Regulation for the Provision of Water Supply, Sanitary Sewerage, and Fire Hydrant Services (AR-PSAYA-2013)Reglamento de Prestación de los Servicios de Acueducto, Alcantarillado Sanitario e Hidrantes (AR-PSAYA-2013)

"the physical limit of the public aqueduct and sewerage services is given by the limit between private property and public property." 5.2.8. Art. 119. Duties of subscribers (abonados) a. Keep their interior installations in good working condition.

On the other hand, to determine the location and existence of non-visible leaks, it would be necessary to carry out domiciliary inspections (revisiones domiciliares), a procedure that this regulation does not contemplate. AyA agrees that the domiciliary inspection should be transformed into an inspection of the water meter and promote the responsibility of clients for the good condition of the installations on their property. internaciones (Sic) or the Political Constitution.

Finally, AyA indicates that "a matrix is attached containing all the articles with their respective observations, especially regarding the reformulation of some concepts, deadlines, and competencies of the Ministry of Health on the subject of sanitary sewerage." The final petitions:

1- "Reconsider the content and scope of the proposed regulation, with the intention that, before a possible approval, a conflict in its application is not generated and, what is even more delicate, that legal uncertainty is not produced for the administered party, as they would have, on almost identical matters, different treatments and procedures.

2- Adopt the recommendations regarding compliance deadlines and competencies of the Ministry of Health in the section corresponding to sanitary sewerage.

3- Extend the deadlines estimated in the transitional provisions, especially in the case that ASADAS need to implement the necessary measures and technologies for compliance with this standard." XXX- That through official letter 0643-IA-2014, of September 8, 2014, the Water Administration issued the report called "Report on the Proposed Technical Regulation:

Provision of Aqueduct, Sanitary Sewerage, and Hydrant Services, ARPSAYA-2013," which is attached to the proceedings in file OT-157-2014. (Folios 126-240) XXXI- That in the deadlines and procedures, the prescriptions of the Law have been complied with.

I- That from official letter 0643-IA-2014 of September 8, 2014, which serves as the basis for this resolution, the following is extracted:

"(.)

HEARING PROCESS AND POSITIONS The hearing was held on August 11, 2014, in which positions were presented by: User Counselor of ARESEP, Mr. Jorge Sanarrucia Aragón; Empresa de Servicios Públicos de Heredia, ASADA Santa Isabel - San Rafael de Río Cuarto de Grecia, Aníbal Mora Campos, and the Instituto Costarricense de Acueductos y Alcantarillados.

The arguments presented by the interested parties and the response to them are:

1- User Counselor, Mr. Jorge Sanarrucia Aragón.

1.1 On the acronyms and definitions in relation to the concept of complaints and reports (quejas y denuncias):

In this regard, it is indicated:

What is noted is a definition, not the purpose of the act, which is not necessarily to sanction the provider but to establish the real truth of the facts, which may favor the provider or the subscriber.

Similar to the concept of report (denuncia), what is noted is a definition, which does not necessarily have to establish the objective of the act. It is obvious that by filing a complaint (queja), the aim is to correct the anomaly.

Final comment:

In both cases, the requested clarifications are considered unnecessary.

1.2 "Article 9.- Opinion on service availability (dictamen de disponibilidad de servicios)." In this regard, it is indicated:

It is very difficult in the abstract to know what works must be financed and built; that depends on each case and, as the text of the article indicates, it will be the provider who defines that aspect.

Final comment:

It is considered that the suggestion is not pertinent because there is no specific knowledge of works to list them, and that decision must be left to the provider.

1.3 "Article 12.- Balance between aqueduct and sanitary sewerage services." In this regard, it is indicated:

The implementation of the regulation by the Water Administration does not necessarily have to be indicated in the regulation; it is an aspect of internal planning.

Final comment:

The requested clarifications become unnecessary. The topic addressed by Article 12 falls under the competence of the Water Administration, and follow-up is part of its normal work, and like any act, it must be documented, the respective report must be issued, and due process, as established by current legislation, must be followed.

1.4 "Article 14.- Consultation with indigenous peoples." In this regard, it is indicated:

As the interested party rightly lists, there are many technically valid forms of consultation, so it is not incumbent upon this Regulatory Body to limit such practices. The principle embedded in Articles 14 and 15, better expressed in 15, is to respect the idiosyncrasy and culture of those peoples. It is the function of the providers to define and choose the most appropriate mechanism, and it is not the regulatory body that should impose it.

Final comment:

The requested clarifications are considered unnecessary; the decision of the consultation mechanism should be left to the provider, avoiding co-administration.

1.5 "Article 17.- Information systems." In this regard, it is indicated:

The 15 recommended points to be included in the information system were considered as the minimum required to obtain valid information that allows the subscriber and the user to know the operator and the regulator to fulfill its work.

Final comment:

The suggestion is not accepted, since the SWOT is a typical administrative tool that could confuse regulatory work with properly administrative work of the operators.

1.6 "Article 21.- Repair of public roads." In this regard, it is indicated:

The legal basis of this regulation is Law 7593, which in Article 6 establishes as an obligation of ARESEP to investigate and resolve the complaints that are presented, and in 27, how they are processed. Although it is not expressly stated, the procedure must be that of a complaint (queja), which is extensively regulated by the Regulatory Authority, through the document "Procedures and Requirements for Complaints (Quejas)", published in La Gaceta No. 161 of August 23, 2011.

Final comment:

It is considered that even if the concept is not expressly stated, it is embedded, making it unnecessary to go into the requested detail, since matters related to complaints: procedure, filing, and jurisdiction are internalized by the subscribers, being widely known and regulated by ARESEP.

1.7 "Article 23.- Verification of measurement or counting systems".

In this regard, it is indicated:

The recommended aspect is a routine task of the Intendancy, and its specification in the regulation is not necessary.

Final comment:

The requested clarification becomes unnecessary; the subject addressed by Article 23 is the jurisdiction of the Water Intendancy (Intendencia de Agua), and follow-up is part of its normal work.

1.8 "Article 27.- Provision of services on a continuous basis".

In this regard, it is indicated:

It is neither necessary nor appropriate to specify each and every circumstance of non-compliance, lest by being specific, some case be left out. What must be understood is that the exceptions are any cause not attributable to the provider.

Final comment:

It is considered unnecessary to specify the possible causes of non-compliance; therefore, the version of the regulation made known at the public hearing is maintained in that regard.

1.9 "Article 75.- Grounds for rejection of service applications" In this regard, it is indicated:

The obligation to respond to every procedure is established in the General Law of Public Administration (Ley General de la Administración Pública).

Final comment:

It is considered unnecessary to insist on an aspect that is widely regulated in current legislation.

1.10 "Article 84.- Complaints regarding the provision of services".

In this regard, it is indicated:

As the article correctly indicates, the complaint is not subject to formalities, this in order to give it the most expeditious processing and to facilitate the potential complainant in carrying out that task. If requirements are demanded, the juncture of giving the potential complainant the opportunity to act is lost.

Final comment:

In the interest of facilitating processes and maintaining their informality, it is not considered appropriate to incorporate what was suggested.

Final conclusion on the arguments presented by Mr. Sanarrucia:

Each of the aspects suggested by the User Counselor (Consejero del Usuario) has been analyzed in light of legality, technical aspects, or convenience for the parties, and it is considered that they do not apply; therefore, it is recommended not to incorporate them into the final version of the regulation under analysis.

2- Empresa de Servicios Públicos de Heredia 2.1 "Article 95.- Reduction of the charge for services in case of discontinuity".

In this regard, it is indicated:

a. The application of non-payment of the fixed charge or 50% of the billing are not simultaneous; the objective is the non-payment of the fixed charge, and only if that concept does not exist does the reduction apply. b. The implementation of what is regulated will not be arbitrary; it applies when the discontinuity is generated by causes attributable to the provider and which are not: fortuitous event, force majeure, scheduled suspensions for maintenance or for carrying out improvements. c. Additionally, the regulation establishes that it is applicable only when it exceeds established suspension periods, which are significantly long. d. Article 129 establishes that the regulation takes effect 6 months after its publication.

Final comment:

The philosophy of the service is that it be continuous 24 hours a day, every day, and that the water be provided under the established conditions of quantity, quality, and pressure; the opposite is discontinuity. When the service is suspended, it is the provider's obligation to provide a service that at least delivers a subsistence volume through alternative means of supply.

The Company's arguments are not accepted, first because the conditions it considers must be established are already included, and second because, despite implying costs, when the service is suspended, it is its obligation to provide it through alternative means, and finally, the effective date begins six months after publication, a period in which the implementation strategy must be defined, which should include the economic effect.

2.2 "Article 97.- Elimination of the charge for services due to non-compliance with water quality".

In this regard, it is indicated:

a. Similar to Article 95, the suspension of payment or 50% of the billing are not simultaneous.

b. The implementation of what is regulated will not be arbitrary; it applies when the discontinuity is generated by causes attributable to the provider and which are not: fortuitous event, force majeure, scheduled suspensions for maintenance or for carrying out improvements. Note that the suspension of payment also does not apply when the problem is generated by scheduled service suspensions, one of the causes being the carrying out of improvements or new investments.

c. Article 129 establishes that the regulation takes effect 6 months after its publication, a period in which the implementation strategy must be defined, which should include the economic effect.

Final comment:

It is the provider's obligation to supply water under quality conditions according to the established standards, as this action allows compliance with Article 46 of the Political Constitution (Constitución Política), which establishes that: "consumers and users have the right to the protection of their health, environment, safety, and economic interests.", likewise Article 50 establishes that: ".Every person has the right to a healthy and ecologically balanced environment." and Article 33 indicates that "every person is equal before the law and no discrimination contrary to human dignity may be practiced." The Company's argument is not accepted, first because the conditions it considers must be established are already included, and second because, despite implying costs, it is the responsibility of the operator to comply with the water quality established in the Quality Regulation (Reglamento de Calidad). Finally, the effective date begins six months after publication, a period in which the implementation strategy must be defined, which should include the economic effect.

Final conclusion on the arguments presented by the Empresa de Servicios Públicos de Heredia:

Each of the aspects suggested by the Empresa de Servicios Públicos de Heredia has been analyzed in light of legality, technical aspects, or convenience for the parties, and it is considered they do not apply; therefore, it is recommended to maintain the regulation proposal in the terms that were submitted to the public hearing.

3 ASADA Santa Isabel - San Rafael de Río Cuarto de Grecia.

3.1 Article 11. Deadline to issue an availability opinion (dictamen de disponibilidad).

In this regard, it is indicated:

The indicated five-day period is for the issuance of the response document or opinion (dictamen). The technical studies on the water and hydraulic capacity of the system and other required ones must be carried out by the provider in a timely manner as part of its planning work, thus the availability procedure becomes a simple administrative procedure where the system's capacity to accept new subscribers is reviewed.

Final comment:

The wording of the article is considered clear; providers must improve their service management and plan their work as indicated in Articles 54 and 55, preparing a Program for Continuous Improvement and Expansion of Service (Programa de Mejoras y Expansión Continua del Servicio, PMYES) that allows them to know the system they manage and its capacities. The suggestion is not accepted.

3.2 Article 17. Information systems.

In this regard, it is indicated:

If there are no informal settlements (precarios) in the area served, it is obvious that a census is not required. The provider must know the conditions of its area of jurisdiction to plan its management, including the existence of informal settlements (precarios).

The Political Constitution (Constitución Política) in its Article 46 establishes that "consumers and users have the right to the protection of their health, environment, safety, and economic interests.", likewise in Article 50 it is established that ".Every person has the right to a healthy and ecologically balanced environment." and Article 33 indicates that "every person is equal before the law and no discrimination contrary to human dignity may be practiced", therefore there are no first- or second-class Costa Ricans, we all have the right to potable water service; notwithstanding the foregoing, the Constitutional Chamber (Sala Constitucional) has also indicated that the service is not free, that it must be paid for.

Although not incorporated into the Political Constitution (Constitución Política), Costa Rica has signed international agreements where the right of people to potable water is recognized, and today there is even talk of the right to sanitation. The aqueduct service cannot be denied because it violates human dignity and all the rights indicated above.

Final comment:

The interested party is clarified on the concepts presented, and it is indicated that they are not accepted.

3.3 Article 29. Requirements for the installation of a domestic public standpipe (fuente pública domiciliaria).

In this regard, it is indicated:

The Constitutional Chamber (Sala Constitucional) has established the obligation to install a public standpipe (fuente pública) when the service is suspended for non-payment. The article is in accordance with the criteria established by the Chamber in rulings: 2732-2009, 5342-2010, 6126-1994, 1853-2003, 0801-2000, and 6446-2007.

Final comment:

As indicated before, potable water is vital for human life; therefore, even though the service is suspended, a subsistence flow must be provided, so the interested party's comment is not accepted.

3.4 Article 33. Temporary interruption of potable water service.

In this regard, it is indicated:

The established principle is generic, and each community can adapt it to its needs and conditions, according to the available means and response capacity. The important thing is to keep users informed and that the service be reinstated as soon as possible, and if the suspension exceeds eight hours, the subscriber and user be given a reasonable explanation thereof and provided with an alternative supply.

As indicated before, all Costa Ricans are equal and have the same rights, recognizing the limitations of some ASADAs and in order to give them time to organize, for this group of providers the application date for them starts later, 12 months after its effective date. (Article 129).

Final comment:

The comment is acceptable, but it is considered that without modifying the wording, the provider can apply and adapt it to its operating conditions.

3.5 Article 85. Permanent user service center.

In this regard, it is indicated:

The special condition of the ASADAs is understood, which is why Transitory Provision IV grants a longer period for its compliance. Each ASADA must create a management plan to comply with what is indicated, starting from the fact that all citizens are equal, that the service must have 24-hour continuity, and that timely knowledge of an anomalous event could generate savings not only for the service but also for the user.

What is indicated in the article is broad, being able to use low-cost technological systems offered today. The concern is understood, but the excuse is not accepted.

Final conclusion on the arguments presented by the "ASADA Santa Isabel- San Rafael".

Each of the aspects suggested by the president of the "ASADA Santa Isabel- San Rafael de Río Cuarto de Grecia" has been analyzed in light of legality, technical aspects, and the interests of providers and users, and it is considered that they do not apply; therefore, it is recommended not to incorporate them into the final version of the regulation under analysis.

4 Leiber Aníbal Mora Campos He expresses his opposition to the regulation because he considers that it is not clear regarding the periods applied within it.

In this regard, it is indicated:

6227 stipulates that deadlines by days for the Administration include non-business days; while those for private individuals are always business days. Therefore, in the absence of specification in this regulation, it is understood that the deadlines established by the Administration, that is, by the Regulatory Authority (Autoridad Reguladora), for the providers, correspond to business days.

It is clarified to Mr. Leiber Anibal Mora Campos that, for the specific case of the Service Provision Regulation (Reglamento de Prestación de Servicios) at hand, the Administration issuing it is the Regulatory Authority of Public Services (Autoridad Reguladora de los Servicios Públicos) and it is directed at providers and users of aqueduct, sewerage, and hydrant services; therefore, the deadlines determined by it are in accordance with the law. As an example, the Law of the Ombudsman's Office of the Republic (Ley de la Defensoría de los Habitantes de la República) is cited, which in its Article 20 establishes a deadline of five business days – and not calendar days – for administrative agencies to submit the reports requested of them.

Final conclusion on the arguments presented by Mr. Leiber Mora:

It is clarified to Mr. Mora Campos that, in the absence of specification in this regulation, it is understood that the deadlines established by the Administration, that is, by the Regulatory Authority (Autoridad Reguladora), for the providers, correspond to business days.

5 Instituto Costarricense de Acueductos y Alcantarillados.

5.1 AyA's power to issue its own regulations.

AyA asserts the authority it holds by law to issue its own regulations on organization and services.

In this regard, it is indicated to it:

This statement is shared by the Regulatory Authority (Autoridad Reguladora), which has even repeatedly explained to users of aqueduct and sewerage services that AyA, as the body responsible for administering and operating aqueduct and sewerage systems throughout the country, is authorized by law to provide these services in accordance with its own regulations. Article 12 of the General Law of Public Administration (Ley General de la Administración Pública) No. 6227 is clear in stating that "(.) A public service shall be considered authorized when the subject and the purpose thereof have been indicated. In this case, the responsible entity may provide it in accordance with its own regulations on the other aspects of the activity, under the rule of Law (.)", hence no objection is found to this point made by the Institute.

However, as AyA has been informed in various documents (e.g., in official letters 0207-IA-2014 of May 5, 2014, and 0198-IA-2014 of April 29, 2014, visible in file OT-328-2013); the function of regulating public services has been entrusted to the Regulatory Authority of Public Services (Autoridad Reguladora de los Servicios Públicos); consequently, regulation includes both tariff setting and formulating and ensuring compliance with the requirements of quality, quantity, opportunity, continuity, and reliability necessary to optimally provide the public services subject to its authority. Indeed, regulation translates into control of tariffs and services, which is justified by the public interest present in public services.

This regulatory function has been vested in the Regulatory Authority (Autoridad Reguladora) by Law No. 7593 of August 9, 1996, which allows it, through its Article 25, to impose on providers, by means of technical regulations, the rules and conditions of quality, quantity, reliability, continuity, opportunity, and optimal provision that must be followed for the supply of services, in accordance with the specific standards existing in the country or abroad, for each case. It is a duty that has been assigned to the Board of Directors of the regulatory body, according to Article 53, subsection n) of the aforementioned law, by entrusting it with issuing the technical regulations required for the correct application of the regulatory framework for public services.

Under the protection of the cited regulations, the issuance of technical regulations such as the present one by the regulatory body is not only legally possible but also creates sound and uniform rules aimed at preventing disparities and even discrimination in the manner of providing the same public service among different operators. This leads to better transparency in the management of public resources set via tariffs, and strengthens the provider by promoting its efficiency, establishing specific standards, permitted by Article 25.

Furthermore, user protection is ensured by guaranteeing that the service does not decrease in quality and is provided optimally, reliably, continuously, opportunely, and in sufficient quantity, as promulgated by Article 5 of Law No. 7593.

Moreover, it must be known that alongside the set of obligations and duties to which public service providers are subject, there are the oversight powers granted by Article 6, subsection a) of Law No. 7593 to the Regulatory Authority of Public Services (Autoridad Reguladora de los Servicios Públicos), which allow it to regulate and oversee, from an accounting, financial, and technical standpoint, providers to verify the correct management of the factors affecting the cost of the service, whether they are investments made, indebtedness incurred, levels of income received, costs and expenses incurred, income received, and profitability or profit obtained. What the regulatory body is establishing in the draft regulation at hand is therefore not disproportionate, because in order to oversee and verify the adequate management of the factors affecting the cost of the service, for the benefit of the public interest, the issuance of this Service Provision Regulation (Reglamento de prestación de servicios) is reasonable.

In support of the foregoing, reference is made to ruling 2014-01583 of the Constitutional Chamber (Sala Constitucional) of February 5, 2014, which, when analyzing the unconstitutionality of some articles of the General Customs Law, stated regarding the Administration's power of control and oversight that:

"(.) It corresponds to the State, through the mechanisms it deems appropriate and precisely by reason of its power of control, to ensure the adequate compliance with the duties and obligations of customs auxiliaries (.). Our regulatory system has coherently established the possibility for customs agents to act as auxiliaries of the public customs function, but such attribution is by no means unrestricted; rather, precisely due to the nature of the function entrusted to these agents, it is essential not only the full compliance with the obligations imposed, but also the existence of oversight and control mechanisms that allow the Administration to ensure the correct and effective exercise of the public customs function (.). It is correct that auxiliaries of the public customs function not only can, but must be, passive subjects of extensive regulation and direction through regulations, operational manuals, circulars, and specific instructions, because (.) their work as a public function must be normatively ordered or authorized within the legal system to be carried out (.)".

In the same vein as the cited resolution, it is considered that providers of public aqueduct and sewerage services must be subject to regulation through the technical regulations that Law No. 7593 allows the Regulatory Authority (Autoridad Reguladora) to issue, in order to ensure the satisfaction of the public interest and the optimal provision of public services.

On the other hand, it is indicated that in the specific case of public services related to water resources, which are regulated in this regulatory body, a fundamental human right is at stake, which is access to potable water, derived from the right to life and health; therefore, ensuring its effective protection by establishing clear technical rules that allow for correct regulation and oversight of the providers of these services ensures the optimal provision of the service, for the benefit of the country's sustainable development.

In addition to the foregoing, regarding regulatory power, the Constitutional Chamber (Sala Constitucional) has recognized that in our legal system, the execution of some sectoral and special laws is, by provision of law, the competence of certain decentralized entities due to their technical specialty, the experience, and the knowledge they possess for their issuance.

Resolution 1963-2012, of February 15, 2012, establishes:

"(.) This executive regulatory power, from the prism of Constitutional Law, may be debatable, since Article 140, subsection 3, of the Political Constitution (Constitución Política) attributes the competence to regulate laws to the Executive Branch. However, if one starts from a systematic interpretation of the constitutional order, it is clear that this competence is not conferred exclusively and preclusively on the Executive Branch, so it cannot be considered that an unconstitutional delegation of functions occurs (Article 9 of the fundamental norm). Moreover, this executive regulatory power is usually recognized (.) for decentralized public entities that have autonomy and deal with certain public services of a specialized or territorially limited nature, given that the fundamental text does not expressly prohibit the attribution of that executive regulatory power. Under this understanding, laws that enable a supreme power other than the Executive or a lesser public entity to regulate a Law, are not unconstitutional (.)".

It is thus determined that the Regulatory Authority (Autoridad Reguladora) has full competence to issue regulatory bodies such as the one at hand here, as it refers to the public services that, under Law 7593, it is compelled to regulate.

It is clarified to AyA that the draft regulation under study in no way exceeds or transcends what the regulatory body is called upon to regulate. The Constitutional Chamber (Sala Constitucional) in its resolution No. 2006-017599 of December 6, 2006, recognized the normative and interventionist power of the Public Administration directed at those subjects with whom it has a legal relationship, in order to achieve its public purposes. These are relationships of special subjection (relaciones de sujeción especial), which doctrine defines as the legal relationship between two subjects, one of whom will always be the State, in which one of the main notes characterizing it will be the superiority of one over the other. In this way, the subject placed within the relationship of special subjection (relación de sujeción especial) will be submitted to the will of the Administration. Of course, the restriction on their sphere of freedom is only for those cases where the subject's action must align with the purpose of the State.

In other words, the Administration may not limit the rights of the subject situated in a relationship of special subjection (relación de sujeción especial) if the conduct expected of them is not for them to align with the purposes of the Administration itself. (See Ventura Rodríguez Manuel E. "La categoría jurídica de las relaciones de sujeción especial en el derecho público costarricense", Universidad de Costa Rica, 2004).

In the case that concerns us, providers of public aqueduct, sewerage, and hydrant services, by their nature, are part of a relationship of special subjection (relación de sujeción especial). The public interest that prevails here means that there is more intense control by the regulatory body in order to ensure compliance with the requirements of quality, quantity, opportunity, continuity, reliability, and optimal provision of public services.

In the provision of public services, the Regulatory Authority (Autoridad Reguladora) must ensure the protection of public interests, without affecting the subjective rights of providers or their fundamental rights.

Thus, as the public interest prevails in the provision of these services, the special legal regime stands out, where the Regulatory Authority (Autoridad Reguladora) with its control and oversight powers granted by Law No. 7593 (Articles 4, 5, 6 subsection a), and 25), is in a superior position in relation to the providers of these services, which allows it to exercise regulatory power in order to demand due efficiency in public management.

Consequently, the technical regulation that concerns us here formally satisfies the objectives that the regulatory body is called upon to fulfill, to assure users that the public aqueduct, sewerage, and hydrant services provided to them meet the requirements of quality, quantity, reliability, continuity, and opportunity.

Different regulations in this same sense have been issued by the Regulatory Authority (Autoridad Reguladora) for other public services, since inaction in this regard would rather imply an obstruction by this regulatory body to the development and progress in the country's levels of economic and social growth.

Finally, it is indicated that since the responsibility for technically regulating the provision of public services falls on the Regulatory Authority (Autoridad Reguladora), in the event of any conflict of laws (antinomia) with the regulations applied by the providers, the regulation issued by the regulatory body shall prevail regarding the technical matter specifying the conditions of quality, quantity, reliability, continuity, opportunity, and optimal provision with which public services must be supplied.

Regarding conflict of laws (antinomia), the Office of the Attorney General (Procuraduría) has indicated:

"(.) there will be a conflict of laws (antinomia) when the old norm and the new norm are incompatible due to an identity in the scope of material, spatial, temporal, or personal regulation. If that identity does not exist, incompatibility between the legal effects of the new law and the previous one will not occur. It must be remembered that in repeal by incompatibility, there is not strictly an act of repeal; above all, it is a problem of interpretation of norms derived from the fact that a new norm has been created that originates different legal effects (.)". (Opinion C-293-2000, of November 24, 2000).

With the understanding of the above, the legal uncertainty for the administered party to which AyA alludes would not ensue.

Thus, the opposition of the Instituto Costarricense de Acueductos y Alcantarillados on this point is clarified. Likewise, it is determined that the Regulatory Authority (Autoridad Reguladora) has full competence to issue regulatory bodies such as the one at hand here, as it refers to the public services that, under Law 7593, it is compelled to regulate. AyA's position is therefore dismissed.

5.2 Core aspects to highlight 5.2.1. Acronyms and definitions. Concept of high consumption.

In this regard, it is indicated:

Including all subscribers is not a matter of statistics, added value, or economy; it is a matter of rights, equality, and human dignity.

It is the provider's obligation to serve all subscribers, regardless of consumption level or type of use. The Political Constitution (Constitución Política) establishes that all Costa Ricans are equal before the law and no discrimination contrary to human dignity may be practiced. (Art. 33).

The definition does not speak of substitution of water meters (hidrómetros); however, it is important to indicate that it is known that when replacing a water meter (hidrómetro), if it has not reached the end of its useful life, its casing is reusable, and the data capture kit is replaceable; therefore, it is not true that it must be discarded; there are losses but not total ones.

Possibly an increase in workloads will be generated, but the provider must optimize its processes to handle all cases. All subscribers have the right to receive satisfactory explanations about their consumption and billing.

Final comment:

The noted comments are not considered accepted.

5.2.2. Art 9. Availability opinion (Dictamen de disponibilidad).

It proposes adopting two figures: Certification of availability of potable water and/or (sic) sewerage services and Certificate of water capacity.

In this regard, it is indicated:

The availability opinion (dictamen de disponibilidad) for the services is a document reflecting an administrative act that, supported by a technical study on aspects such as the water and hydraulic capacity of a system, establishes, in a substantiated and documented manner, the response to an interested party regarding a request to supply or collect wastewater for a given development. The studies must be carried out beforehand by the provider as part of its planning management and knowledge of its system's operating conditions. Article 55 of this draft regulation establishes the provider's obligation to prepare a PMYES precisely to know its systems and to define responses to interested parties' inquiries as soon as possible.

It is understood that with the decision, the provider assumes commitments, aspects not addressed in the text, but it is a greater reason to know the system.

The text of the article does not indicate any aspect that compromises AyA or obligates it to state entities or interested parties, nor that it fails to comply with its internal regulations for the procedure. What it does establish is the protection of current subscribers and certainty for future ones in protecting their investments and quality of service, as well as for the provider by establishing the obligation to indicate the required works to interconnect the system and their respective financing.

