juan y San Antonio de Monterrey, la Unión de Monterrey, Chambacú de Monterrey, Santa Rosa de Pocosol y los Lirios de los Chiles, se abastecen de la Línea de conducción de la naciente Quebrada Platanillo (hecho no controvertido, folios 16 al 17 del expediente judicial de medida cautelar, declaración testimonial del testigo perito Nombre110364 , Nombre110367 , Nombre110366 , Nombre110368 , Nombre110365 y Víctor Rojas Carrillo). 3) Que la línea de conducción de la naciente quebrada platanillo que llega hasta el tanque de distribución ubicado en Dirección13009 en Monterrey de San Carlos, denominado tanque Cedros, es administrada, mejorada, reparada, operada y mantenida por Nombre110369 hasta dicho tanque inclusive, en el cual asigna caudales por medio de macromedidores a cada una de las asociaciones afiliadas o usuarias , de lo cual ha tenido conocimiento Nombre5630 ( (folios 16 al 17 del expediente judicial de medida cautelar, declaración del testigo perito Nombre110364 , Nombre110367 , Nombre110365 , Nombre110368 , Nombre110366 y Víctor Rojas Carrillo). 5) Los acueductos de Santo Domingo de Monterrey, San Juan y San Antonio de Monterrey, la Unión y Mirador de Monterrey, Chambacú y la Orquídea, Santa Rosa de Pocosol y los Lirios de los Chiles, se abastecen de la Línea de conducción de la naciente Quebrada Platanillo, por medio de líneas de distribución a partir del tanque Cedros, las cuales administran, mantienen y reparan por medio de las ASADAS de cada localidad (declaración del testigo perito Nombre110364 , Nombre110366 y Nombre110368 ). 6 ) Que el sistema de conducción y abastecimiento de agua que se alimenta de la Quebrada Platanillo en las Dirección13008 , compuesto por la línea de conducción y el tanque de distribución Cedros, se construyó con ayuda de Fondos de FODESAF, el Instituto Costarricense de Acueductos y Alcantarillados y la Comunidad (declaración del testigo perito Nombre110364 , de Víctor Rojas Carrillo, Nombre110367 , Nombre110368 , Nombre110366 y Nombre110365 ). 7 ) Que desde su construcción en 1987, las ASADAS y posteriormente Nombre110369 le ha n venido dando mantenimiento, desarrollo y reparación al sistema de captación, línea de conducción y tanque de distribución del sistema de conducción y abastecimiento de agua de la naciente quebrada platanillo (declaración del testigo perito Nombre110364 , Nombre110366 y Nombre110368 ). 8 ) Que el Instituto Costarricense de Acueductos y Alcantarillados invirtió para los años 1987, 1988 y 1992 el monto de sesenta y tres millones seiscientos ochenta y cinco mil novecientos noventa colones con sesenta y dos céntimos en el proyecto de suministro de agua a Monterrey de San Carlos (folio 91 del expediente judicial de medida cautelar). 9) Que la Unión de Asociaciones de Acueductos Integrados de la Zona Norte fue constituida el nueve de diciembre del 2005 por las Asociaciones Administradoras de Acueducto y Alcantarillado (ASADAS) de Santo Domingo de Monterrey, San Juan y San Antonio de Monterrey, la Unión de Monterrey, Chambacú de Monterrey, Santa Rosa de Pocosol y los Lirios de los Chiles con el objeto de mantener, operar y administrar el sistema compuesto por el sector de uso común , que consiste en el área de la captación, líneas de conducción y tanque los cedros, uniformar tarifas en todos los acueductos y recaudar los pagos de las Asociaciones de un 1% por tarifas por servicio de agua (folios 14 al 15 y del 140 al 149 del expediente judicial de medida cautelar). 1 0 ) Que la comunidad de Santa Rosa de Pocosol ha tenido un crecimiento poblacional no previsto , requiriendo mayor cantidad de servicios y teniendo un faltante de agua, lo que ha generado dificultades con las demás comunidades por la demanda del servicio de agua (folios 56 al 81, 116 al 120 , del 156 al 159 y del 165 al 169 del expediente judicial de medida cautelar, declaración de Nombre110365 y Nombre110368 ). 11 ) Que el día 26 de octubre del 2006 se reunieron las ASADAS del acueducto integrado de Monterrey y Pocosol, y se determinó que la válvula que regula el caudal a Santa Rosa de Pocosol estará únicamente en manos de dicha comunidad y en cuanto al macromedidor la llave estará en manos de tal comunidad y de Nombre110369 (folios 116 al 120 del expediente judicial de medida cautelar). 1 2 ) Que a la comunidad de Santa Rosa de Pocosol se le ha asignado por Nombre110369 un caudal de 27.78 litros por segundo, con un faltante real de consumo de 2.72 litros por segundo, pero sin que dicha ASADA esté aportando su cuota de mantenimiento, ni esté afiliada a Nombre110369 (folios 56, y del 156 al 157 del expediente judicial de medida cautelar, declaración de Nombre110365 y Nombre110368 ). 1 3 ) Mediante reunión celebrada el 16 de agosto del 2007 los funcionarios de Acueductos y Alcantarillados y los representantes de las ASADAS integrantes de la UNAIZON, suscribieron convenios respecto a la correcta administración de las líneas de conducción, en la cual Nombre5630 les solicitó estados financieros (folios 165 al 168 del expediente judicial de medida cautelar). 1 4 ) Que las ASADAS de Santo Domingo de Monterrey, San Juan y San Antonio de Monterrey y la Unión de Monterrey no cuentan con convenio de delegación por parte del Instituto Costarricense de Acueductos y Alcantarillados (folios 16 al 17 y del 169 al 172 del expediente judicial de medida cautelar). 1 5 ) Que las ASADAS de Chambacú de Monterrey, Santa Rosa de Pocosol y los Lirios de los Chiles cuentan con convenio de delegación por parte del Instituto Costarricense de Acueductos y Alcantarillados (folios 16 al 17 y del 169 al 172 del expediente judicial de medida cautelar). 16) Que los días 22, 23 y 24 de febrero del año 2010 en las Comunidades de los Lirios y Santa Rosa de Pocosol, no hubo servicio de agua (folios 82 al 90 del expediente judicial de medida cautelar y declaraciones de Nombre110367 , Nombre110365 , Nombre110366 y Víctor Rojas Carrillo). 1 7 ) Que el 12 de marzo del 2010 el Instituto Costarricense de Acueductos y Alcantarillados tiene en posesión cautelar la línea de conducción de la naciente quebrada Platanillo (folios 99 al 100 de la naciente Quebrada Platanillo). 1 8 ) Que el Instituto Costarricense de Acueductos y Alcantarillados inscribió sin perjuicio de tercero de mejor derecho para abastecimiento poblacional la naciente de Quebrada Platanillo (folios 92 al 93 del expediente judicial de medida cautelar).

I.2)- HECHOS NO PROBADOS: No demostraron los actores: 1) Que la manipulación de válvulas en el Tanque Cedros haya sido la causa del no suministro de agua los días 22, 23 y 24 de febrero del año 2010 en las Comunidades de los Lirios y Santa Rosa de Pocosol (los autos). 2) Que Nombre110369 le haya causado daños y perjuicios al Instituto Costarricense de Acueductos y Alcantarillados y a la ASADA de Pocosol producto del no suministro de agua y el agua no contabilizada los días 22, 23 y 24 de febrero del año 2010 en las Comunidades de los Lirios y Santa Rosa de Pocosol (los autos). 3) Quienes son los propietarios de los terrenos de los fundos por donde pasa la línea de conducción (los autos). 4) Los aportes e inversiones que realizó Nombre5630 en la línea de conducción de la naciente Q uebrada Platanillo y en el tanque Cedros (los autos). 5) Que Nombre110369 esté brindando un mal servicio y haya manipulado indebidamente en perjuicio de la ASADA de Santa Rosa las válvulas que controlan la asignación de caudales en la línea de conducción de la naciente quebrada platanillo y en el tanque Cedros (los autos). 6) Que la inversión realizada por el Nombre5630 cubra la totalidad del valor del sistema de la Naciente Quebrada Platanillo, de suerte que no haya algún extremo que indemnizar. 7) Los motivos por los cuales pese a que se han realizado gestiones por Nombre110369 para convertirse en concesionario del servicio de agua, el A y A no ha realizado las actividades a su cargo, o producido alguna actividad para regularizar la situación.

I.3)- PRUEBA PARA MEJOR RESOLVER: En el juicio oral se ordenó como prueba para mejor resolver de conformidad con el ordinal 50.2 del Código Procesal Contencioso Administrativo, la documentación que rola a folios 16 al 303 y del 329 al 347 del expediente de medida cautelar que se tramita en este proceso; así como la totalidad del expediente administrativo consistente en 546 folios, titulado UNAIZON.