Final comment:

The noted comments are not considered accepted. In relation to the name, the provider may modify it, provided it meets the intended objectives.

5.2.3. Article 29. Requirements for installation of a public tap (fuente pública) In this regard, the following is noted:

The Constitutional Chamber (Sala Constitucional) has voted on the matter, establishing the obligation to install a public tap (fuente pública); the criteria established in this regard are copied in the article.

To avoid abuses, the provider must establish supply conditions that grant a flow rate to satisfy very basic needs and prevent abuses.

Final comment:

The installation of the public tap (fuente pública) is to satisfy the human need for drinking water and the right to health established in Article 46 of the Political Constitution. The AyA's proposal is not accepted.

5.2.4. Article 46. Services on lands declared precarious settlements (terrenos declarados precarios) and disaster victim camps.

In this regard, the following is noted:

The administrative requirements are established by the provider, who may adapt them to the exceptional conditions of the occupants of precarious settlement lands (terrenos en precario) and disaster victim camps.

Final comment:

The provider, through its authority to establish administrative requirements, can set the technical conditions for this service. The AyA's proposal is not accepted.

5.2.5 Article 82. Billing for the service with a complaint filed for high consumption.

In this regard, the following is noted:

No deadlines are established for a response, but rather for notifying a subscriber (abonado) of high consumption; nor does the article establish grounds for elevating a matter to a process. For better precision, it must be noted that the article starts from the fact that the complaint has already been filed. The AyA is correct in indicating that high consumption is not synonymous with a damaged water meter (hidrómetro); what is intended is that it be effectively verified that the high consumption is not caused in the public part of the service and, therefore, is not the provider's responsibility. Furthermore, the provider is responsible up to where the public part of the service ends; internal leaks are the subscriber's (abonado) responsibility. It must be remembered that an objective of the regulation is homologous application for all providers; that is, equal treatment in the same situation for all service subscribers (abonados) regardless of the provider. A point of controversy between subscriber (abonado) and provider, and for definition by ARESEP, is how the amount in dispute is billed and how it is billed in the following months.

The regulation is consistent with what is established in Article 100. There is no doubt that such activity has a cost; for that reason, Article 100 establishes the possibility of charging the cost of the review. The reuse of parts of the water meter (hidrómetro), such as the casing, is possible; it is also possible to change the internal kit that allows data capture, therefore, the utilization of parts of the water meter (hidrómetro) is feasible.

Final comment:

The comments provided by AyA have been extensively analyzed as demonstrated in the paragraphs, concluding that they are not acceptable.

5.2.6 Article 106 Billing for consumption units with different uses.

In this regard, the following is noted:

The highest rate should not be automatically applied, but its application must be justified to the subscriber (abonado). Technical criteria exist regarding people's consumption, water uses, equipment that uses water, and the number of users for each use, which can achieve a reasonable calculation.

Final comment:

Technical criteria exist to calculate consumption with reasonable results, therefore the arguments are not acceptable.

5.2.7. Article 109. Adjustment of bills for high consumption.

In this regard, the following is noted:

The concept is not novel; it is in Article 95 of the current AyA Customer Service Provision Regulation, with different words but the same concepts.

It does not conflict with the subscriber's (abonado) responsibility to maintain internal installations in good condition, nor with what is established in Article 7 of this proposal.

In the water supply service (servicio de acueducto), the subscriber (abonado) has no detail that allows them to inspect the system, since the network is buried and the water meter (hidrómetro) sealed; the only non-physical aspect that allows them to detect consumption deviations is the bill.

The possibility of readjusting their bill gives them time to investigate and resolve the internal problem.

Final comment:

The arguments expressed are not acceptable because the concept already exists and allows the subscriber (abonado) to cover an immediate problem in a short time while resolving the underlying problem of their internal network.

5.2.8. Article 119. Duties of subscribers (abonados) In this regard, the following is noted:

This is a favorable comment from AyA, and for the purpose of protecting private property and in relation to the provider's responsibility being limited to the public part of the service, it has been established that the home inspection is not part of the public service, whether for water supply (acueducto) or sanitary sewerage (alcantarillado sanitario). For that same reason, the tariff authorized for those purposes will be eliminated.

Final conclusion on the arguments presented by AyA:

Each of the arguments indicated by AyA has been analyzed and explained in the preceding paragraphs; as noted in the following section, some have been accepted, generating additions or partial eliminations in several articles.

The version submitted for hearing establishes, in its transitional provisions, application deadlines for this regulation; specifically directed at the ASADAS, a period of 18 months is granted for its entry into force, and in some specific aspects, the period is even longer.

The arguments presented in the matrix are responded to below:

| To regulate the provision of aqueduct, sanitary sewer, and hydrant services and the relationships between the providers regulated by ARESEP and the subscribers of these services, for which the following are specifically established: | | | | | a. The conditions of provision; | | | | | b. The management of services; | ARESEP has the authority to issue regulations establishing the conditions of quality, quantity, reliability, timeliness, and optimal provision. This is understood as general conditions and not the how or the form of provision, which corresponds to technical matters of AyA as operator and governing body in the matter that its Constitutive Law establishes in articles 1 and 5, subsection j) in accordance with the General Law of Public Administration, in its article 103, which establishes the authority of autonomous institutions to issue their own regulations. | | This aspect was addressed in section "5.1. AyA's Authority to Issue its own regulations". It is determined that the Regulatory Authority has full competence to issue regulatory bodies such as the one at hand because it refers to public services that, by Law 7593, it is compelled to regulate. The position is therefore dismissed. | | e. The general procedures for formalities related to the provision of services. | Procedures regarding formalities are the competence of the operator. | | The section refers to the authority of the Regulatory Authority to establish the conditions of optimal provision under which the service must be provided through general procedures; related to what is stated in section "5.1. AyA's Authority to Issue its own regulations". For this reason, this assertion by AyA is not accepted. | | Article 2.- Scope of application | | | | | This regulation is applicable to the public services of aqueduct, sanitary sewer, and hydrants regarding: operation, maintenance, development, and administration of these services, in their different stages: | AyA is the public entity that the legal system designates as responsible for administering, operating, and regulating matters related to aqueducts and sewers throughout the country, therefore as a public entity it is capable of foreseeing, programming, and planning everything related to the service it provides. | | What is established in this regulation does not encroach upon AyA's competences, since ARESEP does not operate or administer aqueduct or sewer systems, technical standards are the competence of the service's governing body, and ARESEP is establishing service conditions as indicated in article 25 and 52, subsection n) of its law. For this reason, this assertion is not accepted. | | CHAPTER II | | | | | ACRONYMS AND DEFINITIONS | | | | | Article 5.- Definitions | | | | | For the purposes of this Regulation, the following shall be understood as: | | | | | High consumption: That which exceeds by 100% the normal average consumption of the last twelve months | High consumption: That which is greater than 50 m3 per month and exceeds by 100% or more, its average monthly consumption for the last 12 months. This applies in cases of services classified in the use category: domestic, ordinary, and preferential. For services in the reproductive and government use category, it is considered high consumption when it exceeds 150 m3 per month. | It is necessary to review the definition presented by ARESEP, considering the statistics and consumption behaviors of customers. If ARESEP's proposal is maintained, customers with below-average consumption, for example 5 meters per month, could be considered high consumers if they reach 10 meters. This variation can arise from everyday situations, leading to non-meritorious claims. | According to the Constitution, all Costa Ricans are equal before the law, which implies that we all have equal rights and obligations. Clarification in case of doubt about consumption and the possibility of a claim cannot be denied to a subscriber based on the establishment of artificial barriers such as minimum consumption. The option of doubt and the right of reply following established procedures must be generic for all subscribers. For this reason, this assertion is not accepted. | | Water quality: Set of physical, chemical, biological, and organoleptic attributes assigned to water based on its use and that are required for the protection of human health, both for human consumption and for recreational and productive uses. | Should be directed only to human consumption use, not the others. | | The Regulation for Water Quality, decree N° 32327-S, is established based on human health, likewise the service seeks to satisfy a need based on human health, but the water supplied by an aqueduct system is not only for people's ingestion; public service water is also used for recreational and productive uses that at the end of the chain will affect human health. Additionally, if the definition is broader, it does not affect the content of the regulation. For this reason, this assertion is not accepted. | | Flow rate: Quotient between the volume of a liquid or fluid passing through a section of a conduit and the elapsed time. It can be expressed in cubic meters per second or in liters per second. | Also m3/day, or m3/month or m3/hour | | It is obvious and understandable that the flow rate can be expressed in other units, multiples and submultiples of liters/sec, which does not affect the definition. For this reason, this assertion is not accepted. | | Coverage: Availability of services within the territorial jurisdiction of the provider. | Erroneous definition. Coverage is a definition of area with or without water capacity, not of service quality. Coverage is related to territory | | The definition refers to a quality of the service and relates service to jurisdiction; that is, territoriality. For this reason, this assertion is not accepted. | | | It is necessary to better define territorial jurisdiction, service area, and coverage area of operators | | The regulation already contains the definition of jurisdiction. The other suggested definitions are important but not timely at this moment; their absence does not affect the implementation of the regulation. For this reason, this assertion is not accepted. | | Service continuity: Attribute of service quality that implies that it is maintained continuously without interruption 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, except in cases of force majeure, acts of God, or for scheduled system maintenance periods. | The defined concept corresponds to a service attribute, however it is also mixed with forms of regulating. | | As AyA indicates, the definition corresponds to a quality attribute, which establishes its operating conditions, without affecting the regulations. For this reason, this assertion is not accepted. | | Sanitary sewer spill or overflow: discharge of effluents from the sanitary sewer system that appears on public roads. | Erroneous concept, effluent is what comes out of treatment systems | | An effluent in generic terms is wastewater that may carry solid, liquid, and gaseous waste and is emitted by homes or any type of industry, not only from treatment systems. For this reason, AyA's argument is not accepted. | | Service availability certification: Technical study by which a service provider defines the capacity of its systems (aqueduct, sanitary sewer, and hydrants) to supply new subscribers. | It is a document issued based on the availability study, it is not a study in itself, and not necessarily only for new subscribers, it can be for current subscribers or properties. | | Effectively, a certification is a document, which is issued based on a technical study, whose objective is to determine a system's capacity to define the supply for new subscribers, but obviously current subscribers must be included. For this reason, AyA's argument is not accepted. | | Reading error: Difference between the measured or calculated value and the real one. | Reading error: Difference between the measured value and the real one. | When talking about a calculated value, it refers to an estimate, therefore a reading error cannot exist. | There is a possibility of errors in a calculated value; the existence of this concept does not affect the application of the regulation. For this reason, AyA's argument is not accepted. | | System extensions: Infrastructure required for the interconnection of networks of aqueduct, sanitary sewer, and hydrant services from mass consumption projects with the public network of a service provider. This infrastructure is additional to that of each project, which must be financed by the interested party. | The defined concept corresponds to a service attribute, it is mixed with forms of regulating. | | It is a personal comment on the structure of the definition. For this reason, AyA's argument is not accepted. | | Internal leak: Escape of water or spill of wastewater in the subscriber's internal installations. | Two terms in one definition are not congruent: water leak different from spill | | Effectively it is a definition, which, for the uniqueness of the text, includes two concepts, so there is no impact on the objective of the definition. For this reason, AyA's argument is not accepted. | | Environmental Management: Strategy that the provider must use to achieve service sustainability, as well as the protection, conservation, recovery, and preservation of water resources and their environment. | Corresponds to other institutional bodies, not the exclusive competence of water and sanitation operators. | | AyA points out that environmental management is not the exclusive competence of water and sanitation operators. Water is a natural resource indispensable to human life, so its conservation and protection have always been linked to the safeguarding of human health and the protection of the environment, as a guiding principle of public policies, as established in constitutional articles 46 and 50. With the enactment of the Law of the Regulatory Authority of Public Services N°7593, in 1996, public service providers were empowered to charge for environmental costs, provided that these were included in the tariff set by the Regulatory Authority. Article 14, subsection e) of Law N°7593, establishes as an obligation of public service providers: "(.) Article 14.- (.) e) protect, conserve, recover, and rationally use natural resources related to the sustainability criteria, protection of water resources, environmental costs and services as central elements in tariff setting: "(.) Article 31.- Tariff and price setting (.) The criteria of social equity, environmental sustainability, energy conservation, and economic efficiency defined in the National Development Plan, must be central elements for setting the tariffs and prices of public services (.).// Likewise, when setting public service tariffs, the following aspects and criteria must be considered, when applicable: (.) c) The protection of water resources, costs and environmental services (.)". Therefore, providers cannot allude that environmental management corresponds to other institutional bodies, as this must even be taken into account as a central element in setting the tariff for the services they provide. For these reasons, AyA's arguments are not accepted. | | Temporary installations: Installations built to hold circuses, fairs, community festivals, concerts, religious activities, among others; that do not require a permanent service. | Temporary installations: Installations built to hold circuses, fairs, community festivals, concerts, religious activities, walls, construction of developments, condominiums and similar among others; that do not require a permanent service. | It is required to define the condition in the construction of condominiums, urbanizations (subdivisions), and developments in general that for AyA are also considered as temporary installations. | The Institute confuses the concept; they are different situations. The temporality of an urbanization (subdivision) refers to construction time, a situation that will disappear later and the use will become permanent; the other temporality referred to in the article is for activities where the possibility of future permanence does not exist or is very scarce; but that require the services provided by the provider to operate. | | Jurisdiction: It is the geographic area authorized by law, concession, permit, or delegation, administration, or alliance contract for the operation of a provider. | By law, for AyA, the jurisdiction is the entire country, this does not define, it is not clear for other operators | | By Law N°2726, AyA was declared as the entity in charge of directly administering and operating the aqueduct and sewer systems throughout the country. However, that same law grants it the power to delegate its administration to the Asadas. Likewise, our legislation created the Empresa de Servicios Públicos de Heredia (Esph,S.A.) to provide drinking water, sanitary sewer, stormwater drainage services, as well as generation and distribution of electric power and public lighting in the central canton of Heredia. For this reason, a definition of "jurisdiction" has been established in this draft regulation, which clearly indicates that it is the geographic area authorized by law, delegation contract, etc., for the operation of a provider. Therefore, AyA's appreciation that the definition is not clear for other providers is not shared. | | Nipple: Section of pipe of variable size with male thread on at least one of its ends, and which serves to join pipes. | It does not necessarily have to have male thread | | It is a comment that does not affect the application of the regulation. For this reason, AyA's argument is not accepted. | | Works for new developments: Works necessary for the expansion, improvements, and modifications of services, so that the incorporation of the new development does not affect the service management programmed by the provider. | The defined concept is mixed with forms of regulating. | | A personal comment on the structure of the definition that does not contribute criteria. For this reason, AyA's argument is not accepted. | | Service connection stub: Pipe and accessories, connected to the water supply network or to the wastewater collection network, that has not been connected to the subscribers' installations. For the aqueduct service, it includes the measurement system, a check valve, and a shut-off valve. For the sanitary sewer service, it includes the outlet nipple from the inspection chamber. | The measurement system should not be included; it is of the operator's technical competence | | It is a comment. The definition does not affect the interests of the providers, since the service connection stub, which includes the measurement system, is the property of the operator, and the definition does not say otherwise. For this reason, AyA's argument is not accepted. | | Mass consumption project: These are urbanistic, commercial, industrial, tourist, or other developments, that demand a significant portion of the installed capacity of a public service system. | "Significant" is not defined; it is a subjective definition | | The expression significant refers in qualitative terms to an impact that affects the long-term projections of the capacities of the system(s). For this reason, AyA's argument is not accepted. | | Measurement system review service: Consists of performing the volumetric test, either in a laboratory or on-site, to determine the accuracy of the consumption recorded by a water meter. | Measurement system review service: Consists of the review of all system components: water meter through volumetric test, either in a laboratory or on-site, to determine the accuracy of the consumption recorded by a water meter, the protection elements (box), accessories, valves, and data transmission devices. | The Measurement System is defined in the Technical Standard for Water Meters AR-HSA-2008, Article No. 9 | Article 9 of the Water Meter Standard defines what the measurement system is. The intention of the article is to verify the accuracy of the water meter. AyA's suggestion is to verify the operating conditions of the entire measurement system. Therefore, these are two different conditions. What AyA indicates could be included in the future. For this reason, AyA's argument is not accepted. | | Right-of-way and aqueduct/sewer easement (servidumbre): Right to transit through foreign property to have an exit from that property to a public road, and to connect aqueduct and sanitary sewer infrastructure, in order to provide drinking water or discharge wastewater from the property lacking an exit to a public road. | Does not take into account maintenance as part of the operator's management | | For greater specificity, it would be desirable if maintenance management were when they require imposing an easement (servidumbre), even if the article does not necessarily indicate it, they will include that condition. | | Scheduled suspensions: Suspension of service for the purpose of maintaining the service infrastructure, scheduled and communicated to users at least 48 hours in advance. | It is a definition, however the concept is mixed with regulations. | | It is a comment on the style of the definition without any impact. For this reason, AyA's argument is not accepted. | | Technically feasible to be provided: A service is considered technically feasible to be provided when it meets the following conditions: | The term is regulatory and should not be a definition | | Knowledge of this term is considered of fundamental importance for the parties involved in the service, as its consultation is a first-line matter, so despite being included in the body of the regulation's text, it is not considered to produce any violating effect on any of the parties' rights, so it is prudent to also keep it as a definition. For this reason, this assertion by AyA is not accepted. | | a. The distribution and collection networks pass in front of the property's boundaries or have direct access via a public road or right-of-way easement (servidumbre) from the property for which a service is requested, | it is a definition of something, however the regulations are also defined, it should not be here | | | | b. The systems have sufficient water, hydraulic, potabilization, and treatment capacity to accept new subscribers, | it is a definition of something, however the regulations are also defined, it should not be here | | | | c. The system complies with the established quality attributes, | it is a definition of something, however the regulations are also defined, it should not be here | | | | d. It is legally and environmentally possible, and | it is a definition of something, however the regulations are also defined, it should not be here | | | | e. The applicants meet the established administrative requirements. | it is a definition of something, however the regulations are also defined, it should not be here | | | | Consumption unit: Each of the dwelling, commercial, industrial, or other units, including condominiums, that have their own drinking water and sanitary sewer installations, and that receive the services provided by the service provider. All consumption units within a condominium may have independently metered services up to the public street. | it is a definition of something, however the regulations are also defined, it should not be here | | Knowledge of this term is considered of fundamental importance for the parties involved in the service, as its consultation is a first-line matter, so despite being included in the body of the regulation's text, it is not considered to produce any violating effect on any of the parties' rights, so it is prudent to also keep it as a definition. For this reason, this assertion by AyA is not accepted. | | Bulk drinking water sale: Supply of water in large quantities from one service provider to another, or to a private company for subsequent commercialization to third parties. Unless it is an authorized service provider, supply on an individual basis is not permitted. | By law, there should not be private operators; it is a definition of something, however the regulations are also defined, it should not be here | | It is maintained as a definition, as article 50 of this regulation develops the concept. Law 7593 in article 3, subsection c) defines a service provider as a "Public or private entity that provides public services by concession, permit, or law", therefore private providers can exist. Article 50 clearly defines to whom bulk water can be sold. For this reason, AyA's argument is not accepted. | | The tariff for this service shall be the one set by ARESEP. | | | | | CHAPTER III | | | | | GENERAL PROVISIONS | | | | | Article 7.- Physical limit of public aqueduct and sewer services. | | | It is only a drafting effect; the wording will be reviewed, and the noted exceptions will be added in the next revision of the regulation; for now, it is not considered a negative effect for the objectives of this regulation. For this reason, this assertion by AyA is not accepted. | | The physical limit between these services and the internal installations is given by the boundary between private property and public property. | The siphon box is on public roads and belongs to the user. It leaves out the concept of easement (servidumbre) | | | | Article 11.- Deadline to issue availability certification. | | | | | The provider shall have a period of five days to issue the availability certification, after receipt, to satisfaction, of the established requirements. | This is a formality regulated by MEIC - regulatory improvements. Technical studies require more time and human resources; it is not defined whether these are business or calendar days | | AyA points out that the article does not establish whether the established deadline refers to business or non-business days. Article 256 of the General Law of Public Administration N°6227 stipulates that deadlines in days for the Administration include non-business days; whereas those for private parties are always business days. Therefore, in the absence of specification in this regulation, it will be understood that deadlines established by the Administration, that is, by the Regulatory Authority, for providers, correspond to business days. AyA indicates that this formality is regulated by MEIC. It is pointed out that this regulatory function has been vested in the Regulatory Authority by Law N ° 7593, within the oversight powers granted by article 6, subsection a) of Law N°7593 that allow it to regulate and supervise providers accountably, financially, and technically, to verify the correct management of factors affecting the cost of the service, and within the power established in article 25 to establish the conditions to impose on providers, through technical regulations, the rules and conditions of quality, quantity, reliability, continuity, timeliness, and optimal provision that must be followed for the supply of services, according to the specific standards existing in the country or abroad, for each case. For the above reasons, AyA's arguments are not accepted. | | Article 12.- Balance between aqueduct and sanitary sewer services. | | | | | In urban areas, it is the obligation of providers to achieve balance in the coverage between aqueduct and sanitary sewer services, such that as the former is expanded, the latter is provided in parallel. | There is no technical feasibility to actually apply this at the present time. | | The UN through resolution 64/292 of 2010, declared access to water and basic sanitation services as a fundamental human right. It is restricted to urban areas because in rural areas there are on-site solutions that technically operate well. The article is consistent with AyA's national competence and the Institution should aspire to that. AyA has national competence in all its services; the excuse is not accepted. | | Article 14.- Consultation with indigenous communities. | | | | | Providers are obligated to consult with indigenous communities regarding any project related to aqueduct, sewer, and hydrant services to be carried out in indigenous zones. The results of the consultation shall be mandatory. | Defined in other legislation | | Although AyA states that this article is defined in other legislation, there is no legal impossibility for it to be incorporated by the Regulatory Authority in this regulation, given the importance of the participation and protection of indigenous communities, emphasized even by the Constitutional Chamber. For this reason, AyA's arguments are not accepted. | | Article 15.- Projects in indigenous protection zones. | | | | | To carry out projects related to aqueduct, sewer, and hydrant services in indigenous protection zones, providers, in cooperation with representatives of indigenous communities, in order to evaluate and consider the social, cultural, and environmental impact in the project, are obligated to carry out all required technical and legal studies. The results of these studies must be considered as binding criteria in the decision-making, execution, and operation of said projects. | Defined in other legislation | | Although AyA states that this article is defined in other legislation, there is no legal impossibility for it to be incorporated by the Regulatory Authority in this regulation, given the importance of the participation and protection of indigenous communities, emphasized even by the Constitutional Chamber. For this reason, AyA's arguments are not accepted. | | SECOND SECTION. INFORMATION | | | | | Article 16.- Information for the Regulatory Authority | | | | | Providers must provide the Regulatory Authority with complete, reliable, updated, accurate, sufficient, and clear information on the services referred to in this Regulation. | | | | | The information shall be used to: | | | | | a. Establish whether the services are operated and maintained in accordance with the provisions of this Regulation and other current technical standards, | The provision of the service is provided according to AyA's regulations, according to the power granted by its Constitutive Law to issue its regulations, this in accordance with the General Law of Public Admin., which empowers it as an autonomous entity to issue the regulations for the provision of the organization and provision of the service | | Law 7593 gives ARESEP the competence to issue, publish, and ensure the conditions of service quality. Likewise, article 24 gives it the competence to request the information required for the fulfillment of its functions. Furthermore, it is related to what is indicated in point 5.1 REGARDING AYA'S REGULATORY AUTHORITY. For this reason, AyA's arguments are not accepted. | | Article 17.- Information systems. | | | | | In order to provide the information required by ARESEP, each provider must maintain information systems that contain at least: | To comply with this article, an implementation plan should be defined for each operator. | | Transitory VII establishes a period of five months for providers to present an implementation plan, and Transitory IV establishes a period of 24 months from the effective date for compliance with the information systems. For this reason, AyA's arguments are not accepted. | | f. Updated census of populations occupying squatter settlement lands (terrenos en precario) and the condition in which they find themselves regarding the use of services, | This information must be provided by the entity with competence in this matter. | | It is a necessity for planning that each provider knows the management and operation conditions of its activity, and one of them is sectors in special conditions such as squatter settlements (precarios). For this reason, AyA's arguments are not accepted. | | THIRD SECTION. INFRASTRUCTURE, INSTALLATIONS, AND MEASUREMENT EQUIPMENT | | | | | Article 19.- Design and construction of installations. | | | | | | All infrastructure must be designed and built in accordance with the current design and construction requirements established by the CFIA, the AyA, and applicable current legislation. | It should not be all infrastructure; it should be only that of the operator's water and sanitation systems. This is not binding on service provision. | | It is clear that this regulation has objectives and a subject (services) to which it is directed. In that context, the article is interpreted. The content of the article does not conflict with Law 2726; it is even supported by Article 21 of that Law. For this reason, the AyA's arguments are not admissible. | | | See Article 21 of the AyA Law | | | | Article 21.- Repair of public roads. | | | | | Providers, regardless of the state of the public roads where improvement, replacement, or construction works related to aqueduct, sanitary sewer, and hydrant service infrastructure are required, must restore the road surface of the public road and the sidewalks, at least to their previous condition, within a maximum period of fifteen business days. | The reasonableness of timelines, installed capacity, and technical requirements must be reviewed. | | This is an internal comment or reflection for which no technical support is provided. If public roads are affected by the execution of any type of work, they must be repaired as part of that work. For this reason, the AyA's arguments are not admissible. | | Article 24.- Security. | | | | | Providers shall ensure, in their functions, the protection of their workers, equipment, installations, infrastructure, and the general public. | These are occupational health aspects, not aspects of service provision. | | They are indeed occupational health aspects that providers must consider in their management. For this reason, the AyA's arguments are not admissible. | | CHAPTER IV | | | | | SERVICE PROVISION CONDITIONS | | | | | Article 26.- Obligation to provide services. | | | | | Whenever technically feasible, providers within their jurisdiction must provide aqueduct, sanitary sewer, and hydrant services under optimal provision conditions. | By its constitutive law, AyA provides services throughout the entire country, in accordance with the principle of territoriality. | | Indeed, AyA must provide services throughout the entire national territory. The exception is because special cases may arise, and no one is obligated to do the impossible. For this reason, the AyA's arguments are not admissible. | | Article 27.- Continuous provision of services. | | | | | Providers must guarantee the continuity of the service. Exceptions are made for service suspension situations due to subscriber non-compliance. | There is a real technical impossibility of providing water service with 24/7 continuity in some systems. | | The need to use the resource has no schedule; the service, by definition, must be 24 hours a day, every day. There are exceptions as established in Article 95, and in those cases, a subsistence flow must be provided through alternative systems. For this reason, the AyA's arguments are not admissible. | | Article 29.- Requirements for the installation of a public standpipe (fuente pública domiciliaria). | The installation procedure is the operator's competence. | | | | The public standpipe has no installation cost for the subscriber and must meet the following requirements: | The way this article is drafted omits the cost of the supply provided. Therefore, it is transferred to the users who pay for their services. It can generate an increase in non-revenue water (agua no contabilizada) and an incentive to use the public standpipe, which would be free. It does not specify the timeframe for installation. | ARESEP has an established tariff for this type of supply. Is it being eliminated? | The need for supply, even when suspended for non-payment, is real, and since this is not a new situation, it will not cause a greater impact on aspects like non-revenue water or excessive use. The Constitutional Chamber (Sala Constitucional), through rulings: 2732-2003, 5342-2010, 6126-1994, 1853-2003, 0801-2000, and 6446-2007, has ruled on this matter. The conditions have been established by the Chamber, and to avoid interpretations, they have been transferred to this regulation. Article 96 establishes the obligation to pay the fixed charge when the service is suspended for reasons not attributable to the provider. An additional decision point for the Board of Directors of ARESEP will be to eliminate the existing tariff for the public standpipe. For the above reasons, the AyA's arguments are not admissible. | | SECOND SECTION. AQUEDUCT SERVICE | | | | | Article 32.- Service pressures. | | | | | Providers must maintain a minimum dynamic service pressure at the delivery point of 98.1 kPa (10 m.w.c., 14.2 psi). At the same time, they must restrict the maximum static pressure to 490.5 kPa (50 m.w.c., 71 psi), at the lowest point of the network, and in very rugged service areas, up to 686.4 kPa (70 m.w.c., 99.6 psi). | Dynamic pressure is inappropriately defined, as it involves other variables or parameters such as flow rate, and others. | | ARESEP establishes the pressure conditions; the provider establishes the other operating conditions, such as flow rate, according to the management conditions of its systems. For this reason, the AyA's arguments are not admissible. | | Article 33.- Temporary interruption of drinking water service. In case of interruption of... the following: | | | | | a. | | | | | b. | | | | | c. | | | | | d. | | | | | e. | | | | | f. | | | | | The communication must be made: | | | | | a. | | | | | b. | | | | | c. | | | | | In all cases, if the service suspension lasts for more than eight hours, the provider is obligated to provide an alternative drinking water supply service to the subscribers, covering the needs of hospitals, clinics, and health centers; and the basic needs of residential subscribers, and to communicate, through mass media, the location and conditions of the alternative drinking water service. | It is not defined what an alternative service is. There is a real technical impossibility of providing water service under these conditions; not all systems have sufficient alternative service systems. | | This is a suggestion of simple interpretation; the understanding of the subsection is clear. If there is no service for a certain number of hours, the service must be provided by other means, which is obviously an "alternative service" or, as the Constitutional Chamber calls it: "alternative measures" when it considers that measures to guarantee access to drinking water be executed immediately. With the Chamber's jurisprudence, what AyA indicates regarding not all systems having sufficient alternative systems is not justifiable. (E.g., Ruling 9127-2013). | | For the same user, a maximum of five scheduled suspensions may be carried out in one year, and of these, no more than two may occur in one month. | | | | | THIRD SECTION. SANITARY SEWER SERVICE | | | | | Article 34.- Wastewater treatment. | | | | | Sanitary sewer service providers must verify that all wastewater evacuated by their systems receives treatment and complies with the provisions of the Reglamento de Vertidos. | Sanitary sewer service providers must verify that all wastewater collected by their systems receives treatment and complies with the provisions of the Reglamento de Vertidos. | | The term used is valid in the subject matter to which the regulation refers. The suggestion is noted for future evaluation. For this reason, this statement by AyA is not admissible. | | Article 35.- Registry (Catastro) of special wastewater discharges. | | | | | Sanitary sewer service providers must maintain an updated registry of special-type wastewater discharges into their system, according to current regulations. | Sanitary sewer service providers must maintain an updated registry of special-type wastewater discharges into their system, according to current regulations, for which the Ministry of Health must send each operator the statistical report of the operational reports according to the frequency established in the Reglamento de Reuso y Vertido. | | The regulation establishes the principle. If, to perform the work, the operator requires coordination with another entity such as the Ministry of Health in this case, it must do so by its own means. The Ministry of Health is neither a service provider nor an entity regulated by ARESEP. For this reason, this statement by AyA is not admissible. | | Article 36.- Pollution control. | | | | | Providers must carry out the necessary control actions to prevent contamination risks arising from the provision of services they offer, except for those that are not their exclusive competence. | Providers must carry out the necessary control actions to prevent contamination risks arising from the provision of services they offer, except for those that are not their exclusive competence. | | They copied the article and made no comments. For this reason, this statement by AyA is not admissible. | | Article 37.- Prohibition on receiving stormwater (aguas pluviales) | | | | | Sanitary sewer systems shall only receive wastewater, and the discharge of stormwater is strictly prohibited. | Sanitary sewer systems shall only receive wastewater, and the discharge of stormwater is strictly prohibited. | | | | Providers must periodically manage and coordinate with operators of stormwater systems, corrective measures for the control and surveillance of their sanitary sewer systems, so that stormwater is kept separate from said system. | Providers must periodically manage and coordinate with operators of stormwater systems, corrective measures for the control and surveillance of their sanitary sewer systems, so that stormwater is kept separate from said system. The service provider will have the authority to eliminate this type of connection to the sanitary system, upon prior notification to the stormwater system operator. | | From the competence that providers have to operate sanitary sewer systems and the prohibition on depositing stormwater into the sanitary sewer established in this regulation, the possibility of eliminating it is derived, obviously following due process, making it unnecessary to state it. Furthermore, it is an aspect that could fall under judicial competence, a matter not regulated by ARESEP. For this reason, this statement by AyA is not admissible. | | Article 39.- Sanitary sewer spills. | | | | | Providers must prevent the occurrence of spills from the sanitary sewer system. For these purposes, they must: | | | | | a. Size and adapt the networks and other sewer elements according to the growing demands on the service; | a. Size and adapt the networks and other sewer elements according to the growing demands on the service, according to each operator's financial capacity and investment plans. | | The provider's planning of its activities must include investment and financing plans; for this, it must prepare the Programa de Mejoras y Expansión del Servicio (PMYES). For this reason, this statement by AyA is not admissible. | | b. | | | | | c. Eliminate illicit inflows of stormwater (aguas pluviales). | c. Eliminate illicit inflows of stormwater, in accordance with what is indicated in Article 37 of this same regulation. | | The regulation is a unit, which implies its uniform application; therefore, including the reference is desirable but not strictly necessary. For this reason, this statement by AyA is not admissible. | | Article 40.- Actions for the prevention of sanitary sewer spills. | | | | | In relation to spill control, the provider must: | | | | | a. Monthly quantify, classify, and project the flow rates of: | a. Quarterly quantify, classify, and project the flow rates of: | | The proposed change is not justified; it is merely stated. This is considered very important data for system operation; therefore, it is maintained monthly. For this reason, this statement by AyA is not admissible. | | i. Ordinary-type wastewater and | | | | | ii. Special-type water. | Item ii, related to special-type water, must be eliminated, because sanitary systems only receive ordinary-type wastewater, according to the Reglamento de Reuso y Vertido. | | The Reglamento de Reuso y Vertido does not expressly prohibit the discharge of special water into the sanitary sewer system. Rather, in Article 5, related to the submission of operational reports, it indicates: "In the event that a generating entity discharges ordinary wastewater and special wastewater separately into a sanitary sewer system, it may request exemption from the obligation to submit operational reports for the ordinary wastewater discharge." (The highlighting is not from the original). This article allows the interpretation that it is indeed feasible to discharge both types of water into the sanitary sewer system. For this reason, this statement by AyA is not admissible. | | b. Investigate and record any illicit inflow of water into the system and its impact on the system, | b. Investigate and record any illicit inflow of water into the system and its impact on the sewer system. | | The article title refers to the sanitary sewer system, making it unnecessary to add the suggested clarification. For this reason, this statement by AyA is not admissible. | | c. | OK | | | | d. Identify and classify monthly the spills detected in the sewer network, according to their origin, by: | d. Identify and classify monthly the spills detected in the sewer network, according to their origin, by: | | Verbatim copy of the paragraph without comments. For this reason, this statement by AyA is not admissible. | | i. | OK | | | | ii. Lack of hydraulic capacity of the system, due to design defects, obsolescence of the network, or discharge of stormwater (aguas pluviales), | ii. Lack of hydraulic capacity of the system, due to design defects, construction, or obsolescence of the network, or discharge of stormwater, | | The suggestion to add the word "construction" is accepted as it clarifies the article. | | iii. Energy failure and | OK | | | | iv. Others. | | | | | e. | OK | | | | FIFTH SECTION. SPECIAL SERVICES | | | | | Article 44.- Provision of special services. | | | | | Operators may provide special services in the operated systems, as long as they do not affect the quality, continuity, and optimal provision of the service provided to their subscribers. | The constitutive law of AyA is what empowers it to provide these services. | | By the principle of non-discrimination, equal treatment is guaranteed to all public water and sewer service providers, empowering them to provide special services in the systems they operate. | | The provision of these services must conform to what is established in this regulation. | | | | | Article 45.- Types of special aqueduct or sewer services. | It is the operator's concern. | | AyA argues that it is its competence to establish the conditions under which services are provided to citizens and that these articles are the operator's concern, based on the General Public Administration Law. Regarding this, refer to section "5.1. ON THE POWER OF AYA TO ISSUE REGULATIONS" and reiterate that the regulatory function has been vested in the Regulatory Authority by Law No. 7593 of August 9, 1996, which allows it, through Article 25, to impose on providers, through technical regulations, the rules and conditions of quality, quantity, reliability, continuity, timeliness, and optimal provision that must be followed for the supply of services, according to the specific standards existing in the country or abroad, for each case. It is a duty that has been assigned to the Board of Directors of the regulatory body, according to Article 53, subsection n) of the cited law, by entrusting it to issue the technical regulations required for the correct application of the regulatory framework for public services. Under the protection of the cited regulations, the issuance of technical regulations like this one by the regulatory body is not only legally possible but also creates sound and uniform rules aimed at preventing disparities and even discrimination in the way the same public service is provided by different operators. This leads to better transparency in the management of public resources set via tariffs and strengthens the provider by fostering its efficiency, establishing specific standards allowed by Article 25. Furthermore, it ensures user protection by guaranteeing that the service does not decrease in quality and is provided optimally, reliably, continuously, timely, and in sufficient quantity, as promulgated by Article 5 of Law No. 7593. For this reason, this statement by AyA is not admissible. | | The following are considered special aqueduct and sewer services: | | | | | a. The bulk sale of drinking water, | | | | | b. Those granted to possessors and occupants of lands in informal settlements (terrenos en precario) and camps for disaster victims, and | It is AyA's competence to establish the conditions under which services are provided to citizens. Likewise, when possessors and occupants in informal settlements are formalized, this is due to compliance with requirements established by AyA. | | Ibidem to what is indicated in Article 45 above. For this reason, this statement by AyA is not admissible. | | c. | | | | | Article 46.- Services on lands declared as informal settlements and in camps for disaster victims. | | | | | Providers are obligated to supply aqueduct, sewer, and hydrant services, whenever technically feasible, to lands in informal settlements declared as such and to camps for disaster victims. | The requirements established in this Regulation do not allow the service regulated in this article to be provided. | See definition of "Technically feasible to be provided," subsection e) "The applicants comply with the established administrative requirements." | The administrative requirements are established by the provider, who can adapt them to the exceptional conditions of the occupants of lands in informal settlements and camps for disaster victims. For this reason, this statement by AyA is not admissible. | | Article 48.- Bulk sale of drinking water. | | | | | Providers, as long as they do not affect the quality, continuity, and optimal provision of the services provided to their subscribers, may sell drinking water in bulk to: | It is AyA's competence to establish services for citizens. | | What is established does not eliminate AyA's competence; it only lists a type of service, prevents adverse effects on subscribers, and identifies services that in the future could have differentiated tariffs. Furthermore, this regulation is not only applicable to AyA. For this reason, this statement by AyA is not admissible. | | a. | | | | | b. | | | | | c. | | | | | In all cases, the tariff to be charged shall be that approved by the Regulatory Authority. | | | | | SIXTH SECTION. RELATED SERVICES | It is the operator's concern. | | What is established in the regulation does not eliminate the provider's competence; it only lists types of services. For this reason, this statement by AyA is not admissible. | | Article 50.- Types of related services. | | | | | The following are considered related services, among others: | | | | | a. | | | | | b. | | | | | c. | | | | | d. | | | | | e. | | | | | f. | | | | | g. Treatment of water and residual sludge from individual systems. | OK RyT, subsection g) is maintained without variation. | | It is an internal AyA comment. For this reason, this statement by AyA is not admissible. | | Article 51.- Connection service. | It is the operator's concern. | | Ibidem to what is indicated in Article 45 above. For this reason, this statement by AyA is not admissible. | | This service allows the interconnection of an interested party's internal system to the public network; it can be: | | | | | a. Connection service with a curb box (prevista). | | | | | b. Connection service without a curb box. | | | | | Article 52.- Reconnection service. | It is the operator's concern. | | Ibidem to what is indicated in Article 45 above. For this reason, this statement by AyA is not admissible. | | It is the service that allows... | | | | | No sum may be charged... such as: | | | | | a. | | | | | b. Fraudulent illicit connection made by a third party without the subscriber's knowledge. | It is proposed to eliminate this subsection. | How is it proven that the subscriber did not do it? Subscribers can claim they do not know who made the fraudulent connection to avoid payment. | The subsection is maintained, as debts for service constitute a legal mortgage (hipoteca legal) on the property, so ultimately the subscriber will always be responsible. For this reason, this statement by AyA is not admissible. | | Article 53.- Deadlines for handling special services. | Deadlines are defined by the operator, within the framework of legality and reasonableness. There are deadlines established by the Constitutional Chamber, Government decrees, laws, and technical conditions. | | AyA does not specify which deadlines it considers contravene those established by higher-ranking norms. For this reason, this statement by AyA is not admissible. | | For the special services defined in this regulation, the following deadlines for their execution are established: | | | | | a. | | | | | b. | | | | | c. | | | | | d. Metering system review: eight business days; | This case is an example where the deadline is determined by the operator's technical conditions. The removal of the meter is carried out according to the monthly reading cycle. Otherwise, anomalies in billing are generated. After this, the Meter Workshop performs the test. Only when on-site tests are performed can this deadline be met. | | The operation of a water meter is vital for the operator's service management, as the data it generates is required for consumption billing. For the subscriber, it is essential as it affects their budget and ability to pay. The provider must review its processes and identify actions that allow faster responses for interested parties. For this reason, this statement by AyA is not admissible. | | e. Relocation of the curb box (prevista): 10 business days; and | | | | | f. | OK RyT, subsection f) is maintained without variation. | | | | The computation of the deadlines begins upon receipt to satisfaction of all requirements established by the provider. | | | | | CHAPTER VI PROVISION OF SERVICES IN CONDITIONS INFERIOR TO OPTIMAL PROVISION | | | | | SOLE SECTION | | | | | Article 56.- Provision of service in conditions inferior to optimal provision. | | | | | Only in exceptional situations: act of God, force majeure, or scheduled suspensions, will it be permitted to provide services in conditions inferior to optimal provision. | The condition of "optimal" service is not defined; the scarcity condition from Article 57 should be included here, OK. | | In the definitions chapter, "optimal provision (prestación óptima)" is defined. For this reason, this statement by AyA is not admissible. | | Article 58.- Alternative means of drinking water supply. | | | | | The alternative means of providing aqueduct service may be tanker trucks, temporary pipelines, or other means, provided that they guarantee that the distributed water meets the characteristic of potable quality and ensures a minimum subsistence allocation (dotación mínima de subsistencia) to the population affected by the interruption. | The minimum subsistence allocation for human consumption or for other uses is not defined. | | The minimum allocation suggested by the World Health Organization (WHO) in the document "The Right to Water" is between 20 and 50 l/person/day, which allows water access between basic and intermediate, ensuring personal consumption and hygiene, but not other household uses. For this reason, AyA's argument is not admissible. | | Article 60.- Sanitary emergency. | | | | | d. In all cases where the service suspension lasts more than eight hours, the provider must provide an alternative supply service. | There is a real technical impossibility of providing water service under these conditions; not all systems have sufficient alternative service systems. | | The function of an aqueduct service provider is to provide its subscribers with water, which must meet the established quality conditions, including continuity, and in cases of suspension, must supply the liquid by alternative means, at least a fraction of what is needed. It is the provider's obligation to plan its management under risk and emergency conditions. The preceding Article 59 establishes the obligation to prepare an emergency and natural disaster response plan. Law 8292, the Internal Control Law, obliges institutions to identify their operational risks and define how to manage them. It also requires the preparation and application of the SEVRI; therefore, the aspects discussed are not new and should be considered in those documents. For this reason, AyA's argument is not admissible. | | Article 61.- Supply priority in case of scarcity. | | | | | In the event that the aqueduct service must be restricted, it shall be provided according to the following order of priorities: | | | | | a. Hospitals, penitentiary centers, and centers for people at social risk; | It is technically impossible to sectorize service provision with these priorities, as networks and cities are not zoned by consumer type. | | The content of this article must be analyzed and applied in accordance with the provisions of Article 57, which empowers providers, in case of scarcity, to establish use restrictions. Thus, when those restrictions are defined, the order of priority established in this article is valid. For this reason, AyA's argument is not admissible. | | b. | | | | | c. | | | | | d. | | | | | e. | | | | | f. | | | | | CHAPTER VII | | | | | RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE PROVIDER AND THE SUBSCRIBER | | | | | FIRST SECTION. PROCEDURES AND INFORMATION FOR THE SUBSCRIBER | | | | | Article 62.- Procedures and information about the services. | | | | | Providers must establish the necessary procedures for steps related to the provision of services and adopt the regulations, subscription contracts, procedures, and additional regulations that establish the relationships with their subscribers, in harmony with current regulations. | AyA, according to its constitutive law, has the power to issue technical regulations, this in accordance with the General Public Administration Law, which empowers it as an autonomous entity to issue service provision regulations and the organization of service provision. | The regulations established in this ARESEP proposal, in some cases, are not in harmony with the legal principles, regulations, procedures, and regulations in force at AyA. | Ibidem to what is indicated in Article 45 above. | | Article 63.- Publicity of information. | | | This article clearly indicates that the documents to be published are those that modify or create rights and obligations in relation to users. It was issued in compliance with Article 4 of Decree No. 8990, which amended the Law for the Protection of Citizens from Excessive Requirements and Procedures No. 8220, which states: "(.) Article 4.- Publicity of procedures and subjection to the Law: Every procedure or requirement, regardless of its normative source, in order to be demanded from the citizen must: (.) b) Be published in the Official Gazette La Gaceta, together with the instructions, manuals, forms, and other corresponding documents, and be located in a visible place within the institution. Likewise, in a nationally circulated newspaper, a notice referring to said publication must be published. Said procedures or requirements may also be disseminated through electronic means (.)." In light of the foregoing, no contradiction is found with the opposition presented here by AyA, which points out that "what is published in the Official Gazette La Gaceta corresponds to those documents that modify or create obligations or rights in relation to the client. The foregoing in accordance with what is stipulated by MEIC." For this reason, AyA's argument is not admissible. | | Providers must publish in the official gazette La Gaceta and in the media they deem appropriate, every procedure or requirement referring to the provision of services and their steps when these modify or create obligations or rights, together with the instructions, regulations, manuals, forms, protocols, and other complementary documents. | These documents must be located in public service areas, as well as on their website, if they have one. | Publication in the Official Gazette La Gaceta applies to those documents that modify or create obligations or rights in relation to the customer. The foregoing in accordance with the stipulations of the Ministry of Economy, Industry and Commerce. | The impact of publishing what ARESEP indicates must be assessed, in addition to the fact that this matter is already regulated. | | | SECTION THREE. REQUEST FOR CONNECTION, DISCONNECTION, AND SUSPENSION OF SERVICES | | | | | Article 69.- Competence to request services. | | | | | Water supply (acueducto) and sanitary sewer (alcantarillado sanitario) services may only be requested by the owner or by whoever holds, through the representation figures established by the legal system, the expression of the owner's will. | This regulation does not clearly indicate the established requirements that the applicant must meet for conventional or special services. | | The article refers to deadlines, not to payments or billings. For this reason, the argument from AyA is not acceptable. | | Article 70.- Deadline for the installation of a new service. | | | | | Once the requirements are met and the respective fee is paid, providers shall have a maximum period of five business days to make the connection for each approved service. For the installation of water meters (hidrómetros), the conditions established in the Technical Standard for Water Meters (Norma Técnica de Hidrómetros) shall be observed. | Once the requirements are met and the respective fee is paid, or the owner's authorization for its inclusion in the billing is given, providers shall have a maximum period of five business days to make the connection for each approved service. For the installation of water meters (hidrómetros), the conditions established in the Technical Standard for Water Meters (Norma Técnica de Hidrómetros) shall be observed. | It does not consider the payment included in the first billing and payment in installments. In compliance with the provisions of Ley 8220 and 8990. | The suggestion is not considered necessary to include because the expression "once the requirements are met" must include the owner's authorization, and regarding the payment of the first billing, this will occur when consumption occurs and the respective invoice is issued. For this reason, the argument from AyA is not acceptable. | | Article 72.- Independence of services. | | | | | In any property where there is more than one consumption unit (unidad de consumo), these must have, both for the water supply (acueducto) service and for the sanitary sewer (alcantarillado sanitario) service, an independent connection, and the water supply (acueducto) service must have its respective metering. Only one connection for each service with several consumption units (unidades de consumo) shall be permitted in cases where it is not technically feasible to install independent connections. | The independence must be mandatory or optional; the ARESEP proposal is mandatory. For a urban development project, the metering system is defined from the project's approval at INVU, therefore it cannot be modified later. | | ARESEP's proposal is mandatory, but as is correctly indicated, it leaves an exception, because no one is obligated to do the impossible. For this reason, the argument from AyA is not acceptable. | | Article 74.- Request for service disconnection by the subscriber (abonado). | | | | | Providers are obligated to attend to any request for service disconnection, provided there are no pending payments nor direct impact on third parties. This request must be addressed within a maximum period of two business days counted from the satisfactory receipt of all the requirements established by the provider. | This deadline and other procedures are regulated in the law for the simplification of procedures and the MEIC: | There is no congruence, see article 53, subsection b. | Decreto N°8990, which modified Ley N°8220, establishes in its Article 6 that procedures must be resolved within the given legal or regulatory deadline. This means that Decreto N°8990 and Ley N°8220 maintain the deadlines given in specific regulations such as this one. Consequently, it is concluded that the regulation under study does not contravene said legislation. For this reason, the argument from AyA is not acceptable. | | Article 75.- Grounds for rejection of service requests. | It is a matter for the operator, and is supported by the LGAP. | | Ibidem to what is indicated in Article 45 above. | | Providers may deny a service when any of the following grounds occur: | | | | | a. | | | | | b. | | | | | c. | | | | | d. | | | | | e. | | | | | f. | | | | | G | | | | | The provider, within a period of ten business days, must issue the decision in writing and justify the reasons for the rejection. | It is in other laws. | | Indeed, the deadline is in the General Law of Public Administration. Including it in this regulation does not alter said provision, but rather strengthens it by being consistent. For this reason, the argument from AyA is not acceptable. | | Article 76.- Grounds for suspension of the water supply (acueducto) service. | It is a matter for the operator, and is supported by the LGAP. | | Ibidem to what is indicated in Article 45 above. | | Providers may suspend the water supply (acueducto) service when any of the following grounds occur: | | | | | a. | | | | | b. | | | | | C | | | | | d. | | | | | e. Failure to pay for the service after prior notification and granting of a payment period, provided that the delivered billing indicates the due date; | e. Failure to pay for the service after the payment period or due date has been granted. | This is in accordance with the Billing Printing Suppression project, which has been endorsed not only by ARESEP but also by the Constitutional Chamber. The customer is notified 24 hours in advance of the suspension. | The regulation does not establish a deadline; it only indicates that one must be established. The due date is already on the bill; it is only confirmed that it is there, therefore it is not a problem nor anything additional. The suspension occurs after the notification if the due date is not stated. In general, with other words, what is indicated coincides with AyA's proposal. For this reason, the argument from AyA is not acceptable. | | f. | | | | | g. | | | | | h. | | | | | i. | | | | | j. | | | | | When any of these grounds for suspension of the service are incurred and this has been determined following due process; the provider must remind the subscriber (abonado) of the suspension date, through the indicated medium and 48 hours in advance. | When any of these grounds for suspension of the service are incurred and this has been determined following due process; the provider must remind the subscriber (abonado) of the suspension date, with at least 24 hours in advance. | It is considered to eliminate the reminder "through the indicated medium" so that all means available to AyA can be used and not be limited to just one. | What is indicated does not contravene AyA's recommendation; it only indicates that a reminder must be made, but does not indicate the medium; the provider can establish it without a problem. For this reason, the argument from AyA is not acceptable. | | Article 78.- Conditions for not suspending the water supply (acueducto) service for lack of payment. | | | | | The suspension of service does not proceed when: | | | | | a. | | | | | b. | | | | | c. | | | | | d. | | | | | The provider must notify the subscriber (abonado) of their delinquent status through a resolution; likewise, it shall make available to its subscribers (abonados) electronic means to check their account status. | It is proposed to eliminate this statement since the delinquency reminders prior to suspension are already contemplated in Article 76. | | For the sake of more information and clarification for the subscriber (abonado), the elimination is considered unnecessary. For this reason, the argument from AyA is not acceptable. | | Article 79.- Deadline for reconnection of the water supply (acueducto) service. | | | | | The service provider shall restore the service connection within a period no longer than 24 calendar hours, when the cause for the suspension has been corrected and satisfactorily communicated. | Ordinary reconnections are performed within that 24-hour period. There are service reconnections that require a new service connection (prevista), therefore more time is required for these cases. | | The importance of the water supply (acueducto) service is widely known; if the subscriber (abonado) does not meet their payment commitments, the service must be suspended, but similarly, once that cause is remedied, it must be reinstalled as soon as possible. The deadline runs from when the remedy is made, and it could be that part of that solution involves the provider carrying out some type of justified work. Once that work is completed, the deadline runs. For this reason, the argument from AyA is not acceptable. | | SECTION FOUR. ATTENTION TO COMPLAINTS AND REPORTS | | | | | Article 81.- Processing of complaints and reports. | This matter is already regulated, LGAP No. 6227 | | In the drafting of the article, reference is made to respecting the deadlines and procedures established in said Law; therefore, there is no discrepancy with what is indicated by AyA, and the regulation is not being contravened by stipulating an article in the regulation such as the one cited here. Furthermore, the referral to the deadlines and procedure established in Ley N°6227 for the attention of complaints and reports is also contemplated in the Regulatory Authority Law N°7593 and its Regulation N°29732-MP. For this reason, the argument from AyA is not acceptable. For this reason, the argument from AyA is not acceptable. | | The provider must process, investigate . | | | | | In the case of complaints . | | | | | Article 82.- Charging for service with a complaint filed for high consumption. | It is a matter for the operator. | It is proposed to eliminate this article; the response times for procedures are contemplated in Ley 8220 and its regulations, and to determine if the causes of the increase are attributable to the provider, a procedure already exists with parameters for anomalies generated from the billing process. High consumption is not synonymous with a damaged water meter (hidrómetro), but rather, in the vast majority of cases, it is due to leaks in internal installations. Replacing a new, recently installed, or mid-life-cycle water meter (hidrómetro) represents a considerable loss for AyA; the useful life of the water meter (hidrómetro) is cut short, it cannot be installed elsewhere as it has an accumulated reading, and AyA no longer contracts for water meter (hidrómetro) repair, therefore it would be discarded, generating losses. It would also demand a considerable increase in workloads and operating expenses, which ultimately results in tariff effects. This article may conflict with the principle of "optimal service provision (prestación óptima)". It is similar to Article 86 and is being considered in Article 100. | This article does not clash with Ley N°8220, as it neither establishes nor contradicts the response deadlines for procedures given by that regulatory body. AyA points out that a procedure already exists. It is known, as set forth in section "5.1. AyA's Authority to Issue its Own Regulations", that the Institute has the legal authority to establish procedures that allow it to organize itself within the framework of its functions; but this article seeks to dictate the optimal service provision (prestación óptima) conditions under which the service must be provided; this is to ensure user protection, by guaranteeing that the service does not decrease in quality and is provided in an appropriate, reliable, continuous, timely, and sufficient manner, as promulgated by Article 5 of Ley N°7593. Therefore, AyA must adapt its existing procedure to what is stated in this article, should any conflict exist. AyA is correct in indicating that high consumption is not synonymous with a damaged water meter (hidrómetro); the intention is to effectively verify that the high consumption is not caused in the public portion of the service and is therefore not the provider's responsibility. Furthermore, the provider is responsible up to where the public portion of the service ends; if there are internal leaks, they are the responsibility of the subscriber (abonado). It must be remembered that a goal of the regulation is homogeneous application for all providers; that is, equal treatment in the same situation for all service subscribers (abonados). A point of dispute, and ARESEP definition, between subscriber (abonado) and provider is how the disputed amount and the following months' charges are billed. What is regulated is consistent with what is established in Article 100. There is no doubt that such activity has a cost, which is why Article 100 establishes the possibility of charging the cost of the review. The reuse of parts of the water meter (hidrómetro), such as the casing, is possible; it is also possible to change the internal kit that allows data capture, therefore the utilization of water meter (hidrómetro) parts is feasible. For this reason, the argument from AyA is not acceptable. | | Upon the filing of a complaint for high consumption: | | It is reiterated that the definition of high consumption presented in this regulation would cause changes in normal or seasonal consumption habits to trigger the procedure described in Article 82, forcing the operator to perform a series of tasks that would add cost to the service with little or no added value. | The issue of high consumption was addressed in the definitions section. It is reiterated. For this reason, the argument from AyA is not acceptable. | | a. | | | | | b. The charging of the disputed amount shall be made when the final resolution of the process is issued; | | This could have negative effects on accounts receivable. | It is just an opinion, a potential situation that is not supported by technical criteria or data. For this reason, the argument from AyA is not acceptable. | | c. | | | | | d. | | | | | Providers, when they detect high consumption, must notify the subscriber (abonado) within a maximum of 8 subsequent business days. | | AyA makes its billing information available to all its customers every month, through available means: 800 number, web page, messaging service, commercial offices, etc. | A service provider does not exist just because; it exists for the subscriber (abonado) or user. Serving the subscriber (abonado) in the most efficient manner is the raison d'être of a service, and for this, all available means and tools must be used. For this reason, the argument from AyA is not acceptable. | | Article 85.- Permanent user service. | | | | | Providers are obligated to indicate the places or means necessary to receive complaints and reports twenty-four hours a day, three hundred sixty-five days a year. These shall be indicated on the service billing invoices or through the means they deem necessary. | To apply this article, an implementation period is required, and the Operator defines the hours, considering current laws and service demand. | | Transitory provision II establishes a period of twelve months after the effective date to implement this service, and Transitory provision VII establishes a period of five months to present an implementation plan. System problems occur at any time, and there must be a means to report them, especially when they are breakdowns (reports). For this reason, the argument from AyA is not acceptable. For this reason, the argument from AyA is not acceptable. | | Article 86.- Complaints for erroneous billing. | It is a matter for the operator. | | Reference is made to section "5.1. AyA's Authority to Issue its Own Regulations". For this reason, the argument from AyA is not acceptable. | | Complaints for erroneous billing may be filed in the following cases: | | | | | a. Paid invoice: | | | | | b. Unpaid invoice: | | | | | If the complaint is resolved in favor of the subscriber (abonado), based on the final resolution, the provider shall adjust the amount to pay and formally communicate this to the subscriber (abonado) by official letter. | Complaints filed in person are notified verbally since many of them are resolved immediately. | AyA provides expeditious means to inform the customer of the outcome of their complaint. | It is obvious that if the complaint is resolved immediately, this procedure does not apply, but this is not always the case. If the subscriber (abonado) submits the matter in writing, this procedure must be followed. For this reason, the argument from AyA is not acceptable. | | If the claim is rejected, based on the final resolution, the provider shall formally communicate the new due date and the pending payment amount to the subscriber (abonado) by official letter. It will not charge late payment surcharges from the original due date until the date of notification of the final resolution. | Complaints filed in person are notified verbally since many of them are resolved immediately. | | It is obvious that if the complaint is resolved immediately, this procedure does not apply, but this is not always the case. If the subscriber (abonado) submits the matter in writing, this procedure must be followed. For this reason, the argument from AyA is not acceptable. | | In all cases, the new due date shall not be less than five business days from the date of notification. In the event of delinquency, the established collection process shall be followed. | | | | | Article 87.- Filing of complaints. | | | | | If the subscriber (abonado) or duly authorized user files a complaint before the provider, the latter must respond in writing within the ten business days following receipt of the claim. | This is already considered between Ley 8220 and 8990 according to the type of procedure. The deadline varies depending on the complexity of the complaint, whether they are simple or complex. Deadlines established in the General Law of Public Administration. On the other hand, complaints filed on service platforms are mostly resolved on the spot and verbally, with a record of the management carried out remaining in the Commercial System, so written notification would only be for complaints filed in writing. | | The central idea is the timely attention to the subscriber (abonado), and if their inquiry is resolved immediately, so much the better. For other cases, this article specifies a minimum period of 10 business days to respond, which does not clash with the deadlines of the legal system. For this reason, the argument from AyA is not acceptable. | | If the provider rejects said claim, it must substantiate its decision in writing. | | | | | SECTION FIVE. METERING AND BILLING | | | | | Article 88.- Universality of consumption metering. | | | | | All water supply (acueducto) service consumption, including that of special services, must be metered, as established by the Technical Standard for Water Meters (Norma Técnica de Hidrómetros). | Depending on water quality, not all services can be metered; the water meter (hidrómetro) could become clogged with sediment and obstruct the water flow. It must also be consistent with Article 93, subsection c. Given expert opinion, it must be kept fixed, see Article 16 of the Public Administration Law. | | The generic principle is the universalization of consumption metering, and as established in Article 93, the exception applies; no one is obligated to the impossible. For this reason, the argument from AyA is not acceptable. | | Article 89.- Periodicity of water meter (hidrómetro) readings. | It is a matter for the operator; there are temporary services. | | The measurement of consumption, as well as estimated consumption, are very important aspects, as they are the basis for the billing. Uniform cycles allow the subscriber (abonado) to define their budget and the provider to plan their revenues. For this reason, the argument from AyA is not acceptable. | | The water meter (hidrómetro) reading system must be permanent, monthly or bimonthly, so that the reading cycles maintain uniformity in the consumption period. | | | | | Article 90.- Deadline for the repair or replacement of water meters (hidrómetros). | | | | | The provider is obligated to repair, correct, or replace water meters (hidrómetros) within the maximum period of eight calendar days after an anomaly is detected. | Damaged meters in the field are replaced within periods that vary according to their installed capacity. | | Totally agree with AyA that water meters (hidrómetros) are replaced according to their installed capacity, but the article does not refer to that concept. It refers to the deadline to repair or replace a water meter (hidrómetro) when an anomaly is detected. For this reason, the argument from AyA is not acceptable. | | The billing for the month in which the anomaly occurred shall be based on the normal average consumption. | | | | | Article 92.- Conditions of the invoice. | | | | | The invoice may be physical or electronic. If a subscriber (abonado) does not have or cannot access digital means, they must inform the provider, who must bill via physical invoice, which shall be sent to the place the subscriber (abonado) has indicated. | The invoice may be physical or electronic. If a subscriber (abonado) does not have or cannot access digital means, they must inform the provider, who must bill via physical invoice, which shall be sent to the place where the service is provided. | The sending of the invoice must be limited to the place where the service is provided and not left open to be sent wherever the subscriber requests. | By stating "to the place the subscriber (abonado) indicates," it is because the subscriber (abonado) may indicate a postal address or their workplace, which can facilitate payment and allow the provider to receive revenue timely. For this reason, the argument from AyA is not acceptable. | | Article 93.- Basis for billing. | | | | | Billing for water supply (acueducto), sanitary sewer (alcantarillado sanitario), and fire hydrant services shall be based on the volumes of water consumed by the water supply (acueducto) service: | | | | | a. | | | | | b. | | | | | c. | Review wording. | | If the subsection is read starting from the initial phrase of the article, it makes complete sense. For this reason, the argument from AyA is not acceptable. | | Article 98.- Provision of shared services by two providers. | | | | | When, for technical reasons, one provider must supply the water supply (acueducto) service and another provider the sanitary sewer (alcantarillado sanitario) service, they must sign an agreement and communicate it in writing to the subscribers (abonados) under this condition. The water supply (acueducto) provider must send the potable water consumption measurement to the sanitary sewer (alcantarillado sanitario) provider monthly for service billing. | The possibility of two providers providing service in the same community should not be permitted. Having one operator provide water service and take the respective measurement and then transferring that measurement to another, for example to bill for the sanitary sewer (alcantarillado sanitario) service, introduces technical difficulties for proper management. For example, relying on a third-party reading to do our billing, especially when that third party has limitations in its technical capacities to carry out its management, could transfer such limitations or deficiencies to the institution, especially in the face of claims or reading errors. Another even more serious aspect is that if an operator provides the water supply service and AyA provides the collection and treatment service, AyA could face difficulties in providing the service, since our institution operates Treatment Plants only for ordinary or domestic waters. If the operator providing the water service grants a new service to a company whose activity generates special waters, or simply to a dwelling with very specific economic activities that affect the operating conditions of the Treatment Plant operated by AyA, what authority does AyA have to establish regulations on such provision? From the foregoing, negative impacts may arise for one or the other operator under these conditions. | | The article does not regulate the possibility of two providers providing service in the same community, but rather one providing the water supply (acueducto) service and another providing the sewer (alcantarillado) service. That situation is not desirable and must be an exception when there are no technical solutions. The potential problems noted are real, and the parties, in the extreme necessity of it occurring, must foresee them and seek the best solutions based on the service for their subscribers (abonados) to which they are called. Opposition should not arise based on assumptions, but rather technical solutions should be planned. Another option to handle this case is to apply what is established in Article 38 of this regulation. For this reason, the argument from AyA is not acceptable. | | Article 100.- Verification of water meter (hidrómetro) operation. | | | | | The cost of the review shall be borne by the applicant, except if the malfunction of the water meter (hidrómetro) is proven. | | An update to the tariff must be requested. | That is a function of the provider, who must evaluate its costs and take the pertinent measures. For this reason, the argument from AyA is not acceptable. | | Article 103.- Delivery of the invoice. | | | | | The provider must deliver the invoice corresponding to the consumption of its services, with a minimum of 10 calendar days before the due date, at the place or by the means indicated by the subscriber (abonado). | The provider must make the billing data for the services available, with a minimum of 10 calendar days before the due date, through the means provided for this purpose. | This is for consistency with the Billing Printing and Distribution Suppression Project. | The wording is considered appropriate, as not only the billing data must be delivered, but also the invoice. For this reason, the argument from AyA is not acceptable. | | 105- Amount to pay in a connection that supplies several consumption units (unidades de consumo). | | | | | i.. | | | | | ii. If the connection is without metering (fixed service). | | | | | a. For water supply (acueducto) or sanitary sewer (alcantarillado sanitario): the fixed charge for water supply (acueducto) or sanitary sewer (alcantarillado sanitario) plus the respective rate; this value is multiplied by the number of consumption units (unidades de consumo). | According to Resolution 892- RCR-2012, the fixed rate (tarifa fija) contains the fixed charge (cargo fijo); it must be reviewed. | | In resolution RIA-003-2014, published in La Gaceta No. 11 of June 16, 2014. In the Por tanto schedules containing the tariff sheets, a footnote reads: "Note N°1/The fixed charge (cargo fijo) must be included in the billing both for metered services and for fixed services." Therefore, the amount of the fixed charge (cargo fijo) is identifiable to apply the indicated formula. For this reason, the argument from AyA is not acceptable. | | b. | | | | | II. For the other tariff categories. | | | | | i. If the connection is metered: | | | | | a. For water supply (acueducto) and sanitary sewer (alcantarillado sanitario): the fixed charge (cargo fijo) for water supply (acueducto) or sanitary sewer (alcantarillado sanitario) is added to the product of the water supply (acueducto) or sanitary sewer (alcantarillado sanitario) rate multiplied by the total consumption recorded by the water meter (hidrómetro). | Review the wording of the statement with the formula, as they are not congruent. | | Because the article is clear in indicating that it refers to a connection for several consumption units (unidades de consumo), the respective formula is congruent with that condition, that is, it presents a fixed charge (cargo fijo) assigned precisely to several consumption units (unidades de consumo), so any additional title is subject to the formula, which will ultimately be the one applied in practice. For this reason, this statement from AyA is not acceptable. | | Amount = {fixed charge [cargo fijo] (ac, alc) x consumption units [unidades de consumo] + (rate [tarifa] (ac or alc) x Total recorded consumption)} | | | | | Article 106.- Billing for consumption units (unidades de consumo) with different use. | | | | | When, in the same connection, there are consumption units (unidades de consumo) with different water use, the provider shall bill the services based on the rate that represents 60% or more of the use. If it is proven that the additional use is commercial or industrial, the provider must notify the subscriber (abonado) so that, within a period of 60 days, they separate (independice) the services. If, after the period has expired, the subscriber (abonado) does not comply with the request, the provider shall reclassify the service with the applicable rate. | When, in the same connection, there are consumption units (unidades de consumo) with different water use, the provider shall bill the services based on the highest rate. If the additional use is commercial or industrial, the provider must notify the subscriber (abonado) so that, within a period of 60 days, they separate (independice) the services. If, after the period has expired, the subscriber (abonado) does not comply with the request, the provider shall reclassify the service with the applicable rate. | We do not have a tool or criteria that allow us to scientifically establish the percentage of use for the services. | The highest rate should not be automatically applied, but rather its application justified to the subscriber (abonado). The cases are not too many, and there are technical criteria regarding people's consumption, water uses, water-using equipment, and the number of users for each use that can achieve a reasonable calculation. For this reason, the argument from AyA is not acceptable. | | Article 107.- Billing for illicit connections. | | | | | When an illicit connection is identified: | | | | | a. | | | | | b. If the service is illicitly connected on more than two occasions, the provider shall proceed to eliminate the service connection (prevista) and charge the estimated consumption if the service is metered, or the fixed rate if the service is without metering; | b. If the service is illicitly connected on more than two occasions, the provider shall proceed to eliminate the service connection (prevista) and charge the estimated consumption if the service is metered, or the fixed rate if the service is without metering; from the last disconnection. | | It is understood that it is "from the last disconnection". For this reason, the argument from AyA is not acceptable. | | c. | | | | | d.