II)- SOBRE EL FONDO: II.1)- SOBRE EL REGIMEN JURIDICO REGULATORIO DE LA ADMINISTRACION, OPERACION, MANTENIMIENTO Y DESARROLLO DE LOS SISTEMAS DE ACUEDUCTOS Y ALCANTARILLADOS: Dispone la Ley número 2726 del 14 de abril de 1961, Ley Constitutiva del Instituto Costarricense de Acueductos y Alcantarillados, en su ordinal primero, que Nombre5630 es la institución autónoma encargada de dirigir, fijar políticas, establecer y aplicar normas, así como promover en el territorio nacional el planeamiento, financiamiento y desarrollo, de todo lo relacionado con el suministro de agua potable y recolección y evacuación de aguas negras y residuos industriales líquidos, lo mismo que el aspecto normativo de los sistemas de alcantarillado pluvial en áreas urbanas. De igual modo, debe velar porque los sistemas de acueducto y alcantarillado sanitario cumplan con los principios del servicio público (ordinal segundo del Reglamento 32529 del dos de febrero del 2005, Reglamento de las Asociaciones Administradoras de Sistemas de Acueductos y Alcantarillados Comunales). Debiendo entenderse por acueducto un sistema formado por obras accesorias, tuberías o conductos de caracteres diferentes, cuyo objeto es captar, tratar y distribuir agua potable, aprovechando la gravedad o bien la utilización de energía para su correspondiente bombeo con la finalidad de proporcionar agua a un núcleo de población determinado, comprendiendo también los factores involucrados en la conservación del recurso natural y las obras de infraestructura, su construcción, mantenimiento, reposición y sostenimiento (Reglamento 30413 del 25 de marzo del 2002, Reglamento Sectorial para la regulación de los servicios de acueducto y alcantarillado sanitario). En igual sentido, Nombre5630 se encarga de determinar la prioridad, conveniencia y viabilidad de los diferentes proyectos que se propongan para construir, reformar, ampliar, modificar obras de acueductos y alcantarillados, los cuales no se podrán ejecutar sin su aprobación (ordinal segundo). Por su parte, expresa el inciso g) del ordinal segundo de la Ley supracitada, que es responsable de administrar y operar directamente los sistemas de acueductos y alcantarillados en todo el país, los cuales debe ir asumiendo tomando en cuenta la conveniencia y disponibilidad de recursos y que los sistemas que actualmente están administrados y operados por las corporaciones municipales podrán seguir a cargo de éstas, mientras suministren un servicio eficiente. Se trata en efecto de una norma programática que pretende que de manera progresiva el ente público asuma el total del suministro del agua a nivel nacional, pero conciente de que no era posible para el momento histórico. A su vez, dispuso el legislador, que la institución se encuentra facultada para convenir con organismos locales la administración de tales servicios o administrarlos a través de juntas administradoras de integración mixta entre el Instituto y las respectivas comunidades, siempre que así conviniere para la mejor prestación de los servicios y de acuerdo con los reglamentos respectivos, así como crear juntas administradoras regionales que involucren a varias municipalidades. De igual forma, tiene dicha entidad potestad de fijar las tarifas de los acueductos por intermedio de la Autoridad Reguladora de los Servicios Públicos, las que se fijarán en forma especial en el caso de que la comunidad haya aportado para la construcción, operación y mantenimiento de la obra. Por su parte, el numeral quinto de la ley supracitada, expresa que para el mejor cumplimiento de sus fines, tal ente rector del recurso hídrico, tendrá la potestad de contratar y formalizar todo tipo de documentos, necesarios o convenientes, para el mejor logro de sus fines, adquirir en propiedad bienes muebles e inmuebles, tramitar las expropiaciones necesarias de los terrenos requeridos para la conservación y protección de los recursos de agua, así como para las construcciones que se hagan necesarias en la captación, conducción, tratamiento y distribución de aguas con el fin de establecer poblaciones, o relacionadas con la evacuación de las aguas residual y su tratamiento. Además, previa notificación a los dueños, poseedores, usuarios, administradores o sus representantes, realizar los estudios e investigaciones necesarios dentro de sus predios y edificaciones, excepto las domiciliarias, para el logro de los fines legales. Del mismo modo, el Reglamento 32529 del dos de febrero del 2005, denominado Reglamento de las Asociaciones Administradoras de Sistemas de Acueductos y Alcantarillados Comunales, establece que Nombre5630 podrá delegar la administración, operación, mantenimiento y desarrollo de los sistemas de acueductos y/o alcantarillados comunales a favor de asociaciones denominadas ASADAS (artículo tercero). Tales entidades tendrán como fin la construcción, administración, operación, mantenimiento y desarrollo de los sistemas de acueductos y alcantarillados delegados por AyA, así como la conservación y aprovechamiento racional de las aguas necesarias para el suministro a las poblaciones (artículo 16 del reglamento supracitado) y en el caso de que tales entidades no garanticen el servicio público, Nombre5630 podrá asumir de pleno derecho la administración, operación, mantenimiento y desarrollo, con todos sus deberes, obligaciones y patrimonio (artículo cuarto ibid). A su vez, tales ASADAS podrán conformarse en federaciones, ligas, uniones o confederaciones (numeral 19 del reglamento citado). Respecto a las tarifas, expresa el reglamento de cita, que las ASADAS para la prestación de los servicios (administración, mantenimiento, operación y desarrollo), tendrán como fuente de ingresos las tarifas revisadas por Nombre5630 y aprobadas por ARESEP para los sistemas comunales, cobros de tasas y el aporte comunal (artículo 25 ibid). En torno al régimen patrimonial regulatorio de los bienes destinados al sistema de acueducto, expresa el numeral 18 de la Ley 2726 supracitada, que todas las propiedades e instalaciones de los organismos del Estado destinados a la prestación de servicios relativos a la captación, tratamiento y distribución de aguas potables son patrimonio nacional. Asimismo, expresa el Reglamento 32529, que todos los bienes muebles e inmuebles utilizados por las ASADAS en la administración, operación, mantenimiento y desarrollo de los sistemas de acueductos y alcantarillados se consideran de domino público, no se podrá disponer de ellos (artículo 18 y 21 inciso 10), y en caso de rescisión del convenio de delegación o de disolución de las ASADAS (numeral 21 inciso 13), se entregarán a AyA, la cual los inventariará, registrará e inscribirá a su nombre, asumiendo su titularidad para destinarlos a ese servicio público (artículo 22 inciso 11). Por su parte, la Ley de Aguas, número 276 del 27 de agosto de 1942, en sus artículos 99 y siguientes, expresa que para aprovechar aguas públicas que pasan por fundos privados se recurrirá a la imposición de una servidumbre forzosa de acueducto, previa indemnización. Por su parte, sobre este importante tema ha establecido la Sala Constitucional en el voto 5606-2006 de las 15:21 horas del 26 de abril del 2006, que en el caso del agua los servicios habían sido dados originalmente a las Municipalidades por la Ley General de Agua Potable, número 1634 del 18 de setiembre de 1953 y que posteriormente con la creación del Instituto, esa función paso al Instituto Costarricense de Acueductos y Alcantarillados, lo que convierte la situación del agua en un problema nacional y no local. En lo referente al derecho de acceso al agua potable, la Sala Constitucional ha establecido en forma reiterada, que se trata de un derecho humano fundamental por ser integrante del derecho a la salud, a la vida y al medio ambiente, el cual debe ser brindado en forma eficiente por las entidades encargadas por tratarse de un servicio público (ver entre muchos otros el Voto número 5606-2006 de las 15:21 horas del 26 de abril del 2006 y el número 5676-2010 de las 17:06 horas del 21 de setiembre del 2010, en relación con el artículo 264 de la Ley General de Salud). En igual sentido, es dable indicar, que aunque se expresa en la normativa citada que Nombre5630 tiene la potestad de encargarse de los sistemas de acueducto y de los bienes muebles e inmuebles que lo componen, operados por las ASADAS, y de que tales bienes están afectos al dominio público, no es posible aceptar que tal traspaso de bienes opere sin el pago de indemnización alguna, porque admitir lo contrario implicaría consentir un régimen confiscatorio de los bienes e inversiones realizadas por las ASADAS o diversas entidades privadas que prestan servicios públicos de agua potable, lo cual es contrario al ordinal 45 constitucional. Tal posición fue asumida por la Sección Octava de este Tribunal, en el voto número 191-2011, de las 16:00 horas del 14 de octubre del 2011, en la cual se condena a Nombre5630 a indemnizar a un prestatario privado del servicio público de agua, el pago de los bienes y servidumbres requeridos, al asumir por orden judicial la entidad rectora la operación, mantenimiento, administración y desarrollo del acueducto en discusión ; y de manera general es compartida por esta Sección del Tribunal.

II.2) CASO CONCRETO: Aplicado, lo anteriormente expuesto a la resolución del presente asunto, tenemos que le asiste parcialmente el derecho a la gestionante Instituto Costarricense de Acueductos y Alcantarillados, en sus reclamaciones, debido a que del estudio de los autos, la normativa citada en el considerando II.1, y de la probanza recabada en el proceso, se observa que como lo admitiera la propia accionada en la audiencia de juicio, efectivamente a la entidad actora le compete la potestad, de conformidad con la Ley número 2726 del 14 de abril de 1961, Ley Constitutiva del Instituto Costarricense de Acueductos y Alcantarillados, el Reglamento 32529 del dos de febrero del 2005, denominado Reglamento de las Asociaciones Administradoras de Sistemas de Acueductos y Alcantarillados Comunales, y el Reglamento 30413 del 25 de marzo del 2002, Reglamento Sectorial para la regulación de los servicios de acueducto y alcantarillado sanitario, de planear, financiar y desarrollar de todo lo relacionado con el suministro de agua potable, velando porque los sistemas de acueducto y alcantarillado sanitario cumplan con los principios del servicio público y de administrar y operar directamente los acueductos y alcantarillados en todo el país, los cuales debe ir asumiendo tomando en cuenta la conveniencia y disponibilidad de recursos. Efectivamente, lleva razón, competencia y potestad AyA, en sus