In cases of illicit connections made to supply single-family dwellings, upon prior verification of compliance with requirements and payment of the respective connection fee for a new service, the operator must formalize them as regular subscribers and charge for the consumption evaded for a period of up to six months; and | In the other cases of illicit connections made to supply single-family dwellings, upon prior verification of compliance with requirements for a new service and the charging of the respective connection fee for a new service, the operator must formalize them as regular subscribers, as well as the charging of the consumption evaded for a period of at least six months. | The illicit connection shall be charged for at least 6 months of consumption; if evidence is available, the entire period of use shall be charged. | The article, in relation to the charging, states ". por un periodo de al menos seis meses," which implies that if it is possible to prove it, a longer period may be charged. For that reason, the argument of AyA is not acceptable. | | e. In the other cases of illicit connections, the provider is obliged to suspend the service and recover the costs incurred during the period of illicit use of the service, as well as the income not received for the consumption evaded, for a period of up to six months. The foregoing based on the evidence to which the operator has access. | In the other cases of illicit connections, the provider is obliged to suspend the service and recover the costs incurred during the period of illicit use of the service, as well as consumption evaded, for a period of at least six months. The foregoing based on the evidence to which the operator has access. | The illicit connection shall be charged for at least 6 months of consumption; if evidence is available, the entire period of use shall be charged. | The other cases are unlikely to occur, so the time period was indicated as a maximum to avoid unnecessary costs. For that reason, the argument of AyA is not acceptable. | | In all cases, the provider must follow due process and shall undertake the judicial actions that are legally pertinent, as well as apply the procedure for rebilling. | | | | | Article 109.- Adjustment of bills for high consumption. | | | | | Providers, at the subscriber’s request, must make adjustments to bills for high consumption resulting from non-visible leaks in the internal installations. | This regulation eliminates domiciliary inspections and replaces them with hydrometer inspections. Furthermore, adjusting only for non-visible leaks increases workloads and would be a return to what was applied previously. | Applying adjustments for high consumption resulting from non-visible leaks conflicts with the principle that it is the client’s responsibility to maintain the internal systems and installations in good working condition and with other articles of the regulation that ARESEP proposes: articles 7 and 119 | The concept is not new; it is in article 95 of the Reglamento de Prestación del Servicio a los Clientes of AyA. Authorizing adjustments for high consumption does not conflict with the responsibilities of the subscribers; it merely gives them the opportunity, under exceptional conditions as indicated in the article, to request an adjustment to their bill given that the subscriber only has the bill as a signal of problems in their internal network. For that reason, the argument of AyA is not acceptable. | | The provider shall adjust up to two bills issued consecutively every twelve billing cycles, when: | | | | | a. | | | | | b. , | | | | | For the application of new adjustments, the subscriber must demonstrate that they made the pertinent repairs. | How this relates according to what is indicated in the statement before subsection a. | | As a general criterion, up to two bills issued consecutively may be rebilled, and to carry out the second, the subscriber must have made the required repairs. For that reason, the argument of AyA is not acceptable. | | If the high consumption. | | | | | Article 111.- Collection management. | | | | | e. Deliver to the subscriber, if requested, the result of the reading taken. | It must be clarified what is meant by delivering the physical bill, whether it is a duplicate requested at service points or the monthly bill, since the latter is mentioned in Art. 92 | | Regarding the digital or electronic bill, there will be some subscribers who will not accept it and will want the bill delivered on paper; that is what delivering the physical bill refers to, being consistent with what is set forth in article 92. For that reason, the argument of AyA is not acceptable. | | CHAPTER VIII | | | | | MASS CONSUMPTION PROJECTS AND SYSTEM EXTENSIONS | | | | | SINGLE SECTION | | | | | Article 117.- Financing of works for new developments. | | | | | To finance future investments and so that a mass consumption project does not affect programmed service management, service providers may resort to the financing mechanism called "Aporte para Nuevos Desarrollos". | this concept must be expanded and detailed further; is it mandatory or not, on the part of the operator to apply it ??? "aporte para nuevos desarrollos" has not been defined. This article requires, by itself, a special regulation. | | The application of this concept is not mandatory, it is optional; that is, it depends on the will of the provider. What is sought is to have that option to be able to develop that type of projects, without the economic factor being an obstacle to development and without affecting the financial management of the provider. Article 122, entitled: "Aportes para nuevos desarrollos" defines the concept. For that reason, the argument of AyA is not acceptable.

II.That in compliance with agreements 001-007-2011 and 008-083-2012 of the Board of Directors, it is noted that the record contains, in digital and documentary format, the information supporting this resolution.

III.That based on the preceding findings and considerations (resultandos and considerandos) and in accordance with the merits of the proceedings, it is appropriate to: 1.- Approve the technical regulation called "Prestación de los Servicios de Acueducto, Alcantarillado Sanitario e Hidrantes, ARPSAYA- 2013", submitted under official communications N° 0643-IA-2014 and 0648-IA-2014, 2.- Notify the Contraloría General de la República of this agreement, as provided, 3.- Instruct the Secretariat of the Board of Directors to proceed with the respective publication of this regulation in the official gazette La Gaceta.

IV.That in session 54-2014 of September 18, 2014, the Board of Directors of the Autoridad Reguladora de los Servicios Públicos, based on official communications 643-IA-2014 and 648-AI-2014 both dated September 8, 2014, as well as official communication 719-DGAJR-2014 dated September 17, 2014, agreed, among other things and with firm effect:

Based on the powers conferred in Law 7593 and its amendments, in the Ley General de la Administración Pública N 6227, in Decreto Ejecutivo 29732-MP, which is the Regulation to Law 7539, and in the Internal Organization and Functions Regulation of the Autoridad Reguladora de los Servicios Públicos and its Deconcentrated Body LA JUNTA DIRECTIVA DE LA AUTORIDAD REGULADORA DE LOS SERVICIOS PÚBLICOS

I.Approve the technical regulation called "Prestación de los Servicios de Acueducto, Alcantarillado Sanitario e Hidrantes, AR-PSAYA-2013", submitted under official communications 0643-2014 and 0648-IA-2014, as detailed below:

Technical Regulation:

"Prestación de los Servicios de Acueducto, Alcantarillado Sanitario e Hidrantes (AR-PSAyA-2013)"

OBJECTIVE, SCOPE OF APPLICATION AND EXTENT SINGLE SECTION

To regulate the conditions for the provision of aqueduct, sanitary sewerage and hydrant services and the relationships between providers regulated by ARESEP and the subscribers (abonados) of these services; establishing the necessary regulatory measures so that these public services are provided optimally.

(As amended by ordinary session No. 15-2016 of March 10, 2016)

This regulation is applicable to the public services of aqueduct, sanitary sewerage and hydrants regarding: operation, maintenance, development and administration of these services, in their different stages:

a. Aqueduct: production, distribution and commercialization; b. Sanitary sewerage: collection, treatment, disposal and commercialization; and c. Hydrants: being a service associated and linked to the aqueduct service, it includes all stages of this service.

This regulation is applicable nationwide, for providers of aqueduct, sanitary sewerage and hydrant services regulated by the Autoridad Reguladora de los Servicios Públicos.

(As amended by ordinary session No. 15-2016 of March 10, 2016)

ACRONYMS AND DEFINITIONS SINGLE SECTION

For the purposes of this Regulation, the following shall be understood by:

ARESEP Autoridad Reguladora de los Servicios Públicos or Autoridad Reguladora.

ASADA Asociación Administradora de Sistemas de Acueductos y Alcantarillados Comunales.

AyA Instituto Costarricense de Acueductos y Alcantarillados.

CFIA Colegio Federado de Ingenieros y de Arquitectos de Costa Rica.

CNE Comisión Nacional de Prevención de Riesgos y Atención de Emergencias.

CR-2010 Especificaciones Generales para la Construcción de Carreteras, Caminos y Puentes.

CONAVI Consejo Nacional de Vialidad.

DE-2010 Manual de Diseños Estándares para la Construcción de Carreteras, Caminos y Puentes.

ECA Ente Costarricense de Acreditación.

ESPH, S.A. Empresa de Servicios Públicos de Heredia, S.A.

MINAE Ministerio del Ambiente y Energía.

MOPT Ministerio de Obras Públicas y Transportes.

PMYES Programa de Mejora y Expansión Continua del Servicio.

SIG Geographic Information System (Sistema de Información Geográfica).

For the purposes of this Regulation, the following shall be understood by:

Subscriber (Abonado): Natural or legal person in whose name the service provided by the provider is registered.

(As amended the above definition by ordinary session No. 15-2016 of March 10, 2016) Universal access (Acceso universal): Effective right of access to a public service provided by a provider within its territorial jurisdiction under optimal provision conditions.

Community aqueduct or sewerage (Acueducto o alcantarillado comunal): An aqueduct or sanitary sewerage system whose ownership corresponds to AyA, but whose administration is delegated to local entities, in accordance with the Constitutive Law of AyA No. 2726.

Aqueduct or aqueduct system (Acueducto o sistema de acueducto): A system whose objective is to capture, purify, store and distribute potable water for the purpose of supplying it to a specific population center.

It includes the water resource source and the physical infrastructure works. It consists of the following stages:

a. Production (environmental management, abstraction and conveyance and purification); b. Distribution (storage, distribution networks, domiciliary connections, water meters (hidrómetros)); and c. Commercialization (consumption measurement, meter reading, billing, collection and activities related to user service).

Potable water (Agua potable): Water that, when consumed by the population, does not cause harm to health and complies with the aesthetic, organoleptic, physical, chemical, biological and microbiological standards established in current regulations.

Stormwater (Agua pluvial): Rainwater that, instead of being infiltrated, flows across the land surface finally reaching a body of water.

Wastewater (Agua residual): Water that has received a use and whose quality has been modified by the incorporation of contaminating agents.

Ordinary wastewater (Agua residual de tipo ordinario): Wastewater generated by domestic human activities (use of toilets, showers, washbasins, sinks, laundry, etc.).

Special wastewater (Agua residual de tipo especial): Wastewater of a type different from ordinary.

Storm drainage (Alcantarillado pluvial): System formed by pipes and structures whose objective is to collect and convey stormwater.

Sanitary sewerage or sanitary sewerage system (Alcantarillado sanitario o sistema de alcantarillado sanitario): System whose objective is to collect, convey and treat wastewater; as well as the sanitary disposal of the resulting water and sludge. It includes the receiving body and the physical infrastructure works. It consists of the following stages:

a. Collection; b. Treatment (Environmental management, and final disposal of water and waste sludge); and c. Commercialization (Consumption measurement, billing, collection and activities related to subscriber service).

High consumption (Alto consumo): That which exceeds by 100% the normal average consumption of the subscriber over the last twelve months.

(As amended the above definition by ordinary session No. 15-2016 of March 10, 2016) Asociación Administradora de Sistemas de Acueductos y Alcantarillados Comunales, ASADA: Legally constituted organization for the provision of aqueduct, sanitary sewerage and hydrant services; and which has a delegation agreement from AyA.

Autoridad Reguladora de los Servicios Públicos, Autoridad Reguladora or ARESEP: Autonomous institution created by Law No. 7593, responsible for setting rates, issuing and ensuring compliance with quality, quantity, reliability, continuity, timeliness and optimal provision standards for public services.

Quality (Calidad): Set of attributes held by public services that allows them to be provided continuously, timely, regularly, swiftly, effectively and efficiently; which gives them the aptitude to satisfy human needs.

Water quality (Calidad del agua): Set of physical, chemical, biological and organoleptic attributes assigned to water based on its use and which are required for the protection of human health, both for human consumption and for recreational and productive uses.

Service quality (Calidad del servicio): Overall effect of the provision of a service that determines the degree of satisfaction of the needs of the subscriber (abonado) or user.

Public street (Calle Pública): Road that forms part of the public domain and its condition and characteristics are established by the competent entity.

Water capacity (Capacidad hídrica): Existing feasibility condition for the production and exploitation of water for supplying aqueduct and hydrant services.