pretensiones de asumir la operación, administración, mantenimiento y desarrollo de la línea de conducción y demás componentes del sistema que actualmente gestiona la Unión de Asociaciones de Acueductos Integrados de la Zona Norte, para así garantizar la cantidad, calidad y continuidad del servicio de agua potable para las poblaciones de Santo Domingo de Monterrey, San Juan y San Antonio de Monterrey, la Unión de Monterrey, Chambacú de Monterrey, Santa Roca de Pocosol y los Lirios de los Chiles, así como de establecer mecanismos de participación que estime viables de Nombre110369 en éllos. Si bien, se faculta a la actora, de conformidad con el Reglamento 32529 del dos de febrero del 2005, denominado Reglamento de las Asociaciones Administradoras de Sistemas de Acueductos y Alcantarillados Comunales, de delegar la administración, operación, mantenimiento y desarrollo de los sistemas de acueductos y/o alcantarillados comunales a favor de asociaciones denominadas ASADAS, ello no implica una delegación absoluta o irrestricta. Es de advertir que dentro del juicio oral y público se hizo ver que de pleno derecho la operación de Nombre110369 era ilegal, por el tipo de persona jurídica que era, lo que debe rechazarse, pues como se indicó es posible jurídicamente hablando que algunas actividades del sistema de suministro de agua se encuentren delegadas en ASADAS y que estas se pueden constituir en Federaciones o Confederaciones, de manera que el tipo de persona jurídica no genera por sí que la actividad de Nombre110369 se torne ilícita. Por otro lado, y pro el principio de confianza legítima, véase como la unión ha realizado al prestación del servicio de manera pública, sin que exista desconocimiento de la actora. Ahora bien, eso no quiere decir que Nombre529 y Nombre529 no tenga la potestad de pleno derecho de encargarse de la administración de tales sistemas de aguas, lo cual podrá realizar unilateralmente mediante el procedimiento de rescisión, todo con el fin de garantizar la prestación adecuada del servicio público (numeral 4 y 20 del reglamento 32529). En el presente asunto, aparte de que tal delegación no ha operado en autos en el caso de las ASADAS de Dirección13007 , San Juan y San Antonio de Monterrey y la Unión de Monterrey al no contar con un convenio de delegación (hecho probado décimo cuarto ) y por ende encontrarse funcionando al margen de lo dispuesto en la normativa supracitada, se sustenta la acción incoada, en que con base en la normativa supracitada, Nombre5630 podrá asumir de pleno derecho, para garantizar la prestación adecuada del servicio público, la administración, operación, mantenimiento y desarrollo de tal sistema de acueducto, con todos sus deberes, obligaciones y patrimonio, (artículo cuarto ibid), previa indemnización mediante procedimiento expropiatorio (ordinal 45 constitucional) y máxime en el presente asunto en que hay consentimiento de la demandada de que la promovente asuma tales potestades. No puede olvidarse sobre el particular que aún cuando la conducta de esas asociaciones implica un incumpliendo de los requisitos legales (al igual que UNAIZON) por la falta del convenio de cita, eso no quiere decir que el ente público rector no conociera de la situación desde hace mucho tiempo y que ha actuado con inercia al no pretender la regularización de la situación. Máxime que las potestades públicas no prescriben, lo cual no impide que en este momento pueda retomar el ejercicio de las competencias públicas que le han sido encomendadas. Sin embargo, tal potestad no es irrestricta, sino que está sometida, en este caso particular, a la indemnización justa de raigambre constitucional que nace del ordinal 45. Al respecto, es dable indicar, que aunque se exprese en la normativa citada que Nombre5630 tiene la atribución de encargarse del sistema de acueducto y de los bienes muebles e inmuebles que lo componen y de que tales bienes están afectos al dominio público, no es posible admitir que tal traspaso de bienes opere sin el pago de indemnización justa, sostener lo contrario implicaría consentir un régimen confiscatorio de los bienes e inversiones realizadas por las ASADAS o diversas entidades privadas que prestan servicios públicos de agua potable, lo cual es contrario a los principios constitucionales y al régimen de derecho patrio y fuera establecido de esa forma por la Sección Octava del Tribunal Contencioso, en la sentencia supracitada. El ordinal quinto de la Ley 2726, faculta a AyA, para el mejor cumplimiento de sus fines, a adquirir en propiedad bienes muebles e inmuebles, tramitar las expropiaciones necesarias de los terrenos requeridos para la conservación y protección de los recursos de agua, así como para las construcciones que se hagan necesarias en la captación, conducción, tratamiento y distribución de aguas con el fin de establecer poblaciones, o relacionadas con la evacuación de las aguas residuales y su tratamiento. En el presente asunto tenemos que el sistema de conducción y abastecimiento de agua que se alimenta de la Quebrada Platanillo en las Faldas del Volcán Arenal, cerca de la Fortuna de San Carlos, se compone de un sector de captación, una línea de conducción que mide 11.5 kilómetros y un tanque de distribución ubicado en Alto Los Cedros en Monterrey de San Carlos, denominado tanque Cedros (hecho probado primero). Tal sistema de conducción y abastecimiento de agua se construyó en 1987 con ayuda de Fondos de FODESAF en carácter de donación, con aportes del Instituto Costarricense de Acueductos y Alcantarillados (sin que se haya acreditado en que consistieron tales aportes e inversiones, máxime que en el hecho probado octavo acredita montos invertidos pero en el proyecto Monterrey) y de la Comunidad (hecho probado séptimo) . Además, desde su realización, ha sido mantenido, operado y administrado por las ASADAS de las comunidades de Santo Domingo de Monterrey, San Juan y San Antonio de Monterrey, la Unión de Monterrey, Chambacú de Monterrey, Santa Rosa de Pocosol y los Lirios de los Chiles, a las cuales sirve (hecho probado quinto ). Posteriormente, dichas ASADAS se constituyeron en la Unión de Asociaciones de Acueductos Integrados de la Zona Norte, la cual desde el año 2005, y mediante aportes comunes ha venido manteniendo, operando y administrando el sector de uso común de los acueductos que consiste en el sector de la captación, líneas de conducción y tanque los cedros. Ello significa que la comunidad por intermedio de tal entidad que la representa en esa tarea de interés común, como lo es el agua, ha venido realizando inversiones, cuidando, desarrollando, comprando terrenos, y construyendo infraestructura y obras en tal sistema de agua. En mérito de ello, si bien Nombre5630 tiene la potestad de apropiarse de tales obras y terrenos, en este caso no lo puede hacer sin que ello le conlleve deberes indemnizatorios para con la comunidad, representada en este caso por UNAIZON, en su condición de gestora y administradora de la línea de conducción de la naciente Quebrada Platanillo. Durante el juicio oral y público el representante del ente público hizo ver que la demandada no tendría derecho a cobrar importe alguno por la línea de distribución al haber sido constituido muchos años después de la generación de la obra pública, lo que es incorrecto. Es manifiesto de los hechos probados que efectivamente la Unión se constituyó muchos años después y que en la obra pública participaron diferentes sectores; sin embargo, es claro que dicha Unión ha administrado la infraestructura en condiciones satisfactorias, al margen del problema del mes de febrero del 2010, que en todo caso no se acreditó que fuera su responsabilidad, lo que lleva aparejado que existen gastos de mantenimiento para el suministro que no podría el ente público desconocer. Además, respecto a la legitimación, es un hecho notorio que el ente privado se encuentra administrando la infraestructura lo que lleva aparejado que de alguna forma explícita o implícita se subrogó los derechos de otras personas, por lo que se encuentra legitimado para reclamar los derechos indemnizatorios de cualquier rubro que no corresponda a inversión pública. Por consiguiente, debe irrogar los pagos correspondientes a UNAIZON, por intermedio del proceso expropiatorio, de los terrenos destinados a tal fin que dicha Unión tuviere inscritos a su nombre o de alguna de las ASADAS que la integran, de las obras realizadas en el sector de captación, la línea de conducción con una medida de 11.5 kilómetros y el tanque de distribución ubicado en Dirección13009 en Monterrey de San Carlos, denominado tanque Cedros. Asimismo, de conformidad con el ordinal 99 de la Ley de Aguas, número 276 del 27 de agosto de 1942, deberá constituir las servidumbres forzosas en los fundos privados por donde pase o se encuentre tal sistema , ello así, por cuanto por su amplia longitud, podrían haber terceros de buena fe que resultarían afectados. En mérito de ello, se destaca, que durante el juicio oral y público se evacuó prueba que evidenciaba como la línea, el área de captación y el tanque se ubican sobre terrenos de personas que no están integradas al proceso, sin haberse probado quienes son, pero que presentan derechos al amparo del numeral 45 constitucional, por lo que el ente público está llamado a proveer lo pertinente para la cancelación de las indemnizaciones correspondientes. Cabe advertir que el Tribunal opta por remitir al proceso expropiatorio en el caso que Nombre5630 haga ejercicio de su facultad para administrar y operar la línea de distribución, sobre varios motivos, y al ser razonable pensar la existencia de un daño contra la demandada, las cuales resulta imperioso exponer. Principalmente porque dicho proceso es consecuencia directa del tantas veces citado ordinal 45 constitucional, por lo que se estaría enderezando el cauce constitucional, por otro lado, el proceso establece una serie de mecanismos (en especial un peritaje administrativo y al menos uno judicial en caso de ser requerido) procurando que el valor venal del bien sea cancelado efectivamente, con plena garantía del derecho al debido proceso y en especial el derecho de defensa. Finalmente, en otro orden de cosas, resta indicar respecto al tema de las tarifas fijadas por Nombre110369 en los servicios de agua y cuotas de mantenimiento de las ASADAS de la línea de conducción de la naciente quebrada platanillo y su ilegalidad (hecho probado sexto), que carece de interés referirse a tal aspecto, debido a que al haber aceptado la accionada que Nombre5630 tome la administración del sistema de agua, resulta innecesario abordar la legalidad de tales cobros.