(As amended the above definition by ordinary session No. 15-2016 of March 10, 2016) Hydraulic capacity (Capacidad hidráulica): Condition of the installed infrastructure of the aqueduct, sanitary sewerage and hydrant systems to feasibly convey flows to provide a service.

(As added the above definition by ordinary session No. 15-2016 of March 10, 2016) Fortuitous event (Caso fortuito): That which happens accidentally without premeditation or foresight; or which even though foreseen could not have been avoided.

Flow (Caudal): Quotient between the volume of a liquid or fluid passing through a section of a conduit and the elapsed time. It can be expressed in cubic meters per second or in liters per second.

Reading cycle (Ciclo de lectura): period of time between two consecutive readings of a water meter (hidrómetro) ranging between 28 and 33 calendar days and up to 60 calendar days for the case of bimonthly reading.

(As amended the above definition by ordinary session No. 15-2016 of March 10, 2016) Coverage (Cobertura): Availability of services within the provider's territorial jurisdiction.

Interceptor (Colector): Main pipe intended to collect and convey wastewater as part of a sewerage network. It does not have direct connections from subscribers.

Commercialization (Comercialización): Final stage of the supply of aqueduct, sanitary sewerage and hydrant services that comprises consumption measurement, water meter reading, billing, collection and activities related to user service.

Connection (Conexión): Union of the public water supply or sanitary sewerage (wastewater collection) system with the private system.

Illicit aqueduct connection (Conexión ilícita de acueducto): An aqueduct connection is considered illicit when:

a. It is connected to the public network, without authorization from the provider; b. The service is suspended and reconnected without authorization from the provider; c. The service has been authorized by the provider and:

i. the connection is made before the water meter; ii. the connection operates improperly due to alteration of the water meter's functioning, d. The service originates from another connection.

Illicit sanitary sewerage connection (Conexión ilícita de alcantarillado sanitario): A sanitary sewerage connection is considered illicit when:

a. It is connected to the public network in use, without authorization from the provider; b. It is connected to a public network that is not in use; c. It interconnects with a storm drainage system; and d. The storm system interconnects to the sanitary system.

Estimated consumption (Consumo estimado): Assumed consumption, which is equivalent to the normal average consumption.

Consumption (Consumo): Volume of water that a subscriber uses in a given period of time.

(As amended the above definition by ordinary session No. 15-2016 of March 10, 2016) Normal consumption (Consumo normal): Service consumption free of distortions, made during a reading cycle.

Normal average consumption (Consumo promedio normal): It is the average of the normal consumptions of a subscriber recorded in the last twelve months. If no records exist to calculate it, it shall be assumed equal to the average consumption of the respective category from the previous year.

Certification of sanitary sewerage system capacity (Constancia de capacidad del sistema de alcantarillado sanitario): Document issued by the sanitary sewerage service operator in the event of a refusal of availability of that service, in which it certifies that the system has capacity for the availability: collection, treatment and disposal of wastewater; subject to the construction by the interested party of the infrastructure indicated in that document.

(As amended the above definition by ordinary session No. 15-2016 of March 10, 2016) Continuity of service (Continuidad del servicio): Attribute of service quality that implies that it is maintained continuously without interruption 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, except for fortuitous events, force majeure, scheduled system maintenance periods, or damage caused by third parties.

(As amended the above definition by ordinary session No. 15-2016 of March 10, 2016) Service contract (Contrato de servicios): Formal agreement signed between a provider of aqueduct, sewerage and hydrant services and a subscriber, establishing the technical and commercial conditions and requirements that allow the services to be provided; as well as the obligations, rights and duties to which the parties commit, within the regulatory framework and current legislation.

Receiving water bodies (Cuerpos de agua receptores): are the ditches, canals, streams, creeks and rivers of public domain and permanent flow regime, as well as lagoons, lakes and seas, into which treated wastewater discharges.

Complaint (Denuncia): Action filed by any person, referring to a situation regarding a public service that affects them or affects a group of people and about which they request an investigation and general action from the corresponding authority.

Sanitary sewerage spill or overflow (Derrame o desborde del alcantarillado sanitario): discharge of effluents from the sanitary sewerage system that manifests on the public thoroughfare.

Developer, subdivider, urbanizer (Desarrollador, fraccionador, urbanizador): Natural or legal person interested in enabling land on their own account for urban purposes, which includes the installations for the provision of public aqueduct, sanitary sewerage and hydrant services, including the treatment and disposal of wastewater and sludge, in the event that no public system exists.

Service availability report or certification (Dictamen o certificación de disponibilidad de servicios): Pronouncement by which a service provider informs an interested third party of the capacity of its systems (aqueduct, sanitary sewerage and hydrants) to supply the consumption of new subscribers.

(As amended the above definition by ordinary session No. 15-2016 of March 10, 2016) Reading error (Error de lectura): Difference between the measured or calculated value and the actual value.

Service availability study (Estudio de disponibilidad de servicios): Technical study under the responsibility of a service provider, referring to the water and hydraulic capacity of the systems it operates.

(As amended the above definition by ordinary session No. 15-2016 of March 10, 2016) System extensions (Extensiones de los sistemas): Infrastructure required for the interconnection of networks of the aqueduct, sanitary sewerage and hydrant services of mass consumption projects with the public network of a service provider. This infrastructure is additional to that of each project itself, which must be financed by the interested party.

Invoice (Factura): Commercial document or file issued periodically by the provider, showing the detail of the concepts and amounts to be charged for the services provided.

Billing (Facturación): Process by which the concepts and amounts that the subscriber must pay are determined.

Erroneous billing (Facturación errónea): process containing values different from the actual ones.

Ornamental public fountain (Fuente pública de ornato): Ornamental structure that uses water and is located in public places.

Force majeure (Fuerza mayor): Event that cannot be foreseen or that, if foreseen, cannot be avoided, for example, atmospheric and natural phenomena such as earthquakes, storms, floods, rises, rains, lightning, fires and others.

Internal leak (Fuga interna): Escape of water or spill of wastewater in the subscriber's internal installations.

Non-visible internal leak (Fuga interna no visible): Escape of water or spill of wastewater in the subscriber's concealed internal installations.

Environmental Management (Gestión Ambiental): Strategy that the provider must use to achieve the sustainability of the service, as well as the protection, conservation, recovery and preservation of the water resource and its surroundings.

Water meter (Hidrómetro): Device or instrument for measuring the volume of water that passes through it.

Internal installations or internal network (Instalaciones internas o red interna): Set of pipes, accessories and sanitary fixtures that are located from the physical boundary of the aqueduct and sanitary sewerage services; intended for the supply and distribution of potable water or the evacuation of wastewater, within a property.

Temporary installations (Instalaciones temporales): Installations built for circuses, fairs, festivals, concerts, religious activities, among others; that do not require a permanent service.

Temporary service interruption (Interrupción temporal del servicio): Scheduled or unscheduled suspension of the potable water service, involving a period of time in which the provider attends to maintenance works; contingencies due to damage to its systems or contingency actions.

Jurisdiction (Jurisdicción): The geographical area authorized by law, concession, permit or delegation, administration or alliance contract for the operation of a provider.

KPa, Kilopascal: Unit of measurement of atmospheric pressure, equivalent to one thousand Pascals (1000 Pascals).

Law No. 7593 or Law of the Autoridad Reguladora: Law of the Autoridad Reguladora de los Servicios Públicos No. 7593 and its amendments.

m. c. a or meters of water column (metros de columna de agua): Unit of pressure equivalent to the pressure exerted by a column of water one meter high. 1 mca is equivalent to 9.80 KPa. (1 mca = 9.80 KPa) (As amended the above definition by ordinary session No. 15-2016 of March 10, 2016) Month (Mes): Period of time of 28, 29, 30 or 31 days, running from a certain date of one month to the same date of the following month. For example, from January 20 to February 20 or from January 15 to February 15.

(As amended the above definition by ordinary session No. 15-2016 of March 10, 2016) Price and tariff setting model (Modelo de fijación de precios y tarifas): Abstraction and simulation of the economic-financial reality in which a public service industry operates, including mathematical formulations, indicators and criteria that allow establishing a sustainable price or tariff by sectors receiving the service.

Tariff methodology (Metodología tarifaria): Ordered sequence of procedures used to determine the tariffs for public services; it includes the definition of the price and tariff setting model.

Nipple (Niple): Section of pipe of variable size with male thread on at least one of its ends, and which serves to join piping.

Level of service (Nivel de servicio): Conditions under which services are provided, considering aspects of quality, quantity, reliability, continuity and timeliness.

Technical Standard for Water Meters (Norma Técnica de Hidrómetros): Refers to the Technical Standard for Water Meters for the Aqueduct Service AR-HSA-2008 published in La Gaceta No. 198 of October 14, 2008, or the one in force at the date.

Works for new developments (Obras para nuevos desarrollos): Works necessary for the expansion, improvements and modifications of services, so that the incorporation of the new development does not affect the service management planned by the provider.

Programa de Mejora y Expansión Continua del Servicio (PMYES): Comprehensive program that establishes the development needs for an aqueduct, sanitary sewerage or hydrant system in the short, medium and long term.

Possessor (Poseedor): Natural or legal person who performs stable and effective acts of possession as owner in a peaceful, public and uninterrupted manner, for more than one year, on properties not registered in the Public Registry or, being registered, having the endorsement or authorization of the registered owner.

Optimal provision (Prestación óptima): Service that meets the established conditions of quality, quantity, reliability, continuity, timeliness, universal access, efficiency, sustainability and equality.

P. s. i: English acronym for pound-force per square inch. Pressure unit of the Anglo-Saxon system. 1 psi is equivalent to 6.69 KPa or 0.703 mca (1 psi = 6.89 KPa).

Public service provider, provider or operator (Prestador de servicio público, prestador u operador): Public or private subject that provides public services regulated by the Autoridad Reguladora by law, concession or permit (Law of the Autoridad Reguladora de los Servicios Públicos, No. 7593); delegation contract (Constitutive Law of AyA, No. 2726); or alliance (Law of the Empresa de Servicios Públicos de Heredia, SA, No. 7789).

Connection stub (Prevista): Pipe and accessories, connected to the water supply network or to the wastewater collection network, which has not been connected to the subscribers' installations. For the aqueduct service, it includes the metering system, a check valve and a shut-off valve. For the sanitary sewerage service, it includes the outlet nipple (niple) of the inspection chamber.

Water resource protection program (Programa de protección del recurso hídrico): Set of activities carried out by a provider of aqueduct, sanitary sewerage and hydrant services with the objective of protecting, conserving and recovering the water resource in the areas of the basins that impact recharge and water quality and ensuring the sustainability of these services.

(As amended the above definition by ordinary session No. 15-2016 of March 10, 2016) Owner (Propietario): Natural or legal person who demonstrates through notarial or registry certification that they hold title to the property.

Mass consumption project (Proyecto de consumo masivo): Urban, commercial, industrial, tourist or other developments that demand a significant portion of the installed capacity of a public service system.

Volumetric test or test to determine the error curve or accuracy curve as a function of flow (Prueba volumétrica o prueba para determinar la curva de error o curva de exactitud en función del caudal): technical procedure by which a water meter (hidrómetro) is subjected to different flows to compare the registered volume against a reference standard, in order to evaluate the accuracy level of the water meter using mathematical procedures.

(As amended the above definition by ordinary session No. 15-2016 of March 10, 2016) Query (Queja): Action filed by a subscriber or a user duly authorized by the subscriber, for situations or problems derived from the provision activity of the public aqueduct, sanitary sewerage or hydrant services.

Public network (Red pública): Network of the public water distribution or wastewater collection system, owned by the provider.

Rebilling (Refacturación): Issuance of a new invoice replacing a previous one for the purpose of correcting errors identified by the subscriber or the provider.

Regulation for Quality (Reglamento para la calidad): Refers to the Regulation for Potable Water Quality, Decreto Ejecutivo 38924-S and its amendment or the one in force at the date.

(As amended the above definition by ordinary session No. 15-2016 of March 10, 2016) Discharge Regulation (Reglamento de Vertido): Refers to the Regulation for the Discharge and Reuse of Wastewater, Decreto Ejecutivo 33601-MINAET-S published in La Gaceta No. 55 of Monday, March 19, 2007, or the one in force at the date, which regulates the parameters and their maximum permissible values allowed for the discharge of wastewater to a receiving body.

Services (Servicios): For the purposes of these regulations, this refers to the public services of aqueduct, sanitary sewerage and hydrants, as well as the special and ancillary services associated with them.

Ancillary services (Servicios conexos): Those complementary to the aqueduct and sanitary sewerage services.

Aqueduct service (Servicio de acueducto): That which uses an aqueduct system to supply potable water to a population center.

Sanitary sewerage service (Servicio de alcantarillado sanitario): That which uses a sanitary sewerage system to evacuate and treat wastewater and sludge from a population center.

Disconnection service at the subscriber's request (Servicio de desconexión por solicitud del abonado): Consists of the suspension of the aqueduct service at the express request of the subscriber.

Hydrant service (Servicio de hidrantes): That referring to the installation, development, operation and maintenance of hydrants, for the work of the Benemérito Cuerpo de Bomberos de Costa Rica.

Domiciliary public fountain installation service (Servicio de instalación de fuentes públicas domiciliarias): Consists of installing a device on an existing connection stub (prevista) when a domiciliary service is cut off or suspended.

Special services (Servicios especiales): Those provided under atypical conditions, whether due to their supply condition, property ownership or service temporality.

Public service (Servicio público): That which, due to its importance for the sustainable development of the country, is classified as such by the Legislative Assembly, in order to subject it to the regulations of Law No. 7593. For the purposes of this regulation, this definition refers to the public services of aqueduct, sanitary sewerage and hydrants.

Metering system review service (Servicio de revisión del sistema de medición): Consists of performing the volumetric test, either in a laboratory or on-site, to determine the accuracy of the consumption recorded by a water meter (hidrómetro).

Stub relocation service (Servicio de traslado de prevista): Consists of relocating the connection stub (prevista), to provide service at a different delivery point for the same property and at the express request of the subscriber.

Treatment service for wastewater and sludge from individualized systems (Servicio de tratamiento de aguas y lodos residuales provenientes de sistemas individualizados): Consists of the treatment of water and sludge from septic tanks, private treatment plants or systems of other providers.

Easement (servidumbre) of way and aqueduct/sewerage: Right to transit through another's property to have access from that property to a public thoroughfare, and to connect aqueduct and sanitary sewerage infrastructure, in order to provide potable water or discharge wastewater from a property that lacks access to a public thoroughfare.

Scheduled suspensions (Suspensiones programadas): Suspension of service for the purpose of maintaining the service infrastructure, scheduled and communicated to users at least 48 calendar hours in advance.

(As amended the above definition by ordinary session No. 15-2016 of March 10, 2016) Tariff (Tarifa): List or catalog of prices that must be paid for the provision of a service.

Technically feasible (Técnicamente factible): A service is considered technically feasible when it meets the following conditions:

a. The distribution and collection networks pass in front of the property boundaries or have direct access via public thoroughfare or right-of-way easement of the property for which a service is requested, b. The systems have sufficient water capacity, hydraulic capacity, purification and treatment capacity to accept new subscribers, c. The system complies with the established quality attributes, d. It is legally and environmentally possible, and e. The applicants meet the established administrative requirements.

(As amended the above definition by ordinary session No. 15-2016 of March 10, 2016) Treatment (Tratamiento): Set of physical, chemical or biological processes, whose purpose is to improve the quality of wastewater and waste sludge before its final disposal.

(As amended the above definition by ordinary session No. 15-2016 of March 10, 2016) Consumption unit (Unidad de consumo): Each of the housing, commercial, industrial or other units, including condominiums, that have their own potable water and sanitary sewerage installations, and that receive the services provided by the service provider. All consumption units within a condominium may preferably have independent services up to the public street. If it is not technically feasible, access will be via a general stub (master meter).

(As amended the above definition by ordinary session No. 15-2016 of March 10, 2016) User (Usuario): Natural or legal person who receives the service provided by a provider.

Bulk potable water sale (Venta de agua potable en bloque): Supply of water in large quantities from one service provider to another, or to a private company for subsequent commercialization to third parties.

Except when it is an authorized service provider, supply in individual form is not permitted.

The tariff for this service shall be that set by ARESEP.

GENERAL PROVISIONS FIRST SECTION: GENERALITIES

Service providers are obliged to comply with the provisions of this Regulation and all current technical regulations governing this matter.

The physical boundary between these services and the internal installations is given by:

i. for the aqueduct service: the location of the water meter (hidrómetro) and its accessories, provided it is located outside the property; otherwise, it would be the property boundary, and ii. for the sewerage service: the outlet fitting of the siphon box.

(As amended by ordinary session No. 15-2016 of March 10, 2016)

Services shall be supplied up to the physical boundary of the service established in this Regulation.

The provider shall issue a service availability determination (dictamen de disponibilidad del servicio) for every request from an interested party seeking to obtain new water and sewer service. The determination must be based on a service availability study.

In the case of water service, when water resource capacity exists but hydraulic capacity does not, the provider shall issue a water resource capacity certificate (constancia de capacidad hídrica), indicating the works that the interested party must undertake to provide and interconnect the service.

Regarding sanitary sewer service, when there is no hydraulic capacity, and it is technically feasible to provide the service, the provider shall issue a sanitary sewer system capacity certificate (constancia de capacidad del sistema de alcantarillado sanitario) indicating that availability is subject to the construction of the required works by the interested party.

The above shall be under the supervision and approval of the operator.

Under no circumstances shall expansions be authorized that compromise the existing water resource or the capacity of the sewer system and its treatment, to the detriment of the served community or the inhabitants of potential new developments.

(Thus amended by ordinary session No. 15-2016 of March 10, 2016)

The availability determination or certification shall have a maximum term of 12 months from its date of issuance, which may be extended under technical justification only once, for a maximum term equal to the initial one, provided the service has not been materialized.

(Thus amended by ordinary session No. 15-2016 of March 10, 2016)

The provider, to issue the availability determination, shall have a timeframe of five calendar days for individual cases and 20 calendar days for mass consumption projects, after receipt to satisfaction of the established requirements.

(Thus amended by ordinary session No. 15-2016 of March 10, 2016)

In urban areas, providers shall guarantee the balance in coverage between water and sanitary sewer services, such that as the former is expanded, the latter is provided in parallel. Exempted from this balance are those cases where there is no nearby collector in operation to which connection is feasible. In these cases, another type of wastewater disposal system may be used, and the installation of the sanitary sewer can even be planned for connection in the near future.

(Thus amended by ordinary session No. 15-2016 of March 10, 2016)

An operator may participate in the provision of water or sanitary sewer services, in all or some of the stages of said services defined in Articles five and two of this regulation. In the case of ASADAS, prior to the application of this figure, it must be approved by AyA, who will assess, among other aspects, the satisfaction of the public interest.

(Thus amended by ordinary session No. 15-2016 of March 10, 2016)

Providers are obliged to consult indigenous communities regarding any project related to water, sewer, and hydrant services to be carried out in indigenous zones. The results of the consultation shall be mandatory.

To carry out projects related to water, sewer, and hydrant services in indigenous protection zones, providers, in cooperation with representatives of the indigenous communities, for the purpose of evaluating and considering the social, cultural, and environmental impact in the project, are obliged to carry out all required technical and legal studies.

The results of these studies must be considered as binding criteria in the decision-making, execution, and operation of such projects.

Providers shall provide the Regulatory Authority with complete, reliable, updated, accurate, sufficient, and clear information on the services referred to in this Regulation.

The information shall be used to:

a. Establish whether the services are operated and maintained in accordance with the provisions of this Regulation and other current technical standards, b. Verify that management is carried out efficiently, c. Process complaints and reports, d. Resolve tariff proceedings, and e. Any other function established by the Law.

In order to provide the information required by ARESEP, each provider shall maintain information systems containing at least:

a. Updated records of service levels, b. Copies of laboratory analyses on the quality of water provided, c. Maps showing the main elements of the systems they operate, d. Records of the systems they operate with details of costs and installation date, e. Updated cadastre of connections, geographic and in a database containing, among others, all data necessary to locate the property benefited by the service connections (previstas), identify the subscriber, characterize the type of service, and carry out billing and collection tasks, f. Updated census of populations occupying precarious lands (terrenos en precario) and the condition in which they find themselves regarding the use of services, g. Water Resource Protection Program to guarantee the sustainability of the water resource, h. Annual maintenance programs for their systems, i. Records of complaints and reports received, as well as the respective information on the processing, investigation, actions taken in this regard, and their results, j. Results of surveys on the perception of service quality, k. Detailed record of all water resource sources used to provide water service, l. The plans and programs specified in this regulation: infrastructure maintenance plan, hydrometer maintenance plan, hydrant control plan, environmental management plan, water quality control plan, m. Infrastructure maintenance plan, n. Annual corrective and preventive maintenance plan for hydrometers in accordance with the Hydrometer Technical Standard AR-HSA-2008 or the one in force at the date, and o. Updated cadastre of hydrometers, as specified in the Hydrometer Technical Standard AR-HSA-2008 in force at the date.

(Thus amended by ordinary session No. 15-2016 of March 10, 2016)

Providers' information must be stored in databases in electronic format, and geographic information shall preferably be installed in an electronic geographic information system.

All infrastructure must be designed and constructed in accordance with the current design and construction requirements established by CFIA, AyA, and applicable current legislation.

Providers must maintain the infrastructure to ensure that the provision of services is in accordance with the requirements of this Regulation and applicable current legislation. Maintenance shall be provided up to the physical limit of the public service.

Providers must return the road surface of the public road and sidewalks, at least to their previous condition, within a maximum period of twenty calendar days once the work is concluded, regardless of the condition of the public roads where improvement, replacement, or construction work is required, related to the infrastructure of water, sanitary sewer, and hydrant services.

To carry out these tasks they must use:

a. The best available technologies, b. The least invasive procedures possible that ensure the least impact on the road, in accordance with available technology.

c. High-technology materials that allow providing a quality equal to or greater than the original, and d. Comply with the provisions of the MOPT General Specifications and Standard Designs for Public Roads (CR-2010 and DE-2010 Manuals), in addition to the provisions regarding traffic operation, road maintenance, and soil erosion control; as well as quality control of construction processes.

The work is considered concluded when the scheduled work has been finished and the public road has been repaired, and the operator must leave a record of receipt and settlement for the same, when applicable.

Providers must guarantee the quality of the work performed; if it presents operational problems, they are obliged for a period of up to 6 months to redo them, especially when they show failures such as: detachment, bulging, cracking, or sinking. They must also ensure that the level of the running surface and the height of the manhole covers are coincident; likewise, covers that are damaged or stolen must be immediately replaced.

The provider must conduct programming for the renewal of its infrastructure according to its age and useful life. In the event that the renewal of this infrastructure affects free transit on the roads, it must coordinate with CONAVI, MOPT, or the respective municipality, in order to guarantee the least impact on the users of those roads. Providers must coordinate the execution of infrastructure installation, modification, or change plans with those entities in order to coincide with their road maintenance programs, avoiding the subsequent impact on public roads from carrying out these activities.

(Thus amended by ordinary session No. 15-2016 of March 10, 2016)

For the installation of hydrometers and their maintenance, the conditions established in the Hydrometer Technical Standard shall apply.

Laboratories for verification of measurement or counting systems must be duly accredited before ECA or the corresponding authority; responsible persons, tests, and trials must be duly certified, and the instruments, measurement or counting systems used to conduct tests to evaluate service quality must be calibrated and have a verification, calibration, and maintenance plan in accordance with the specifications established by the manufacturer and in compliance with current regulations.

Providers shall ensure in their functions the protection of their workers, equipment, facilities, infrastructure, and the general public.

CONDITIONS FOR THE PROVISION OF SERVICES

Water, sanitary sewer, and hydrant services shall be provided considering efficiency and effectiveness in management and use of resources, universality, continuity, and regularity of service; the use of clean and efficient technologies; as well as the protection of human health and water resources.

Whenever technically feasible, providers within their jurisdiction must provide water, sanitary sewer, and hydrant services under optimal provision conditions.

Providers must guarantee continuity of service. Exempted are those situations of service suspension due to subscriber non-compliance.

When a domestic service is cut off or suspended exclusively for payment delinquency, providers must install a public water source (fuente pública) and notify the subscriber of its location, in order for users to collect water for their subsistence.

The domestic public water source has no installation cost for the subscriber and must comply with the following requirements:

a. Installed immediately upon suspension of service; b. Located at a maximum distance of 200 meters, including crossing the street, except when the source supplies a disabled user or an older adult, in which case it must be installed in front of the property; c. A single source can supply several subscribers; d. The installation must be carried out in such a way as to prevent the connection of hoses or other illicit connections; e. When there is an illegal connection from the public water source, the source must be disconnected and its location may be moved.

Once the outstanding payment amounts are settled, as well as the costs for disconnection and reconnection, and the service is reactivated, the public water source must be removed without prior notice.

Article 29B.— Timeframe for leak repair.

The service provider shall repair a leak in a connection (prevista) within a maximum period of three calendar days after receiving the respective report.

(Thus added by ordinary session No. 15-2016 of March 10, 2016)

The quality of water supplied to subscribers must comply with the conditions established in the Regulation for Quality or provisions established by the Ministry of Health.

When water quality control demonstrates that one or more parameters are non-compliant with the established values, the provider must take the necessary corrective measures to adjust the service in accordance with the admissible values of that Regulation.

(Thus amended by ordinary session No. 15-2016 of March 10, 2016)

The quality of the supplied water and its respective control are the responsibility of the provider, who must comply with the guidelines established in the Regulation for Quality or provisions established by the Ministry of Health. The Regulatory Authority may require the provider to supply additional analyses to those requested in current regulations.

Laboratories performing water quality control tests must have their testing methods accredited by ECA, and the collection of samples must be carried out directly by laboratory personnel.

(Thus amended by ordinary session No. 15-2016 of March 10, 2016)

Providers must maintain a minimum dynamic service pressure at the delivery point of 98.1 kPa (10 m.c.a., 14.2 psi). At the same time, they must restrict the maximum static pressure to 490.5 kPa (50 m.c.a., 71 psi), at the lowest point of the network, and in very steep service areas to 686.4 kPa (70 m.c.a., 99.6 psi).

In case of interruption of service continuity, providers must communicate the following to subscribers and users through mass media, to the Benemérito Cuerpo de Bomberos de Costa Rica, and to the Regulatory Authority:

a. Affected area and population; b. Type of impact on the subscriber; c. Estimated duration of the suspension; d. Special precautions that users must adopt; e. Reasons for the service suspension; and f. Contingency measures, if necessary.

The communication must be made:

a. For scheduled suspensions, with at least forty-eight calendar hours' notice; b. For unscheduled suspensions, within four calendar hours after the damage report is produced; and c. For suspensions due to force majeure or unforeseen events, within four calendar hours after the impact is located.

In all cases, if the service suspension extends for more than eight calendar hours, the provider is obliged to provide an alternative potable water supply service to subscribers, covering the needs of hospitals, clinics, and health centers; and basic needs of domestic subscribers, and to communicate via mass media the location and conditions of the alternative potable water service.

For the same user, a maximum of ten scheduled suspensions may be performed in one year, and of these, no more than two may occur in one month.

(Thus amended by ordinary session No. 15-2016 of March 10, 2016)

Providers of the sanitary sewer service must verify that all wastewater collected by their systems receives treatment and complies with the provisions of the Regulation on Discharges.

(Thus amended by ordinary session No. 15-2016 of March 10, 2016)

Providers of the sanitary sewer service must maintain an updated cadastre of special-type wastewater discharges to their system, according to current regulations.

Providers must carry out the necessary control actions to prevent pollution risks arising from the provision of services they provide, except those that are not within their exclusive competence.

Sanitary sewer systems shall only receive wastewater, and the discharge of stormwater is strictly prohibited.

Providers must periodically manage and coordinate with operators of stormwater systems corrective measures for the control and monitoring of their sanitary sewer systems, with the aim of keeping stormwater separated from said system.

Providers may provide the treatment service for sludge and wastewater to effluents from individualized systems, such as septic tanks or private treatment plants or those of other providers, and shall apply the tariff set by the Regulatory Authority.

Likewise, they shall establish the conditions for providing this service.

Article 38B.— Discharge of wastewater from private systems into the public sanitary sewer system.

Providers of the sanitary sewer service may authorize the discharge of wastewater from private water supply systems (well, springs (nacientes), among others), if the pollutant load does not exceed the limits established in existing regulations.

(Thus added by ordinary session No. 15-2016 of March 10, 2016)

Providers must avoid the occurrence of spills from the sanitary sewer system.

For these purposes, they must:

a. Size and adapt the sewer networks and other elements in accordance with the growing demands on the service; b. Perform maintenance to rehabilitate networks in poor condition and eliminate blockages; and c. Eliminate illicit inflows of stormwater.

a. Investigate and record any illicit inflow of water into the system and its impact on the system, b. Identify critical points or sectors of the network where spills occur or where there is a greater probability of spill generation, c. Identify and classify monthly the spills detected in the sewer network, according to their origin, by:

i. Obstructions due to blockages or misuse of the system, ii. Lack of hydraulic capacity of the system, due to design defects, network obsolescence, or stormwater discharge, iii. Power failure, and iv. Others.

d. In relation to the discharge of stormwater into the sanitary sewer system, manage solutions and corrective measures with the responsible entities.

(Thus amended by ordinary session No. 15-2016 of March 10, 2016)

Sanitary sewer service cannot be suspended for unpaid billing.

(Thus amended by ordinary session No. 15-2016 of March 10, 2016)

The installation, operation, and location of hydrants and connections (previstas) for this service shall be governed by the provisions of the Law Declaring Hydrant Service as a Public Service and Reform of Related Laws No. 8641 and its Regulation or current legislation.

The hydrant network for firefighting is an integral part of the water service; therefore, it must be operated, maintained, expanded, and installed by the respective provider, who must comply with the necessary technical conditions for its installation and operation, based on current regulations.

Operators may provide special services in the operated systems, provided they do not affect the quality, continuity, and optimal provision of the service provided to their subscribers.

The provision of these services must conform to the provisions of this regulation.

The following are considered special water and sewer services:

a. The sale of potable water in bulk, b. Those granted to occupants of precarious lands (terrenos en precario) and victim camps, c. Those authorized for temporary activities and facilities.

d. Any other that is identified and complies with the definition established in the article.

These services must conform to the provisions of this regulation.

(Thus amended by ordinary session No. 15-2016 of March 10, 2016)

Providers shall supply water, sewer, and hydrant services, whenever technically feasible, to lands in precarious condition (terrenos en precario) declared as such, and to victim camps.

(Thus amended by ordinary session No. 15-2016 of March 10, 2016)

Providers, whenever technically feasible, are obliged to supply water, sewer, and hydrant services for temporary activities and facilities, provided they do not affect the quality, continuity, and optimal provision of the services provided to their subscribers. These services must conform to the provisions of this regulation.

Providers, provided they do not affect the quality, continuity, and optimal provision of the services provided to their subscribers, may sell potable water in bulk to:

a. Another provider, b. Maritime and air service providers at authorized national ports, or directly to shipping and airline companies legally operating in Costa Rica, and c. Sellers of water to third parties through mobile means such as tanker trucks, which operate legally.

In the case of ASADAS, prior to the application of this figure, it must be approved by AyA, who will assess, among other aspects, the satisfaction of the public interest.

In all cases, the tariff to be charged shall be that approved by the Regulatory Authority.

(Thus amended by ordinary session No. 15-2016 of March 10, 2016)

Operators shall provide related services (servicios conexos) in the operated systems. These services must conform to the provisions of this regulation.

The following are considered related services, among others:

a. Connection of services; b. Reconnection of services; c. Disconnection of service at the subscriber's request; d. Installation of domestic public water sources (fuentes públicas domiciliarias); e. Review of the metering system; f. Relocation of connection (traslado de prevista); and g. Treatment of wastewater and residual sludge from individual systems.

Inspections of internal installations are not part of the public service; therefore, they are not a service regulated by the Regulatory Authority.

The execution of related services may only be carried out by the service provider, or whoever it authorizes, following established procedures.

(Thus amended by ordinary session No. 15-2016 of March 10, 2016)

This service allows the interconnection of the internal system of a property to the public network; it may be:

a. Connection service with connection stub (prevista). When the piping and other accessories are installed from the main pipe to the physical limit of the services; and b. Connection service without connection stub. When there is no type of installation that allows interconnection of the service.

(Thus amended by ordinary session No. 15-2016 of March 10, 2016)

This is the service that allows restoring potable water supply when it has been suspended and the subscriber has settled their obligations established by the provider. In cases where the service has been suspended at the subscriber's request, only the subscriber may process the reconnection.

No amount may be charged for reconnection when the service has been suspended for reasons not attributable to the subscribers, such as service suspension due to provider error.

(Thus amended by ordinary session No. 15-2016 of March 10, 2016)

For the special services defined in this regulation, the following timeframes for their execution are established:

a. Connection of services: ten calendar days b. Disconnection of service at the subscriber's request: eight calendar days c. Installation of domestic public water sources: at the moment the hydrometer is removed; d. Review of the metering system: fifteen calendar days e. Relocation of connection (traslado de prevista): fifteen calendar days, and f. Treatment of wastewater and residual sludge from individual systems: at the moment the waste is received, on a prior receipt date established by the system operator.

The computation of timeframes begins upon receipt to satisfaction of all requirements established by the provider.

(Thus amended by ordinary session No. 15-2016 of March 10, 2016)

SERVICE MANAGEMENT SINGLE SECTION

To comply with the conditions for provision of the services under this regulation, providers must establish annual management commitments, which will be incorporated into the Program for Continuous Improvement and Expansion of Services (Programa de Mejoras y Expansión Continua de los Servicios, PMYES).

Providers must prepare every five years and keep updated annually, a program for the expansion, maintenance, and improvement of services, which must be submitted to the Regulatory Authority for joint review, approval, and subsequent control. With the exception of the first program, submission to ARESEP is within those same timeframes.

The program must be prepared based on reasonable projections of service needs; include qualitative and quantitative goals, in aspects relevant to the quality, efficiency, and expansion of the services provided; and contain at least:

a. Operating conditions of current and future infrastructure; b. Areas served and their expansion plans; c. Future demands; d. Future supply sources; e. Service levels, current and future, f. Current efficiency levels and the proposed improvement in productivity, including control and reduction of water losses; g. Environmental management; h. Infrastructure expansions and improvements and the respective financing plan; and, i. Level of subscriber service.

PROVISION OF SERVICES UNDER CONDITIONS INFERIOR TO OPTIMAL PROVISION SINGLE SECTION

Only in exceptional situations: unforeseen events, force majeure, or scheduled suspensions, will it be permitted to provide services under conditions inferior to optimal provision.

In conditions of water scarcity, the provider may restrict its use, and to do so must notify its subscribers through mass media and give written notice to the Regulatory Authority and the Benemérito Cuerpo de Bomberos at least twenty-four calendar hours before such restriction takes effect. The notifications shall specify:

a. Justification, nature, and magnitude of the restriction; b. Start date and probable end date; c. Affected zones; d. Special supply schedules; and e. Alternative means of supply.

During the period of scarcity, the provider must ration the supply of available water with equity criteria, with due attention to health. To ensure equity in supply, it may establish use restrictions.

(As amended by ordinary session No. 15-2016 of March 10, 2016)

Alternative services for aqueduct service supply may be tanker trucks, temporary pipes, or other means, provided they guarantee that the distributed water meets the potable quality characteristic and ensures a minimum subsistence allowance to the population affected by the interruption.

(As amended by ordinary session No. 15-2016 of March 10, 2016)

Every aqueduct system, sanitary sewerage (alcantarillado sanitario) system, and hydrant system must have a plan for emergency and disaster response approved by the CNE, which must be submitted to the Regulatory Authority, as well as its subsequent modifications at the time they are made.

In the event that a water quality problem is detected that could affect public health, providers must:

a. Apply the protocol defined in the plan for emergency and disaster response; b. Inform the affected population and competent authorities through mass media, within a maximum of four hours after the report of the occurred event and the measures to be adopted; c. Adopt the corresponding corrective measures to enable the system; and d. In all cases where the suspension of service extends beyond eight calendar hours, the provider must provide an alternative supply service.

(As amended by ordinary session No. 15-2016 of March 10, 2016)

In the event that the aqueduct service must be restricted, it shall be provided according to the following order of priorities:

a. Hospitals, penitentiary centers; b. Clinics, educational and health centers, shelters for children and for older adults; c. Dwellings, to meet the basic needs of families and of camps for disaster victims; d. Commercial, industrial, and agro-industrial facilities; e. Municipal, governmental, religious, international, diplomatic, and non-governmental organizations, and similar facilities; and f. Temporary activities and facilities.

(As amended by ordinary session No. 15-2016 of March 10, 2016)

RELATIONSHIP OF THE PROVIDER WITH THE SUBSCRIBER FIRST SECTION: PROCEDURES AND INFORMATION FOR THE SUBSCRIBER.

Providers must establish the necessary procedures for matters related to the provision of services and adopt the regulations, documents for requesting a new service ("Condiciones de la Prestación de los Servicios de acueducto, Alcantarillado Sanitario e Hidrantes"), procedures, and additional regulations that establish the relationships with their subscribers, in harmony with the current regulations.

(As amended by ordinary session No. 15-2016 of March 10, 2016)

Providers must publish in the official gazette La Gaceta and in the media they deem appropriate, every procedure or requirement referring to the provision of services and their formalities when these modify or create obligations or rights, together with the instructions, regulations, manuals, forms, protocols, and other complementary documents. These documents must be located in the public service locations, as well as on their website, if they have one.

Providers shall give their subscribers and interested parties the necessary information to allow them to know the characteristics of the services they receive, the rates set by the Regulatory Authority; the required service levels and the actions they will implement to achieve them.

It is the obligation of the provider to inform subscribers in a timely manner of the places and means enabled for the payment of bills.

SECOND SECTION: SERVICE CONTRACTS.

For access to the services, the parties must sign the document called "Condiciones de la prestación de los servicios de acueducto, alcantarillado sanitario e hidrantes".

Said document, based on this regulation and current legislation, shall establish the conditions that will govern the provision of services.

(As amended by ordinary session No. 15-2016 of March 10, 2016)

Considering what is established in this regulation, providers shall design the generic format of the document "Condiciones de la prestación de los servicios de acueducto, alcantarillado sanitario e hidrantes", which shall be submitted to ARESEP for approval.

In the case of ASADAS, AyA must submit said document.

(As amended by ordinary session No. 15-2016 of March 10, 2016) THIRD SECTION: APPLICATION FOR CONNECTION, DISCONNECTION, AND SUSPENSION OF SERVICES

Providers must admit service requests, without discrimination of access, from anyone who meets the respective requirements and obligations.

The aqueduct and sanitary sewerage (alcantarillado sanitario) services may only be requested by the property owner or by whoever holds, through the representation forms established by the legal system, the owner's expression of will.

Once the requirements are met and the respective tariff is paid, providers shall have a maximum period of eight calendar days to make the connection for each approved service. For the installation of water meters (hidrómetros), the conditions established in the Norma Técnica de Hidrómetros shall be observed.

(As amended by ordinary session No. 15-2016 of March 10, 2016)

The service connection or connection point (prevista o conexión) for the aqueduct and sanitary sewerage (alcantarillado sanitario) services shall be located on the sidewalk, public zone, or structure built expressly for that purpose, as appropriate.

In any property where there is more than one consumption unit, these must have an independent connection for both the aqueduct service and the sanitary sewerage (alcantarillado sanitario) service, and the aqueduct service must have its respective measurement. Only one connection for each service with multiple consumption units will be permitted in cases where it is not technically feasible to install independent connections.

Multiple connections may be requested for the same property, and providers shall approve them if it is technically feasible.

Providers are obligated to attend to any request for service disconnection, provided there are no pending payments and no direct impact on third parties. This request must be addressed within a maximum period of five calendar days, counted from the satisfactory receipt of all requirements established by the provider.

(As amended by ordinary session No. 15-2016 of March 10, 2016)

Providers may deny a service when any of the following grounds arise:

a. Non-compliance with the laws or service regulations; b. Problems in the internal network that endanger the contamination of the public aqueduct system; c. Duly identified danger or emergency that affects persons or private or public properties; d. Inability or refusal to correct any deficiency or defect in the internal system that has been reported by the provider or competent authority; e. The request corresponds to an area declared as a protection zone; f. The property to be served is outside the provider's coverage area; and g. That it is not technically feasible.

The provider must issue the decision in writing and justify the reasons for rejection, in accordance with Article 9 of this regulation and within the timeframes established in Article 11.

(As amended by ordinary session No. 15-2016 of March 10, 2016)

Providers may suspend the aqueduct service when any of the following grounds arise:

a. Non-compliance with the laws or service regulations; b. Problems in the internal network that endanger the contamination of the public aqueduct system; c. In the case of a duly identified danger or emergency that affects persons or private or public properties; d. Inability or refusal to correct any deficiency or defect in the internal system that has been reported by the provider or competent authority; e. Lack of payment for the service after the bill's payment date has passed, provided that the billing delivered or made available to the subscriber at the indicated place or medium states the due date. Thereafter, the suspension shall take effect before the next billing if the non-payment persists; f. Giving water to a third party; g. Using water for unauthorized uses; h. Proven improper manipulation of the connection accessories (water meter (hidrómetro), valves, piping); i. Due to illicit connections; and j. Non-compliance with the use restrictions established under conditions of scarcity.

When one of these grounds for suspension of service arises, with the exception of the ground indicated in subsection e., and it has been so determined following due process, the provider shall notify the subscriber of the suspension date through the designated medium and with 24 hours' notice.

(As amended by ordinary session No. 15-2016 of March 10, 2016)

The aqueduct service may not be suspended due to the lack of payment for services of a different nature other than a public service regulated by the Regulatory Authority that the provider supplies.

The suspension of service is not applicable when:

a. The subscriber is up to date with the most recent bill; b. The subscriber is up to date with the most recent bill, even if there are previous bills pending payment.

c. The subscriber demonstrates to the disconnection crew that the bill has been paid, even on a date after the due date; and d. It is Friday, Saturday, Sunday, or the day before a holiday, unless on the following day the provider has the collection and reconnection service enabled.

The provider must notify the subscriber of their delinquent status; likewise, it shall make electronic means available to its subscribers to check their account status.

(As amended by ordinary session No. 15-2016 of March 10, 2016)

The service provider shall restore the service connection within a period not exceeding 24 calendar hours; if that day corresponds to the provider's office closure, it must be done on the next business day.

For both cases, once the cause for the suspension has been corrected.

(As amended by ordinary session No. 15-2016 of March 10, 2016) FOURTH SECTION: HANDLING OF COMPLAINTS AND REPORTS

This article was relocated and will be number 41.

(As amended by ordinary session No. 15-2016 of March 10, 2016)

The provider must process, investigate, and resolve the complaints and reports filed regarding the provision of the service, in accordance with the terms and procedures established in the General Public Administration Law No. 6227 (Ley General de la Administración Pública N°6227).

In the case of complaints regarding water quality, the provider is obligated to process the complaint and implement a temporary solution within less than 48 hours, especially if the situation could create a sanitary risk and threatens public health or the environment.

(As amended by ordinary session No. 15-2016 of March 10, 2016)

Upon the filing of a complaint for high consumption, the provider must:

a. Make a field visit to identify if there are causes attributable to the operator or the subscriber that affect the consumption records.

i. If the causes are attributable to the operator, modify the affected bill based on the normal average consumption.

ii. If no causes attributable to the operator or the subscriber are identified and the water meter (hidrómetro) in use exceeds 1000 m3 of accumulated consumption, verify the measurement accuracy of the water meter (hidrómetro) through the technical tests established in the Norma Técnica de Hidrómetros, AR-HSA-2008. If the test results determine measurement inaccuracy, the cost shall be borne by the provider; otherwise, it shall be borne by the subscriber.

b. Charge the claimed amount after the issuance of the final resolution of the process; c. Charge the following month's amount based on the actual consumption indicated by the water meter (hidrómetro); In the case of complaints filed with the Regulatory Authority without having been previously filed with the operator, upon notification from ARESEP of the commencement of the complaint process, the provider shall apply the procedure indicated above.

When providers detect high consumption, they must notify the subscriber within a maximum period of 10 calendar days, through the medium designated by the subscriber.

(As amended by ordinary session No. 15-2016 of March 10, 2016)

For the collection of pending payment bills, the provider may formalize payment arrangements or carry out the corresponding procedure, either through administrative or judicial channels.

Reports shall not be subject to formalities; therefore, they can be filed personally or through any communication means that the operator enables for this purpose, it being sufficient that the reporting party specifies the irregularity and its location.

The provider must process them expeditiously, carrying out the required technical and legal analyses, especially if the situation could create a sanitary risk, threaten public health, or the environment. The results thereof must be communicated to the interested party, if they have indicated a means for receiving notifications.

Providers are obligated to indicate the places or necessary means to receive complaints and reports twenty-four hours a day, three hundred sixty-five days a year. These shall be indicated on the service billing statements or in the media they deem necessary.

Complaints for erroneous billing may be filed in the following cases:

a. Paid bill: If an error is identified in a paid bill, both the provider and the subscriber may manage the recovery of the respective difference in their favor.

The difference must be recovered or refunded within a maximum period of fifteen calendar days or in the following billing.

b. Unpaid bill: If a complaint is filed for a bill issued but not paid, the provider must suspend the payment obligation for that bill until the final resolution is issued, and:

i. If the matter is resolved in favor of the subscriber, based on the final resolution, the provider shall modify the amount to be paid and formally inform the subscriber through the medium or place offered.

ii. If the matter is rejected, based on the final resolution, the provider shall formally inform the subscriber through the medium or place offered of the new due date and the pending amount. It shall not charge late payment surcharges from the due date until the date of notification of the final resolution.

In all cases, the new due date shall not be less than five business days from the date of notification. In case of delinquency, the established collection process shall be followed.

(As amended by ordinary session No. 15-2016 of March 10, 2016)

If the subscriber or duly authorized user files a complaint with the provider, the latter must resolve it in writing within the fifteen calendar days following receipt of the matter, said period being extendable up to one month, given the complexity of the complaint.

If the provider rejects said matter, it must substantiate its decision in writing.

(As amended by ordinary session No. 15-2016 of March 10, 2016) FIFTH SECTION: METERING AND BILLING

All aqueduct service consumption, including special services, must be metered, whenever it is technically feasible, as established by the Norma Técnica de Hidrómetros.

(As amended by ordinary session No. 15-2016 of March 10, 2016)

The water meter (hidrómetro) reading system must be permanent, monthly, or bimonthly, such that the reading cycles maintain uniformity in the consumption period.

The provider is obligated to repair, correct, or replace water meters (hidrómetros) within a maximum period of ten calendar days after detecting that it presents recording conditions outside the error percentages permitted by current regulations.

The billing for the month in which the aforementioned condition occurred shall be based on the subscriber's normal average consumption.

(As amended by ordinary session No. 15-2016 of March 10, 2010)

The provider shall issue and put up for collection a single bill, which shall be monthly and shall include all the services rendered referred to in this regulation.

The bill may be physical or electronic. If a subscriber does not have or cannot access digital means, they must indicate this to the provider, who must collect payment via a physical bill.

(As amended by ordinary session No. 15-2016 of March 10, 2016)

Billing for aqueduct, sanitary sewerage (alcantarillado sanitario), and hydrant services shall be based on the volumes of water consumed:

a. For aqueduct service: on the value reported by direct measurement with a water meter (hidrómetro); b. For sanitary sewerage (alcantarillado sanitario) and hydrant services: on the aqueduct service consumption or on the consumption from own water supply when this situation occurs. In both cases, the operator must install a water meter (hidrómetro) to measure water consumption; and c. When it is not technically feasible to install the water meter (hidrómetro), on the average consumption of the rate category to which it belongs, defined by ARESEP in the latest rate study.

(As amended by ordinary session No. 15-2016 of March 10, 2016)

In the case of bimonthly reading or when it is not possible to read the water meter (hidrómetro), billing for the months without a reading shall be based on an estimated consumption of the subscriber; two consecutive estimated billings shall not be made, except in cases of force majeure (caso fortuito), act of God (fuerza mayor), or in cases not controlled by the provider and duly justified and proven by it.

(As amended by ordinary session No. 15-2016 of March 10, 2016)

Aqueduct service subscribers who receive a discontinuous service, the cause of which is not force majeure (caso fortuito), act of God (fuerza mayor); scheduled suspensions for maintenance, implementation of improvements or new investments, or damage caused by third parties; but rather attributable to the provider, shall not be charged the fixed charge during the period of non-compliance; if there is no fixed charge, a 50% reduction of the bill amount shall be applied.

The adjustment of the amount shall be applicable when the discontinuity implies:

a. Provision of service for less than 16 calendar hours daily for at least 20 calendar days per month, and b. Suspension of service for 24 calendar hours for more than three consecutive calendar days or more than 7 non-consecutive calendar days, both in the same month.

The provision of water through alternative supply systems shall not exempt the provider from applying the exemption from paying the fixed charge or the 50% reduction of the bill amount.

The considerations of force majeure (caso fortuito) or act of God (fuerza mayor) must be determined through evaluation by the provider's technical area or demonstrated by the subscriber to the Regulatory Authority.

(As amended by ordinary session No. 15-2016 of March 10, 2016)

A subscriber whose aqueduct service is suspended for causes not attributable to the provider must pay the fixed charge for the entire period of suspension.

The provider must communicate this situation to the subscriber.

Aqueduct service subscribers who receive water that does not comply with the established quality standards and principles, provided that said non-compliance is not attributable to, force majeure (caso fortuito), act of God (fuerza mayor), or damage by third parties; but rather attributable to the provider, shall pay, during the period of non-compliance, only the amount corresponding to the fixed charge; if there is no fixed charge, they shall pay 50% of the bill for the service.

For the application of the adjustment in the billing amount, the subscriber must present evidence demonstrating the facts, and if the operator knows of the facts, it must apply the ex officio non-charge to all affected subscribers.

(As amended by ordinary session No. 15-2016 of March 10, 2016)

When for technical reasons one provider must provide the aqueduct service and another provider the sanitary sewerage (alcantarillado sanitario) service, they must sign an agreement and inform subscribers in this condition in writing. The aqueduct service provider must bill the cost of both services according to the rates set by the Regulatory Authority for each provider and transfer monthly to the sanitary sewerage (alcantarillado sanitario) service provider the corresponding amount, after deducting the transaction costs agreed upon in the agreement.

In the case of ASADAS, the agreement must be previously validated by AyA.

(As amended by ordinary session No. 15-2016 of March 10, 2016)

Water used for firefighting, drills, simulations, emergencies, and other similar activities shall not be billed by the providers, but the consumption must be accounted for monthly. It shall be the obligation of each provider to coordinate the reporting of this information with the Benemérito Cuerpo de Bomberos de Costa Rica.

When complaints are filed for high bills or high consumption and there are doubts regarding the consumption recorded by the water meter (hidrómetro), the provider must make a field visit to check the functioning of this device, in which the subscriber or their representative may be present.

If no causes attributable to the operator or the subscriber are identified, and the water meter (hidrómetro) in use exceeds an accumulated volume of 1000 m3, the provider must verify the measurement accuracy through the technical tests established in the Norma Técnica de Hidrómetros, AR-HSA-2008; the provider must communicate the result to the subscriber within a period of 8 calendar days.

The cost of the check shall be borne by the applicant, unless the malfunctioning of the water meter (hidrómetro) is proven.

(As amended by ordinary session No. 15-2016 of March 10, 2016)

For the uninstallation and relocation of water meters (hidrómetros) in operation, the provider must establish procedures that ensure these actions do not alter their operational characteristics.

The bill, whether printed or digital, must contain at least:

a. Name and logo of the provider; b. Legal ID number (cédula jurídica), physical address, email address or website, telephone and fax numbers of the provider; c. Name of the subscriber; d. Location; e. Service identification number; f. Meter number; g. Billing period; h. Due date; i. Date of previous reading and previous reading; j. Date of current reading and current reading; k. Number of days in the billing period; l. Bill number; m. Monthly consumption, n. Rate type; o. Consumption history for the last six months; p. Breakdown of the amount by type of service and rate; q. Amount to pay for payment arrangements, if any; r. Total amount; s. Amount of late payment charge; t. Space for notices, for example:

i. Number of bills and amounts pending payment, ii. Notification of service disconnection for non-payment, iii. Notification of general or individual rate changes, iv. Notification of high consumption, u. Indicate if the consumption is estimated; v. Telephone number and email address to report breakdowns; and w. The number 8000 ARESEP (8000-273737) and the email: [email protected] (As amended by ordinary session No. 15-2016 of March 10, 2016)

The provider shall deliver or make available to the subscriber the bill corresponding to the consumption of its services, with a minimum of 10 calendar days before the due date, at the place or through the medium designated by the subscriber.

(As amended by ordinary session No. 15-2016 of March 10, 2016)

When a service has been provided for a time less than the billing cycle, for its collection, the following shall apply:

a. The fixed charge: This amount shall not be affected; b. Consumption:

i. If it is a metered service, it shall be billed according to the measurement record indicated by the water meter (hidrómetro).

ii. If it is a fixed service, a proportional charge shall be made for the number of days during which the service was effectively provided.

(As amended by ordinary session No. 15-2016 of March 10, 2016)

For a connection that supplies multiple consumption units, the provider shall issue a single bill, which shall include the charge for aqueduct, hydrant, sanitary sewerage (alcantarillado sanitario), and environmental management (tarifa hídrica) services, and the amount to be paid shall be established as follows:

I. For rates in the domestic category

i. If the connection is metered:

a. For aqueduct or sanitary sewerage (alcantarillado sanitario): the fixed charge for aqueduct or sanitary sewerage (alcantarillado sanitario) plus the product of the respective rate multiplied by the individual consumption. This value is multiplied by the number of consumption units.

[Fixed charge (aq or sew) + (rate (aq or sew) x individual consumption)] x # of consumption units b. For hydrants and environmental management (tarifa hídrica): the respective rate is multiplied by the individual consumption, and this product is multiplied by the number of consumption units.

Amount=[(rate (hydrants or environmental management) X individual consumption) x # of consumption units] Individual consumption is obtained by dividing the total consumption recorded by the water meter (hidrómetro) by the number of consumption units.

individual consumption= total consumption (m3) --------------------------- # consumption units The total amount of the bill is the sum of the individual amounts for each service: aqueduct, sanitary sewer, hydrants, and environmental management (water tariff).