II.3) SOBRE LOS RECLAMOS DE DAÑOS Y PERJUICIOS INCOADOS POR Nombre5630: Reclama la gestionante que Nombre110369 debe cancelarle los gastos en que incurrió a título de daños y perjuicios producto de la emergencia acontecida los días 22, 23 y 24 de febrero del año 2010 en las Comunidades de los Lirios y Santa Rosa de Pocosol, al no haber servicio de agua (hecho probado dieciséis ) y su intervención en el sistema de agua producto de la medida cautelar provisionalísima. Para ello requiere por tal concepto (folios 39 al 41 de los autos), en el período comprendido del 16 de marzo al 26 de abril del 2010, la suma de diez millones trescientos cinco mil colones por salarios de funcionarios, viáticos, combustible, contratación de cisterna y contratación de seguridad. Liquida además, el monto de ocho millones cuatrocientos mil colones por el perjuicio patrimonial causado a la ASADA de Santa Rosa de Pocosol, en el lapso comprendido entre el 23 de febrero del 2010 y el 15 de marzo del 2010 por agua no contabilizada, alegando daños patrimoniales a dicha ASADA, producidos por los problemas con el abastecimiento de agua potable, debido a lo cual, los usuarios del sistema no pagaron el servicio, reclamando además los intereses legales por tales sumas. Sin embargo, tales pretensiones no son de recibo y deben denegarse, por cuanto no se acreditó en autos la relación causal con los hechos dañosos liquidados, si bien demostró haber incurrido en gastos, así como el acontecimiento dañoso, no pudo imputar que el responsable de tales hechos lo haya sido Nombre110369. Así las cosas, se incumple con el establecimiento de los requisitos esenciales para la determinación de la responsabilidad civil extracontractual, como lo son una actuación u omisión imputable a la accionada producto de una acción dolosa o culposa y que exista relación directa de causa a efecto entre el hecho que se imputa y el daño producido, que legitimen el perjuicio producido. De la probanza aportada a los autos, no demuestra la promovente mediante prueba fehaciente e indubitable que la manipulación de válvulas en el Tanque Cedros haya sido la causa del no suministro de agua los días 22, 23 y 24 de febrero del año 2010 en las Comunidades de los Lirios y Santa Rosa de Pocosol y que Nombre110369 le haya causado daños y perjuicios al Instituto Costarricense de Acueductos y Alcantarillados y a la ASADA de Pocosol producto del no suministro de agua y el agua no contabilizada los días 22, 23 y 24 de febrero del año 2010 en las Comunidades de los Lirios y Santa Rosa de Pocosol. La causa de tales hechos es incierta y no se pudo establecer, y la afirmación de tratarse de una manipulación de las válvulas es especulativa e hipotética, y sin que además se le haya podido imputar al fontanero de UNAIZON, señor Nombre110366 , participación dolosa o culposa. Las responsabilidades en el sistema de agua, se encuentran divididas, de modo tal que Nombre110369 tiene a su cargo únicamente la línea de conducción de la naciente quebrada platanillo que llega hasta el tanque de distribución ubicado en Dirección13009 en Monterrey de San Carlos, denominado tanque Cedros, en el cual asigna caudales por medio de macromedidores a cada una de las asociaciones afiliadas y usuarias (hecho probado cuarto). Por su parte, a partir de las líneas de distribución, cada ASADA se encarga de su acueducto, para lo cual contratan personal en forma independiente con el objeto de vigilar y asistir la adecuada y correcta transición del agua (hecho probado quinto). De este modo, de la probanza evacuada, no es posible establecer en que sector se generó la causa de que no se suministrara agua en tales fechas, lo que impide sentar responsabilidades al respecto. Si bien se aportaron testigos por la actora (Víctor Rojas Carrillo, Nombre110367 , Nombre110365 ) sus deposiciones refieren el problema del faltante de agua en las comunidades de Santa Rosa de Pocosol y Los Lirios, la cual ha sido un problema histórico en tales localidades ante la demanda creciente de servicios (hechos probados décimo al décimo tercero ), pero sin que tal situación sea el origen del faltante del agua los días 22, 23 y 24 de febrero del 2010. Observándose al respecto , como las ASADAS tomaron medidas en tal sentido y se reunieron el día 26 de octubre del 2006, acordándose que la válvula que regula el caudal a Santa Rosa de Pocosol estará únicamente en manos de dicha comunidad y en cuanto al macromedidor la llave la tendrá dicha comunidad y Nombre110369 (hecho probado décimo tercero ). Más bien llama la atención como el propio funcionario de la actora, Nombre110365 , manifiesta que a raíz de la situación, con macromedidor observaron que en dichas fechas pasaban 26 y 28 litros por segundo, y se ocupaban 38, de lo cual no puede extraerse violación alguna por parte de la demandada, debido a que como se expresó en el hecho probado décimo segundo , a la comunidad de Santa Rosa de Pocosol se le asignó desde años atrás por UNAIZON, un caudal de 27.78 litros por segundo. Consecuentemente, los gastos en que incurrió la actora, no pueden ser imputados en relación causal a la accionada, ni tener a ésta como la autora responsable. Respecto, al reclamo por el perjuicio patrimonial causado a la ASADA de Santa Rosa de Pocosol, en el período comprendido entre el 23 de febrero del 2010 y el 15 de marzo del 2010 por agua no contabilizada, se rechaza porque carece de legitimación activa la promovente para actuar en representación de la ASADA de Santa Rosa de Pocosol y de los Lirios, al ser reclamos que debió de haber incoado en forma directa tal entidad, además de que liquidar agua no vendida se trata de un hecho hipotético, futuro, eventual e incierto que incumple los requerimiento del ordinal 196 de la Ley General de la Administración Público, que estatuye para su indemnización que el daño debe ser cierto y real.