The number of consumption units must be established through a supply test conducted ex officio by the provider.

ii. If the connection is unmetered (fixed service) a. For aqueduct or sanitary sewer: the fixed charge for aqueduct or sanitary sewer plus the respective rate; this value is multiplied by the number of consumption units.

Amount = [fixed charge (aq or sew) + fixed rate (aq or sew)] X # consumption units b. For hydrants and environmental management (water tariff): the fixed rate for hydrants or environmental management is multiplied by the number of consumption units.

Amount = [fixed rate (hydrants or env. mgmt.) x # consumption units] The total amount of the bill is the sum of the individual amounts for each service: aqueduct, sanitary sewer, hydrants, and environmental management (water tariff).

II. For other tariff categories

i. If the connection is metered:

a. For aqueduct and sanitary sewer: the fixed charge for aqueduct or sanitary sewer is added to the product of the aqueduct or sanitary sewer rate multiplied by the total consumption recorded by the water meter.

Amount = [fixed charge (aq, sew,) x # consumption units + (rate (aq or sew) x total recorded consumption)] b. For hydrants and environmental management (water tariff): the hydrant or environmental management rate is multiplied by the total consumption recorded by the water meter.

Amount = [rate (hydrants or env. mgmt.) x total recorded consumption] ii. If the connection is unmetered (fixed service):

a. For aqueduct and sanitary sewer: the fixed charge for aqueduct or sanitary sewer plus the respective fixed rate, this value multiplied by the number of consumption units.

Amount = [fixed charge (aq or sew) + rate (aq or sew)] x # consumption units b. For hydrants and environmental management (water tariff): the hydrant or environmental management rate multiplied by the number of consumption units.

Amount = [rate (hydrants or environmental management) x # consumption units] The total amount of the bill is the sum of the individual amounts for each service: aqueduct, sanitary sewer, hydrants, and environmental management (water tariff).

In all cases, if the sanitary sewer and environmental management services are not provided, the charge does not apply, except for the sanitary sewer service when it is technically feasible to be provided and the interested party does not carry out the necessary procedures and works for the authorization of the service.

For ASADAS, according to their tariff structure, the concept of fixed charge is replaced by base tariff.

When different water uses exist within the same connection, the provider:

a. Shall bill the consumption using the rate of the highest category.

b. Shall notify the subscriber of the tariff application so that, within a period of two months, they separate the services.

c. Shall reclassify the service with the applied rate, if the subscriber does not comply with the request within the established period.

d. Shall apply the residential rate to all consumption, if the water use additional to the residential use does not require a health permit.

(Thus amended by ordinary session No. 15-2016 of March 10, 2016)

When an illicit connection is identified:

a. If the service has been suspended and the subscriber illicitly reconnects the service, the provider shall suspend it again. To reconnect it, the provider shall charge the service reconnection fee and shall bill, from the date of suspension until the last disconnection, an amount equivalent to the estimated consumption if the service is metered, or the fixed rate if the service is unmetered; b. If the service is illicitly connected on more than two occasions, the provider shall proceed to eliminate the service connection point (prevista) and charge the estimated consumption if the service is metered, or the fixed rate if the service is unmetered; c. To reinstall the service, the provider must ensure that the interested party is up to date with their obligations and charge the amount corresponding to a new service without a connection point (prevista), in addition to other applicable charges; d. In cases of illicit connections made to supply single-family dwellings, upon prior verification of compliance with requirements and payment of the respective connection fee for a new service, the operator must formalize them as regular subscribers and collect payment for the evaded consumption for a minimum period of six months or longer, based on the evidence to which the operator has access, and e. In other cases of illicit connections, the provider is obliged to suspend the service and recover the costs incurred during the period of illicit use of the service, as well as the income not received for the evaded consumption, for a period of up to six months. The foregoing is based on the evidence to which the operator has access.

In all cases, the provider must follow due process and shall undertake the legally pertinent judicial actions, as well as apply the procedure for re-billing.

(Thus amended by ordinary session No. 15-2016 of March 10, 2016)

A bill issued for collection must be annulled and re-billed, or a credit or debit note must be issued, as appropriate, when it is determined that the following exist:

a. Billing errors; b. Errors in the water meter reading; c. Affecting consumption measurement due to leaks in the public part of the system; d. Affecting measurement due to pressures exceeding those permitted under current regulations; and e. Other causes determined by the provider or the Regulatory Authority, complying with due process.

(Thus amended by ordinary session No. 15-2016 of March 10, 2016)

Providers, at the subscriber's request, must make adjustments to bills for high consumption when the following conditions apply:

a. Up to two bills issued consecutively within every eighteen billing cycles; b. For the residential and preferential categories; c. That the first of the two consecutively issued bills records a measurement equal to or greater than 40 cubic meters.

d. That the provider verifies the increase in consumption was caused by a leak.

For the application of new adjustments, the subscriber must demonstrate that they made the pertinent repairs.

If the high consumption is generated by problems in the provider's network, such as high pressures, the provider must make all necessary adjustments and may not charge for the high consumption recorded.

The adjustment to the billing shall be made based on the subscriber's normal average consumption and the respective rate according to the use made and the current tariff structure.

(Thus amended by ordinary session No. 15-2016 of March 10, 2016)

Modifications to billing shall occur due to:

a. Individual change of the rate type. The modification of the rate type is justified by a change in water use, and shall be applied starting from the date of the service order, a document in which the change shall be determined; and b. General change of rates. They shall be in effect from their publication in the official gazette La Gaceta or from the moment indicated in the resolution issued by the Regulatory Authority.

c. Change due to modification of the service level.

(Thus amended by ordinary session No. 15-2016 of March 10, 2016)

Providers are obliged to:

a. Charge for all services for which a rate has been authorized; b. Implement efficient collection management and recovery of outstanding amounts; c. Make available to subscribers the bills for collection for the services provided, in physical or digital form; and d. Deliver to the subscriber, upon request, a physical bill for the services provided; and e. Deliver to the subscriber, upon request, the result of the reading performed.

The service for public ornamental fountains shall be billed based on the recorded consumption and according to the methodology and tariff regime approved by the Regulatory Authority. In the case of public ornamental fountains operated by the providers, the monthly consumption shall be recorded and integrated into the commercial system.

MASS CONSUMPTION PROJECTS AND SYSTEM EXTENSIONS SINGLE SECTION

Providers must ensure that, in new mass consumption projects, the entirety of the service networks are built and connected to the existing systems following the current design and construction standards.

Providers are not obliged to finance the expansion of aqueduct and sanitary sewer systems, including supply sources, if such projects are not contemplated in the PMYES. For these purposes, they may resort to private investment participation, provided this is determined by the corresponding technical studies that support its feasibility, without thereby compromising the demand of current subscribers or acting against the public interest.

(Thus amended by ordinary session No. 15-2016 of March 10, 2016)

System extensions may be executed by the provider or by a third party under the supervision of the service owner. All infrastructure must be transferred to the provider for its operation, maintenance, and future replacement.

In order to enable more services in a given area, under the concept of private investment participation, a private individual may finance and execute works aimed at improving or expanding existing aqueduct and sanitary sewer systems, subject to the approval, oversight, and follow-up of the provider. Once the infrastructure is completed, it shall be donated free of charge, together with the lands and easements (servidumbres) free of liens and encumbrances upon which the works rest, for proper operation, maintenance, and administration by the operator.

(Thus amended by ordinary session No. 15-2016 of March 10, 2016)

The provider must ensure that the designs for works that a private individual intends to finance and execute provide for sufficient sizing to safeguard the supply for current and future subscribers in protection of the public interest. Likewise, the operator must ensure that these works are compatible with the technical requirements to ensure the supply for hydrants.

(Thus amended by ordinary session No. 15-2016 of March 10, 2016)

To finance future investments and so that a mass consumption project does not affect the planned service management, service providers may resort to the financing mechanism called "Contribution for New Developments" (Aporte para Nuevos Desarrollos).

THE SUBSCRIBER SINGLE SECTION

The main rights of subscribers are as follows:

a. To receive services under optimal provision conditions; b. To be attended to in a timely manner and receive responses to their requests within the timeframes established by Law; c. To receive, free of charge, all specific and reasonable information that allows them to:

i. Exercise their rights, ii. Make appropriate use and disposition of the services, iii. Know the conditions of provision, the PMYES, the prices and rates of the services, iv. Know the proposals and studies for modifying prices and rates, and v. Prevent risks.

d. To complain before the provider or before the Regulatory Authority when:

i. It is proven that the services do not meet the established qualitative and quantitative goals, ii. Alterations in billing occur due to high consumption or because the rates do not match those set by the Regulatory Authority, and iii. The provider fails to comply with the obligations established in the Law of the Regulatory Authority No. 7593.

e. To have the information on their bill available with due anticipation of its due date, within the established time and by the indicated means or place, f. To request modifications and inquiries about the services, such as:

i. Separation of service due to property segregation, ii. Change of connection diameter, iii. Relocation of the connection point, iv. Disconnection of services, v. Place or means for sending bills, vi. Name on the account or contract, vii. Rate change due to modification of service use, viii. Issuance of a duplicate bill, ix. Account statements and payment histories, x. Certifications and proof regarding services: availability, payment status, consumption history, etc., xi. Other procedures related to the services, g. To receive timely communication about service suspensions and, when necessary, about alternative potable water supply, and h. To be notified when high consumption occurs.

To carry out these procedures and exercise their rights, the subscriber must present the requirements established by the service provider. In the case of the user, they must also hold legal representation that expresses the will of the subscriber.

The main duties of subscribers are as follows:

a. To keep their interior installations in good working condition; b. To use the installations in accordance with this regulation; c. To use the services exclusively for the purpose for which they were contracted; d. Subscribers who discharge non-ordinary waters shall provide the prior treatment required by the discharge regulation; e. To keep the internal stormwater and wastewater systems separate; f. To keep the sanitary sewer inspection box and the water meter protection box free from all types of obstructions; g. To pay their obligations with the service provider in a timely manner and within the established period; h. To comply in a timely manner with their obligations established in the document "Conditions for the Provision of Aqueduct, Sanitary Sewer, and Hydrant Services" or those indicated by the provider to improve the service; and i. To allow duly identified, authorized personnel from the provider access to their domicile to carry out tasks pertaining to their work.

j. In accordance with the General Health Law, to connect to the sanitary sewer system if it is operational and the service is technically feasible to be provided.

(Thus amended by ordinary session No. 15-2016 of March 10, 2016)

RATES AND CONTRIBUTIONS

Providers shall charge the rates and prices set by the Regulatory Authority for the provision of aqueduct, sanitary sewer, hydrant, special, ancillary, and environmental management services.

If the subscriber is connected to the services provided by the provider but does not use them, they must pay the respective rates for fixed services authorized by the Regulatory Authority.

(Thus amended by ordinary session No. 15-2016 of March 10, 2016)

The Regulatory Authority shall establish the tariff model, methodology, and structure for environmental management and the services referred to in this Regulation.

The contribution for new developments is the amount that the developer of a mass consumption project must pay to finance the investments necessary for the expansion, improvements, and modifications of the services, so that the new development does not affect the management planned by the provider.

Social-interest housing projects are exempt from payment of the contribution for new developments.

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION SINGLE SECTION

For the rational use of water resources, and the continuity and sustainability of services, the provider must implement the necessary actions for their protection, conservation, recovery, and preservation through environmental management plans, the costs of which may be recognized through a tariff called the Environmental Management Tariff.

Providers must submit, every five years, a water resource protection program to the Regulatory Authority, which must consider all negative and positive impacts on the environment that providing the services may generate, as well as the respective corrective actions.

(Thus amended by ordinary session No. 15-2016 of March 10, 2016)

Providers must perform their functions using environmentally friendly processes; that is, processes that prevent, limit, minimize, or repair damage to the environment.

FINAL PROVISIONS SINGLE SECTION

Any provider that fails to comply with this Regulation shall be subject to the sanctions established in Law No. 7593 and its amendments, as well as those defined in the current legal system.

In the event that any provision issued by the providers contradicts this Regulation, the provider must apply what is stipulated herein.

The amendments to the regulation: "Provision of Aqueduct, Sanitary Sewer, and Hydrant Services, AR-PSAYA-2013", shall take effect from the date of their publication in La Gaceta, except for the Administrative Associations of Communal Aqueduct and Sewer Systems (ASADAS), for whom the amendments shall take effect on the same date that the Regulation: "Provision of Aqueduct, Sanitary Sewer, and Hydrant Services, ARPSAYA-2013", published in supplement No. 50 to La Gaceta No. 186 of September 29, 2014, becomes effective for them, with the exception of the deadlines established in the Transitory Provisions of this amendment.

(Thus amended by ordinary session No. 15-2016 of March 10, 2016)

The information required from the ASADAS in the transitory provisions must be submitted by AyA as the service owner, within the deadline established in each transitory provision. For the purposes of compliance with the regulation "Provision of Aqueduct, Sanitary Sewer, and Hydrant Services, ARPSAYA-2013" and this amendment, AyA must classify the ASADAS into three categories: A, B, and C.

(Thus added by ordinary session No. 15-2016 of March 10, 2016)

SINGLE SECTION

Providers must submit the emergency and disaster response plan approved by the CNE to the Regulatory Authority within a period of eighteen months from the publication of this amendment. AyA must submit the plan for Category A ASADAS within a period of 18 months, and that for Category B and C ASADAS within a period of 24 months.

(Thus amended by ordinary session No. 15-2016 of March 10, 2016)

Providers that do not have a permanent customer service are granted a period of twelve months from the publication of this amendment to implement it. For Category A ASADAS, a period of 18 months; for Category B and C ASADAS, a period of 24 months.

(Thus amended by ordinary session No. 15-2016 of March 10, 2016)

Providers must submit the "Continuous Service Improvement and Expansion Program" (Programa de Mejoras y Expansión Continua de los Servicios) to the Regulatory Authority within a period of eighteen months from the publication of this amendment. AyA must submit the program for Category A ASADAS within a period of 18 months, for Category B ASADAS within a period of 24 months, and for Category C ASADAS within a period of 36 months.

(Thus amended by ordinary session No. 15-2016 of March 10, 2016)

Providers must comply with the "information systems" requirements within a period of twenty-four months from the publication of this amendment. AyA must report on this compliance for Category A ASADAS within a period of 24 months, for Category B ASADAS within a period of 30 months, and for Category C ASADAS within a period of 36 months.

(Thus amended by ordinary session No. 15-2016 of March 10, 2016)

Providers that possess laboratories for verifying measurement or counting systems must be accredited before the ECA or the competent authority within a period of twenty-four months from the publication of this amendment.

(Thus amended by ordinary session No. 15-2016 of March 10, 2016)

Providers must submit the first "Water Resource Protection Program" to the Regulatory Authority within a period of eighteen months from the publication of this amendment. AyA must submit the program for Category A ASADAS within a period of 18 months, for Category B ASADAS within a period of 24 months, and for Category C ASADAS within a period of 36 months.

(Thus amended by ordinary session No. 15-2016 of March 10, 2016)

Providers must submit the format of the document "Conditions for the Provision of Aqueduct, Sanitary Sewer, and Hydrant Services" to the Regulatory Authority within a period of six months from the publication of this amendment. AyA must submit the document for the three categories of ASADAS within a period of eight months.

(Thus amended by ordinary session No. 15-2016 of March 10, 2016)

Each provider must submit an "Implementation Plan for this Regulation" to the Regulatory Authority within a period of five months from the publication of this amendment. AyA must submit the plan for Category A ASADAS within a period of 11 months, and for Category B and C ASADAS within a period of 16 months.

(Thus added by ordinary session No. 15-2016 of March 10, 2016)

Reglamentar las condiciones de prestación de los servicios de acueducto, alcantarillado sanitario e hidrantes y las relaciones entre los prestadores regulados por la ARESEP y los abonados de estos servicios; estableciendo las medidas regulatorias necesarias para que estos servicios públicos se brinden en forma óptima.

(Así reformado mediante sesión ordinaria N° 15-2016 del 10 de marzo del 2016)

Este reglamento es aplicable a los servicios públicos de acueducto, alcantarillado sanitario e hidrantes en cuanto a: operación, mantenimiento, desarrollo y administración de estos servicios, en sus diferentes etapas:

a. Acueducto: producción, distribución y comercialización; b. Alcantarillado sanitario: recolección, tratamiento, disposición y comercialización; e c. Hidrantes: al ser un servicio asociado y unido al servicio de acueducto, incluye todas las etapas de este servicio.

Este reglamento es de aplicación a nivel nacional, para los prestadores de los servicios de acueducto, alcantarillado sanitario e hidrantes regulados por la Autoridad Reguladora de los Servicios Públicos.

(Así reformado mediante sesión ordinaria N° 15-2016 del 10 de marzo del 2016)

SIGLAS Y DEFINICIONES

Para los efectos de este Reglamento se entenderá por:

ARESEP Autoridad Reguladora de los Servicios Públicos o Autoridad Reguladora.

ASADA Asociación Administradora de Sistemas de Acueductos y Alcantarillados Comunales.

AyA Instituto Costarricense de Acueductos y Alcantarillados.

CFIA Colegio Federado de Ingenieros y de Arquitectos de Costa Rica.

CNE Comisión Nacional de Prevención de Riesgos y Atención de Emergencias.

CR-2010 Especificaciones Generales para la Construcción de Carreteras, Caminos y Puentes.

CONAVI Consejo Nacional de Vialidad.

DE-2010 Manual de Diseños Estándares para la Construcción de Carreteras, Caminos y Puentes.

ECA Ente Costarricense de Acreditación.

ESPH, S.A. Empresa de Servicios Públicos de Heredia, S.A.

MINAE Ministerio del Ambiente y Energía.

MOPT Ministerio de Obras Públicas y Transportes.

PMYES Programa de Mejora y Expansión Continua del Servicio.

SIG Sistema de Información Geográfica.

Para los efectos de este Reglamento se entenderá por:

Abonado: Persona física o jurídica a cuyo nombre aparece registrado el servicio que le brinda el prestador.

(Así reformada la definición anterior mediante sesión ordinaria N° 15-2016 del 10 de marzo del 2016) Acceso universal: Derecho efectivo de acceso a un servicio público brindado por un prestador dentro de su jurisdicción territorial en condiciones de prestación óptima.

Acueducto o alcantarillado comunal: Sistema de acueducto o alcantarillado sanitario cuya titularidad corresponde al AyA, pero su administración es delegada a entes locales, conforme con la Ley Constitutiva del AyA N°2726.

Acueducto o sistema de acueducto: Sistema cuyo objetivo es captar, potabilizar, almacenar y distribuir agua potable con la finalidad de proporcionarla a un núcleo de población determinado.

Incluye la fuente de recurso hídrico y las obras de infraestructura física. Consta de las siguientes etapas:

a. Producción (gestión ambiental, captación y conducción y potabilización); b. Distribución (almacenamiento, redes de distribución, conexiones domiciliarias, hidrómetros); y c. Comercialización (medición de consumos, lectura de hidrómetros, facturación, cobro y actividades relacionadas con la atención del usuario).

Agua potable: Agua que al ser consumida por la población no causa daño a la salud y cumple con los estándares estéticos, organolépticos, físicos, químicos, biológicos y microbiológicos, establecidos en la reglamentación vigente.

Agua pluvial: Agua de lluvia que, en vez de ser infiltrada, fluye a través de la superficie de la tierra llegando finalmente a un cuerpo de agua.

Agua residual: Agua que ha recibido un uso y cuya calidad ha sido modificada por la incorporación de agentes contaminantes.

Agua residual de tipo ordinario: Agua residual generada por las actividades domésticas del hombre (uso de inodoros, duchas, lavatorios, fregaderos, lavado de ropa, etc.).

Agua residual de tipo especial: Agua residual de tipo diferente al ordinario.

Alcantarillado pluvial: Sistema formado por tuberías y estructuras cuyo objetivo es recolectar y conducir aguas pluviales.

Alcantarillado sanitario o sistema de alcantarillado sanitario: Sistema cuyo objetivo es recolectar, conducir y tratar aguas residuales; así como la disposición sanitaria de las aguas y lodos resultantes. Incluye el cuerpo receptor y las obras de infraestructura física. Consta de las siguientes etapas:

a. Recolección; b. Tratamiento (Gestión ambiental, y disposición final de aguas y lodos residuales); y c. Comercialización (Medición de consumos, facturación, cobro y actividades relacionadas con la atención al abonado).

Alto consumo: Es aquel que supere en un 100% el consumo promedio normal del abonado de los últimos doce meses.

(Así reformada la definición anterior mediante sesión ordinaria N° 15-2016 del 10 de marzo del 2016) Asociación Administradora de Sistemas de Acueductos y Alcantarillados Comunales, ASADA: Organización legalmente constituida, para la prestación de los servicios de acueducto, alcantarillado sanitario e hidrantes; y que cuenta con convenio de delegación por parte del AyA.

Autoridad Reguladora de los Servicios Públicos, Autoridad Reguladora o ARESEP: Institución autónoma creada por la Ley No 7593, encargada de fijar tarifas, emitir y velar por el cumplimiento de las normas de calidad, cantidad, confiabilidad, continuidad, oportunidad y prestación óptima de los servicios públicos.

Calidad: Conjunto de atributos que ostentan los servicios públicos que permite brindarlos de forma continua, oportuna, regular, célere, eficaz y eficiente; lo que les confiere aptitud para satisfacer necesidades humanas.

Calidad del agua: Conjunto de atributos físicos, químicos biológicos y organolépticos que se le asignan al agua en función de su uso y que son requeridas para la protección de la salud humana, tanto en el consumo humano como en usos recreativos y productivos.

Calidad del servicio: Efecto global de la prestación de un servicio que determina el grado de satisfacción de las necesidades del abonado o del usuario.

Calle Pública: Camino que forma parte del dominio público y es establecida su condición y características por el ente competente.

Capacidad hídrica: condición existente de factibilidad para la producción y explotación de agua para abastecimiento de los servicios de acueducto e hidrantes.

(Así reformada la definición anterior mediante sesión ordinaria N° 15-2016 del 10 de marzo del 2016) Capacidad hidráulica: Condición de la infraestructura instalada de los sistemas de acueducto, alcantarillado sanitario e hidrantes para trasegar factiblemente caudales para brindar un servicio.

(Así adicionada la definición anterior mediante sesión ordinaria N° 15-2016 del 10 de marzo del 2016) Caso fortuito: Lo que acontece casualmente sin premeditación ni previsión; o que aun previéndose no pudo ser evitado.

Caudal: Cociente entre el volumen de un líquido o fluido que pasa por una sección de un conducto y el tiempo transcurrido. Puede expresarse en metros cúbicos por segundo o en litros por segundo.

Ciclo de lectura: periodo de tiempo comprendido entre dos lecturas consecutivas de un hidrómetro que oscila entre 28 y 33 días naturales y hasta 60 días naturales para el caso de lectura bimensual.

(Así reformada la definición anterior mediante sesión ordinaria N° 15-2016 del 10 de marzo del 2016) Cobertura: Disponibilidad de los servicios dentro de la jurisdicción territorial del prestador.

Colector: Tubería principal destinada a recolectar y conducir aguas residuales como parte de una red de alcantarillado. No cuenta con conexiones directas de los abonados.

Comercialización: Etapa final del abastecimiento de los servicios de acueducto y alcantarillado sanitario e hidrantes que comprende la medición de los consumos, lectura de hidrómetros, facturación, cobro y las actividades relacionadas con la atención al usuario.

Conexión. Unión del sistema público de abastecimiento de agua o de alcantarillado sanitario (recolección de aguas servidas), con el sistema privado.

Conexión ilícita de acueducto. Una conexión de acueducto se considera ilícita, cuando:

a. Esté conectada a la red pública, sin autorización del prestador; b. El servicio sea suspendido y se reconecte sin autorización del prestador; c. El servicio haya sido autorizado por el prestador y:

i. la conexión se realice antes del hidrómetro; ii. la conexión opere indebidamente por alteración del funcionamiento del hidrómetro, d. El servicio provenga de otra conexión.

Conexión ilícita de alcantarillado sanitario. Una conexión de alcantarillado sanitario se considera ilícita, cuando:

a. Esté conectada a la red pública en uso, sin autorización del prestador; b. Esté conectado a una red pública que no esté en uso; c. Se interconecte con un sistema de alcantarillado de aguas pluviales; y d. Se interconecte el sistema pluvial al sistema sanitario.

Consumo estimado: Consumo supuesto, el cual es equivalente al consumo promedio normal.

Consumo: Volumen de agua que un abonado utiliza en un periodo de tiempo determinado.

(Así reformada la definición anterior mediante sesión ordinaria N° 15-2016 del 10 de marzo del 2016) Consumo normal: Consumo del servicio libre de distorsiones, efectuado durante un ciclo de lectura.

Consumo promedio normal: Es el promedio de los consumos normales de un abonado registrados en los últimos doce meses. Si no existen registros para calcularlo, se supondrá igual al consumo promedio de la categoría respectiva del año anterior.

Constancia de capacidad del sistema de alcantarillado sanitario: Documento que emite el operador del servicio de alcantarillado sanitario ante una negativa de disponibilidad de ese servicio, en el cual hace constar que el sistema cuenta con capacidad para la disponibilidad: recolección, tratamiento y disposición de las aguas residuales; supeditado a la construcción por parte del interesado, de la infraestructura indicada en ese documento.

(Así reformada la definición anterior mediante sesión ordinaria N° 15-2016 del 10 de marzo del 2016) Continuidad del servicio: Atributo de la calidad de servicio que implica que el mismo se mantiene en forma continua sin interrupción las 24 horas del día los 365 días del año, salvo caso fortuito, fuerza mayor, períodos programados de mantenimiento del sistema, o daño causado por terceros.

(Así reformada la definición anterior mediante sesión ordinaria N° 15-2016 del 10 de marzo del 2016) Contrato de servicios: Acuerdo formal suscrito entre un prestador de los servicios de acueducto, alcantarillado e hidrantes y un abonado, en donde se establecen las condiciones y requisitos técnicos y comerciales que permiten brindar los servicios; así como las obligaciones, derechos y deberes a que se comprometen las partes, dentro del marco regulatorio y la legislación vigente.

Cuerpos de agua receptores: son las acequias, canales, arroyos, quebradas y ríos de domino público y régimen de flujo permanente, así como las lagunas, lagos y mares, hacia los cuales descargan las aguas residuales tratadas.

Denuncia: Gestión presentada por cualquier persona, referente a una situación respecto a un servicio público que le afecta o afecta a un grupo de personas y sobre lo cual solicita una investigación y actuación general de la autoridad correspondiente.

Derrame o desborde del alcantarillado sanitario: vertido de efluentes del sistema de alcantarillado sanitario que se manifiesta en la vía pública.

Desarrollador, fraccionador, urbanizador: Persona física o jurídica, interesada en habilitar por cuenta propia, un terreno para fines urbanos, lo cual incluye las instalaciones para la provisión de servicios públicos de acueducto, alcantarillado sanitario e hidrantes, incluido el tratamiento y disposición de las aguas y lodos residuales, en caso de no existir sistema público.

Dictamen o certificación de disponibilidad de servicios: Pronunciamiento mediante el cual un prestador de servicio comunica a un tercero interesado, la capacidad de sus sistemas (acueducto, alcantarillado sanitario e hidrantes) para abastecer el consumo de nuevos abonados.