II.4)- EXCEPCIONES: De conformidad con lo expuesto, acorde con la normativa citada y los fundamentos de hecho expuestos, se observa que la presente demanda debe acogerse en forma parcial. Ello así, debido a que el ordenamiento jurídico le otorga tales potestades y competencias a la actora y además, porque la accionada no se opuso a sus pretensiones en el tanto en que se le indemnizará lo correspondiente. En mérito de ello, se rechaza parcialmente la excepción de falta de derecho, entendiéndose acogida en lo rechazado y denegada en lo expresamente admitido. Respecto a la excepción de falta de legitimación ad causam activa, se deniega parcialmente, debido a que si bien Nombre5630 tiene la titularidad del derecho reclamado de gestionar la administración, operación, mantenimiento y desarrollo de la línea de conducción de la naciente quebrada platanillo, no está legitimada para reclamar daños y perjuicios en representación de la ASADA de Santa Rosa de Pocosol. En cuanto a la excepción de falta de legitimación ad causam pasiva, no es de recibo, porque efectivamente Nombre110369 tiene la condición de accionada, al estarse discutiendo aspectos atinentes, relevantes y claves en cuanto a la línea de conducción de agua que administra. Se omite pronunciamiento sobre las excepciones de caducidad y prescripción que interpusiera en su libelo de contestación la accionada, debido a que en la audiencia preliminar desistió de ellas.

• III)COSTAS: De conformidad con los ordinales 119, 193 y 194 del Código Procesal Contencioso Administrativo, se impone resolver este proceso sin especial condenatoria en costas, ello así por cuanto la actora fue vencida en parte de sus pretensiones y hubo suficiente motivo para litigar de la accionada. Como se observa del fallo dictado, a la promovente se le rechazaron pretensiones de daños y perjuicios y se acogieron en forma parcial defensas invocadas por la accionada . De igual forma, el tema discutido en este proceso, es relevante, y de importancia nacional por referirse al derecho fundamental del agua, en mérito de ello tuvo la demandada suficiente motivo para ejercer su defensa y oponerse parcialmente a la demanda, reclamando por sus intereses, con lo cual la exoneración en costas en su favor opera en mérito de que las razones que invocó en sus alegatos tuvieron además un serio fundamento y un adecuado sustento jurídico y técnico.

POR TANTO :

Se declara parcialmente con lugar la presente demanda, acogiéndose la excepción de falta de derecho en lo no expresamente concedido y rechazándose en lo otorgado. Se le otorga al Instituto Costarricense de Acueductos y Alcantarillados, la operación, administración, mantenimiento y desarrollo de la línea de conducción y demás componentes del sistema que actualmente gestiona la Unión de Asociaciones de Acueductos Integrados de la Zona Norte, para lo cual podrá establecer mecanismos de participación de la demandada en tales sistemas, lo que podrá ejecutar hasta tanto indemnice mediante proceso expropiatorio a la Unión de Asociaciones de Acueductos Integrados de la Zona Norte lo correspondiente a los terrenos que dicha Unión hubiere inscrito a su nombre con tal fin o de alguna de las ASADAS que la integran, así como las obras realizadas en el sector de captación, la línea de conducción con una medida de 11.5 kilómetros y el tanque de distribución ubicado en Dirección13009 en Monterrey de San Carlos, denominado tanque Cedros, así como constituir las servidumbres forzosas en los fundos privados por donde pase o se encuentre tal sistema. Se rechazan los daños y perjuicios liquidados y se acoge parcialmente la excepción de falta de legitimación activa, denegándose la de falta de legitimación pasiva. Se resuelve sin especial condenatoria en costas. NOTIFIQUESE.- Carlos Espinoza Salas Ricardo A. Madrigal Jiménez David Fallas Redondo Proceso de conocimiento.

Actor: Instituto Costarricense de Acueductos y Alcantarillados.

Contra: La Unión Nacional de Acueductos Integrados de la Zona Norte.

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