(Así reformada la definición anterior mediante sesión ordinaria N° 15-2016 del 10 de marzo del 2016) Error de lectura: Diferencia entre el valor medido o calculado y el real.

Estudio de disponibilidad de servicios: Estudio técnico bajo la responsabilidad de un prestador del servicio, referido a la capacidad hídrica e hidráulica de los sistemas que opera.

(Así reformada la definición anterior mediante sesión ordinaria N° 15-2016 del 10 de marzo del 2016) Extensiones de los sistemas: Infraestructura requerida para la interconexión de redes de los servicios de acueducto, alcantarillado sanitario e hidrantes de proyectos de consumo masivo con la red pública de un prestador de servicio. Esta infraestructura es adicional a la propia de cada proyecto, la cual debe ser financiada por el interesado.

Factura: Documento o archivo mercantil emitido periódicamente por el prestador, que muestra el detalle de los conceptos y los montos por cobrar por los servicios prestados.

Facturación: Proceso mediante el cual se determina los conceptos y montos que debe cancelar el abonado.

Facturación errónea: proceso que contiene valores diferentes a los reales.

Fuente pública de ornato: Estructura ornamental que utiliza agua y está ubicada en sitios públicos.

Fuerza mayor: Acontecimiento que no puede preverse o que, previsto, no puede evitarse, por ejemplo, los fenómenos atmosféricos y naturales como terremotos, tempestades, inundaciones, crecidas, lluvias, rayos, incendios y otros.

Fuga interna: Escape de agua o derrame de aguas residuales en las instalaciones internas del abonado.

Fuga interna no visible: Escape de agua o derrame de aguas residuales en las instalaciones internas ocultas del abonado.

Gestión Ambiental: Estrategia que debe utilizar el prestador para lograr la sostenibilidad del servicio, así como la protección, conservación, recuperación y preservación del recurso hídrico y su entorno.

Hidrómetro: Dispositivo o instrumento para la medición del volumen de agua que lo atraviesa.

Instalaciones internas o red interna: Conjunto de tuberías, accesorios y piezas sanitarias que se ubican a partir del límite físico de los servicios de acueducto y alcantarillado sanitario; destinados al abastecimiento y distribución del agua potable o a la evacuación de aguas residuales, dentro de un inmueble.

Instalaciones temporales: Instalaciones construidas para realizar circos, ferias, turnos, conciertos, actividades religiosas, entre otros; que no requieren un servicio permanente.

Interrupción temporal del servicio: Suspensión programada o no programada del servicio de agua potable, que involucra un periodo de tiempo en el que prestador atiende obras de mantenimiento; imprevistos por daños en sus sistemas o acciones de contingencia.

Jurisdicción: Es el área geográfica autorizada por ley, concesión, permiso o contrato de delegación, administración o alianza para la operación de un prestador.

KPa, Kilopascal: Unidad de medida de la presión atmosférica, equivalente a mil Pascales (1000 Pascales).

Ley No 7593 o Ley de la Autoridad Reguladora: Ley de la Autoridad Reguladora de los Servicios Públicos N°7593 y sus reformas.

m. c. a o metros de columna de agua: Unidad de presión equivalente a la presión ejercida por una columna de agua de un metro de altura.1mca equivale a 9,80 KPa. (1 mca = 9,80KPa) (Así reformada la definición anterior mediante sesión ordinaria N° 15-2016 del 10 de marzo del 2016) Mes: Periodo de tiempo de 28, 29, 30 o 31 días, que va desde una determinada fecha de un mes, hasta la misma del mes siguiente. Por ejemplo, el que va del 20 de enero al 20 de febrero o del 15 de enero al 15 de febrero. .

(Así reformada la definición anterior mediante sesión ordinaria N° 15-2016 del 10 de marzo del 2016) Modelo de fijación de precios y tarifas: Abstracción y simulación de la realidad económicafinanciera en la que se desenvuelve una industria de servicio público, incluyendo formulaciones matemáticas, indicadores y criterios que permitan establecer un precio o tarifa sostenible por sectores que reciben el servicio.

Metodología tarifaria: Secuencia ordenada de los procedimientos que se utilizan para determinar las tarifas de los servicios públicos; comprende la definición del modelo de fijación de precios y tarifas.

Niple: Sección de tubería de tamaño variable con rosca macho en al menos uno de sus extremos, y que sirve para unir cañerías.

Nivel de servicio: Condiciones en que se brindan los servicios, considerando aspectos de calidad, cantidad, confiabilidad, continuidad y oportunidad.

Norma Técnica de Hidrómetros: Se refiere a la Norma Técnica de Hidrómetros para el Servicio de Acueducto AR-HSA-2008 publicada en La Gaceta N°198 del 14 de octubre de 2008 o la vigente a la fecha.

Obras para nuevos desarrollos: Obras necesarias para la ampliación, mejoras y modificaciones de los servicios, de tal manera que la incorporación del nuevo desarrollo no afecte la gestión del servicio programada por el prestador.

Programa de Mejora y Expansión Continua del Servicio (PMYES): Programa integral que establece las necesidades de desarrollo para un sistema de acueducto, alcantarillado sanitario o hidrantes en el corto, mediano y largo plazo.

Poseedor: Persona física o jurídica que realice actos de posesión estables y efectivos como dueño en forma pacífica, pública e ininterrumpida, por más de un año, en inmuebles no inscritos en el Registro Público o bien, estando inscritos cuenten con el aval o autorización del propietario registral.

Prestación óptima: Servicio que cumple las condiciones establecidas de calidad, cantidad, confiabilidad, continuidad, oportunidad, acceso universal, eficiencia, sostenibilidad e igualdad.

P. s. i: Siglas en inglés de libra - fuerza por pulgada cuadrada. Unidad de presión del sistema anglosajón. 1psi equivale a 6,69 KPa o 0,703 mca (1psi=6,89 KPa).

Prestador de servicio público, prestador u operador: Sujeto público o privado que presta servicios públicos regulados por la Autoridad Reguladora por ley, concesión o permiso (Ley de la Autoridad Reguladora de los Servicios Públicos, N° 7593); contrato de delegación (Ley Constitutiva del AyA, N°2726); o alianza (Ley de la Empresa de Servicios Públicos de Heredia, SA, N°7789).

Prevista: Tubería y accesorios, conectados a la red de abastecimiento de agua o a la red de recolección de aguas servidas, que no ha sido conectada a las instalaciones de los abonados. Para el servicio de acueducto incluye el sistema de medición, una válvula de retención y una válvula de paso. Para el servicio de alcantarillado sanitario incluye el niple de salida de la caja de registro.

Programa de protección del recurso hídrico: Conjunto de actividades que desarrolla un prestador de los servicios de acueducto, alcantarillado sanitario e hidrantes con el objetivo de proteger, conservar y recuperar el recurso hídrico en las áreas de las cuencas que impactan la recarga y calidad del agua y asegurar la sostenibilidad de esos servicios.

(Así reformada la definición anterior mediante sesión ordinaria N° 15-2016 del 10 de marzo del 2016) Propietario: Persona física o jurídica que demuestre mediante certificación notarial o registral que ostenta la titularidad del inmueble.

Proyecto de consumo masivo: Son los desarrollos urbanísticos, comerciales, industriales, turísticos o de otra índole, que demanden una porción significativa de la capacidad instalada de un sistema de servicio público.

Prueba volumétrica o prueba para determinar la curva de error o curva de exactitud en función del caudal: procedimiento técnico mediante el cual un hidrómetro es sometido a diferentes flujos para realizar una comparación entre el volumen registrado y un patrón de referencia, con el fin de evaluar mediante procedimientos matemáticos el nivel de exactitud del hidrómetro (Así reformada la definición anterior mediante sesión ordinaria N° 15-2016 del 10 de marzo del 2016) Queja: Gestión presentada por un abonado o un usuario debidamente autorizado por el abonado, por situaciones o problemas derivados de la actividad de prestación de los servicios públicos de acueducto, alcantarillado sanitario o hidrantes.

Red pública: Red del sistema público de distribución de agua o de recolección de aguas residuales, propiedad del prestador.

Refacturación: Emisión de una nueva factura en sustitución de una anterior para efectos de corregir errores identificados por parte del abonado o del prestador.

Reglamento para la calidad: Se refiere al Reglamento para la Calidad del Agua Potable, Decreto Ejecutivo 38924-S y su reforma o el vigente a la fecha.

(Así reformada la definición anterior mediante sesión ordinaria N° 15-2016 del 10 de marzo del 2016) Reglamento de Vertido: Se refiere al Reglamento de Vertido y Reuso de Aguas Residuales, Decreto Ejecutivo 33601-MINAET-S publicado en La Gaceta N°55 del lunes 19 de marzo del 2007 o el vigente a la fecha, el cual regula los parámetros y sus valores máximos permisibles permitidos para la descarga de agua residuales aun receptor.

Servicios: Para efectos de la presente normativa, entiéndase referido a los servicios públicos de acueducto, alcantarillado sanitario e hidrantes, así como los servicios especiales y conexos asociados a ellos.

Servicios conexos: Son los complementarios a los servicios de acueducto y alcantarillado sanitario.

Servicio de acueducto: Aquel que utiliza un sistema de acueducto para abastecer de agua potable a un núcleo de población.

Servicio de alcantarillado sanitario: Aquel que utiliza un sistema de alcantarillado sanitario para evacuar y tratar aguas y los lodos residuales de un núcleo de población.

Servicio de desconexión por solicitud del abonado: Consiste en la suspensión del servicio de acueducto por petición expresa del abonado.

Servicio de hidrantes: Es el referido a la instalación, desarrollo, operación y mantenimiento de los hidrantes, para las labores del Benemérito Cuerpo de Bomberos de Costa Rica.

Servicio de instalación de fuentes públicas domiciliarias: Consiste en instalar un dispositivo en una prevista existente cuando se corte o suspenda un servicio domiciliario.

Servicios especiales: Son los prestados en condiciones atípicas, ya sea por su condición de abastecimiento, titularidad del inmueble o temporalidad del servicio.

Servicio público: El que por su importancia para el desarrollo sostenible del país sea calificado como tal por la Asamblea Legislativa, con el fin de sujetarlo a las regulaciones de la Ley N° 7593. Para efectos del presente reglamento, entiéndase esta definición referida a los servicios públicos de acueducto, alcantarillado sanitario e hidrantes.

Servicio de revisión del sistema de medición: Consiste en realizar la prueba volumétrica, ya sea en laboratorio o en sitio, para determinar la exactitud del consumo registrado por un hidrómetro.

Servicio de traslado de prevista: Consiste en el traslado de la prevista, para brindar el servicio en un punto de entrega diferente para una misma propiedad y por petición expresa del abonado.

Servicio de tratamiento de aguas y lodos residuales provenientes de sistemas individualizados: Consiste en el tratamiento de aguas y lodos provenientes de tanques sépticos, plantas de tratamiento privadas o sistemas de otros prestador.

Servidumbre de paso y acueducto/alcantarillado: Derecho a transitar por propiedad ajena para tener salida desde esa propiedad a vía pública, y para conectar infraestructura de acueducto y alcantarillado sanitario, a fin de proveer agua potable o descargar aguas residuales del predio que carezca de salida a vía pública.

Suspensiones programadas: Suspensión del servicio con el fin de dar mantenimiento a la infraestructura del servicio, programada y comunicada a los usuarios con al menos 48 horas naturales de antelación.

(Así reformada la definición anterior mediante sesión ordinaria N° 15-2016 del 10 de marzo del 2016) Tarifa: Lista o catálogo de precios que deben pagarse por la prestación de un servicio.

Técnicamente factible: Se considera que un servicio es técnicamente factible cuando cumple las siguientes condiciones:

a. Las redes de distribución y de recolección pasan frente a linderos del inmueble o tenga acceso directo por vía pública o servidumbre de paso del inmueble para el cual se solicita un servicio, b. Los sistemas cuenten con capacidad hídrica, hidráulica, de potabilización y de tratamiento, suficientes para aceptar nuevos abonados, c. El sistema cumple con los atributos de calidad establecidos, d. Es legal y ambientalmente posible y e. Los solicitantes cumplen con los requisitos administrativos establecidos.

(Así reformada la definición anterior mediante sesión ordinaria N° 15-2016 del 10 de marzo del 2016) Tratamiento: Conjunto de procesos físicos, químicos o biológicos, cuya finalidad es mejorar la calidad del agua residual y los lodos residuales antes de su disposición final.

(Así reformada la definición anterior mediante sesión ordinaria N° 15-2016 del 10 de marzo del 2016) Unidad de consumo: Cada una de las unidades de vivienda, comercio, industria u otras, incluidos condominios, que cuenta con instalaciones propias de agua potable y alcantarillado sanitario, y que reciben los servicios brindados por el prestador del servicio. Todas las unidades de consumo con que cuente un condominio, podrán preferiblemente tener servicios independizados hasta la calle pública. En caso de no ser técnicamente factible, el acceso será por medio de prevista genera (macromedidor).

(Así reformada la definición anterior mediante sesión ordinaria N° 15-2016 del 10 de marzo del 2016) Usuario: Persona física o jurídica que recibe el servicio brindado por un prestador.

Venta de agua potable en bloque: Abastecimiento de agua en grandes cantidades de un prestador de servicio a otro, o a empresa privada para su posterior comercialización a terceros.

Excepto que sea un prestador de servicio autorizado, no se permite el abastecimiento en forma individual.

La tarifa para este servicio será la fijada por ARESEP.

Los prestadores de los servicios están obligados a cumplir con lo establecido en este Reglamento y en toda la normativa técnica vigente que regula esta materia.

El límite físico entre estos servicios y las instalaciones internas, está dado:

i. para el servicio de acueducto: por la ubicación del hidrómetro y sus accesorios, siempre y cuando éste se encuentre fuera de la propiedad, caso contrario, sería el límite de la propiedad, y ii. para el servicio de alcantarillado: por el accesorio de salida de la caja sifón.

(Así reformado mediante sesión ordinaria N° 15-2016 del 10 de marzo del 2016)

Los servicios serán suministrados hasta el límite físico del servicio establecido en este Reglamento.

El prestador deberá emitir dictamen de disponibilidad del servicio contra toda solicitud de un interesado de obtener un nuevo servicio de acueducto y alcantarillado. El dictamen debe estar basado en un estudio de disponibilidad del servicio.

En el caso del servicio de acueducto, cuando exista capacidad hídrica, pero no capacidad hidráulica, el prestador emitirá una constancia de capacidad hídrica, indicando las obras que para proveer el servicio e interconectarlo debe el interesado asumir.

Tratándose del servicio de alcantarillado sanitario, cuando no hay capacidad hidráulica, y sea técnicamente factible brindar el servicio, el prestador emitirá una constancia de capacidad del sistema de alcantarillado sanitario en la que indique que la disponibilidad está supeditada a la construcción por parte del interesado de las obras requeridas.

Lo anterior bajo la fiscalización y aprobación del operador.

En ningún caso se autorizarán expansiones que comprometan el recurso hídrico existente o la capacidad del sistema de alcantarillado y su tratamiento, en perjuicio de la comunidad servida o de los habitantes de los eventuales nuevos desarrollos.

(Así reformado mediante sesión ordinaria N° 15-2016 del 10 de marzo del 2016)

El dictamen o certificación de disponibilidad tendrá un plazo máximo de 12 meses a partir de la fecha de su emisión, el cual podrá ser prorrogado bajo justificación técnica por una única vez, por un plazo máximo igual al inicial, siempre y cuando no se haya materializado el servicio.

(Así reformado mediante sesión ordinaria N° 15-2016 del 10 de marzo del 2016)

El prestador para emitir el dictamen de disponibilidad, tendrá un plazo de cinco días naturales para casos individuales y 20 días naturales para proyectos de consumo masivo, posterior al recibido a satisfacción de los requisitos establecidos.

(Así reformado mediante sesión ordinaria N° 15-2016 del 10 de marzo del 2016)

En las áreas urbanas, los prestadores deberán garantizar el balance en la cobertura entre los servicios de acueducto y de alcantarillado sanitario, de tal manera que conforme se amplíe el primero, se provea paralelamente el segundo. Se exceptúa de este balance, aquellos casos en que no exista un colector cercano en operación al cual sea factible conectarse. En estos casos podrá utilizarse otro tipo de sistema de disposición de aguas residuales e incluso dejar prevista la instalación del alcantarillado sanitario para en un futuro cercano realizar la conexión.

(Así reformado mediante sesión ordinaria N° 15-2016 del 10 de marzo del 2016)

Un operador puede participar en la prestación de los servicios de acueducto o alcantarillado sanitario, en todas o alguna de las etapas de dichos servicios definidas en los artículos cinco y dos de este reglamento. Para el caso de ASADAS, previo a la aplicación de esta figura, debe ser aprobado por el AyA, quien valorará entre otros aspectos la satisfacción del interés público.

(Así reformado mediante sesión ordinaria N° 15-2016 del 10 de marzo del 2016)

Los prestadores están obligados a consultar a las comunidades indígenas sobre cualquier proyecto relacionado con los servicios de acueducto, alcantarillado e hidrantes por realizarse en las zonas indígenas. Los resultados de la consulta serán de obligatorio cumplimiento.

Para realizar proyectos relacionados con los servicios de acueducto, alcantarillado e hidrantes en zonas de protección indígena, los prestadores en cooperación con los representantes de las comunidades indígenas, con el fin de evaluar y considerar en el proyecto el impacto social, cultural y ambiental, están obligados a realizar todos los estudios técnicos y jurídicos requeridos.

Los resultados de estos estudios deberán ser considerados como criterios vinculantes en la toma de decisión, ejecución y operación de dichos proyectos.

Los prestadores deberán proveer a la Autoridad Reguladora información completa, fidedigna, actualizada, precisa, suficiente y clara sobre los servicios a que se refiere este Reglamento.

La información se utilizará para:

a. Establecer si los servicios se operan y mantienen de acuerdo con las disposiciones de este Reglamento y otras normas técnicas vigentes, b. Comprobar que la gestión es realizada en forma eficiente, c. El trámite de quejas y denuncias, d. La resolución de gestiones tarifarias y e. Cualquier otra función que la Ley establezca.

Con el fin de aportar la información requerida por la ARESEP, cada prestador deberá mantener sistemas de información que contengan como mínimo:

a. Registros actualizados de los niveles de servicio, b. Copias de los análisis de laboratorio sobre calidad del agua brindada, c. Mapas que muestren los elementos principales de los sistemas que operan, d. Registros de los sistemas que operan con detalle de costos y fecha de instalación, e. Catastro actualizado de las conexiones, geográfico y en base de datos en la que Consten, entre otros, todos los datos necesarios para ubicar la propiedad beneficiada con las previstas de servicios, identificar el abonado, caracterizar el tipo de servicio y realizar las labores de facturación y cobro, f. Censo actualizado de las poblaciones ocupantes de terrenos en precario y de la condición en que se encuentran con respecto al uso de los servicios, g. Programa de Protección del recurso hídrico para garantizar la sostenibilidad del recurso hídrico, h. Programas anuales de mantenimiento de sus sistemas, i. Registros de las quejas y denuncias que reciba, así como la información respectiva sobre el trámite, investigación, acciones tomadas al respecto y sus resultados, j. Resultados de encuestas sobre la percepción de la calidad de los servicios, k. Registro detallado de todas las fuentes del recurso hídrico que se utilizan para brindar el servicio de acueducto, l. Los planes y programas especificados en el presente reglamento: plan de mantenimiento de la infraestructura, plan de mantenimiento de hidrómetros, plan de control de hidrantes, plan de gestión ambiental, plan de control de la calidad del agua, m. Plan de mantenimiento de la infraestructura, n. Plan anual de mantenimiento correctivo y preventivo de los hidrómetros de acuerdo con la Norma Técnica de Hidrómetros AR-HSA-2008 o la vigente a la fecha, y o. Catastro actualizado de los hidrómetros, tal y como lo específica la Norma Técnica de Hidrómetros AR-HSA-2008 vigente a la fecha.

(Así reformado mediante sesión ordinaria N° 15-2016 del 10 de marzo del 2016)

La información de los prestadores deberá ser almacenada en bases de datos con formato electrónico y la geográfica será preferiblemente instalada en un sistema de información geográfico electrónico.

MEDICIÓN

Toda infraestructura debe ser diseñada y construida de acuerdo con los requerimientos vigentes de diseño y construcción establecidos por el CFIA, el AyA y la legislación vigente aplicable.

Los prestadores deben dar mantenimiento a la infraestructura, para asegurarse que la prestación de los servicios sea acorde con las exigencias de este Reglamento y la legislación vigente aplicable. El mantenimiento se dará hasta el límite físico del servicio público.

Los prestadores deberán devolver la superficie rodante de la vía pública y las aceras, al menos a su estado anterior, en un plazo máximo de veinte días naturales una vez concluida la obra, independientemente del estado en que se hallen las vías públicas en las que se requiera realizar obras de mejoramiento, reposición o construcción, relacionadas con la infraestructura de los servicios de acueducto, alcantarillado sanitario e hidrantes.

Para realizar estas labores deben utilizar:

a. Las mejores tecnologías disponibles, b. Procedimientos lo menos invasivos posibles y que aseguren la menor afectación a la vía, de conformidad con la tecnología disponible.

c. Materiales de alta tecnología que permitan brindar una calidad igual o superior de la original, y d. Cumplir con lo establecido en las Especificaciones Generales y Diseños Estándares del MOPT para Vías Públicas (Manuales CR-2010 y DE-2010), adicional a lo establecido en cuanto a la operación del tránsito, mantenimiento de la vía y control de la erosión del suelo; así como con el control de calidad de los procesos constructivos.

Se considera la obra concluida, cuando se han terminado los trabajos programados y reparado la vía pública, debiendo el operador dejar constancia de recibido y finiquito de la misma, cuando corresponda.

Los prestadores deben garantizar la calidad del trabajo realizado, si éste presenta problemas de operación están obligados hasta por un plazo de 6 meses, a rehacerlos especialmente cuando muestren fallas como: desprendimientos, abultamientos, grietas o hundimientos. También debe asegurarse que el nivel de la superficie de rodamiento y la altura de las tapas de los pozos sean coincidentes, asimismo debe reponerse de inmediato las tapas que se dañen o sean hurtadas.

Debe el prestador realizar una programación de renovación de su infraestructura según su antigüedad y vida útil. En el caso que la renovación de esa infraestructura afecte el libre tránsito por las vías, debe coordinar con el CONAVI, el MOPT o la municipalidad respectiva, con la finalidad de garantizar la menor afectación a los usuarios de esas vías. Los prestadores deben coordinar la ejecución de planes instalación, modificación o cambio de infraestructura con esas entidades a efecto de hacerlo coincidir con sus programas de mantenimiento de vías, evitando la afectación posterior de las vías públicas por la realización de esas actividades.

(Así reformado mediante sesión ordinaria N° 15-2016 del 10 de marzo del 2016)

Para la instalación de hidrómetros y su mantenimiento se aplicarán las condiciones establecidas en la Norma Técnica de Hidrómetros.

Los laboratorios de verificación de los sistemas de medición o conteo deberán estar debidamente acreditados ante el ECA o la autoridad correspondiente; personas responsables, ensayos y pruebas deberán estar debidamente certificados y los instrumentos, sistemas de medición o conteo utilizados para llevar a cabo pruebas para evaluar la calidad del servicio, deberán estar calibrados y poseer un plan de verificación, calibración y mantenimiento de acuerdo con las especificaciones establecidas por el fabricante y de conformidad con la normativa vigente.

Los prestadores asegurarán en sus funciones la protección de sus trabajadores, equipo, instalaciones, infraestructura y público en general.

CONDICIONES DE PRESTACIÓN DE LOS SERVICIOS

Los servicios de acueducto, alcantarillado sanitario e hidrantes serán brindados considerando la eficiencia y la eficacia en la gestión y el uso de los recursos, la universalidad, continuidad y regularidad del servicio; el uso de tecnologías limpias y eficientes; así como la protección a la salud humana y de los recursos hídricos

Siempre que sea técnicamente factible, los prestadores dentro de su jurisdicción deben brindar en condiciones de prestación óptima, los servicios de acueducto, alcantarillado sanitario e hidrantes.

Los prestadores deberán garantizar la continuidad del servicio. Se exceptúan aquellas situaciones de suspensión de servicio por incumplimiento del abonado.

Cuando se corte o suspenda un servicio domiciliario exclusivamente por morosidad en el pago, con la finalidad de que los usuarios recolecten agua para su subsistencia, los prestadores deberán colocar una fuente pública y notificar su ubicación al abonado.

La fuente pública domiciliaria no tiene costo de instalación para el abonado y debe cumplir con los siguientes requisitos:

a. Instalarse inmediatamente se suspenda el servicio; b. Ubicarse a una distancia máxima de 200 metros e incluso cruzando la calle, excepto cuando la fuente abastezca un usuario discapacitado o adulto mayor, en cuyo caso debe instalarse al frente del inmueble; c. De una misma fuente se pueden abastecer varios abonados; d. La instalación debe realizarse de tal manera que evite la conexión de mangueras u otra conexión ilícita; e. Cuando exista una conexión ilegal desde la fuente pública, la fuente se debe desconectar y se puede trasladar su ubicación.

Una vez que se cancelen los montos pendientes de pago, así como los costos por desconexión y reconexión y se reactive el servicio, la fuente pública deberá ser eliminada sin previo aviso.

Artículo 29B.- Plazo para la reparación de fugas.

El prestador del servicio reparará una fuga en una prevista en un plazo máximo de tres día naturales después de recibido el respectivo reporte.

(Así adicionado mediante sesión ordinaria N° 15-2016 del 10 de marzo del 2016)

La calidad del agua suministrada a los abonados deberá cumplir con las condiciones establecidas en el Reglamento para la Calidad o disposiciones que establezca el Ministerio de Salud.

Cuando el control de calidad del agua demuestre que uno o varios parámetros son disconformes con los valores establecidos, el prestador deberá tomar las medidas correctivas necesarias para ajustar el servicio conforme con los valores admisibles de ese Reglamento.

(Así reformado mediante sesión ordinaria N° 15-2016 del 10 de marzo del 2016)

La calidad del agua suministrada y su respectivo control son responsabilidad del prestador, quien deberá cumplir con los lineamientos establecidos en el Reglamento para la Calidad o disposiciones que establezca el Ministerio de Salud. La Autoridad Reguladora podrá requerir que el prestador suministre análisis adicionales a los solicitados en la reglamentación vigente.

Los laboratorios que realicen pruebas de control de calidad del agua deberán tener sus métodos de ensayo acreditados por el ECA y la recolección de las muestras deberá ser realizada directamente por funcionarios del laboratorio.

(Así reformado mediante sesión ordinaria N° 15-2016 del 10 de marzo del 2016)

Los prestadores deben mantener una presión mínima dinámica de servicio en el punto de entrega de 98,1 kPa (10 m.c.a., 14,2psi). A la vez, debe restringir la presión estática máxima hasta 490,5 kPa (50 m.c.a, 71 psi), en el punto más bajo de la red y en áreas de servicio muy quebradas hasta 686,4 kPa (70 m.c.a., 99,6 psi).

En caso de interrupción de la continuidad del servicio, los prestadores deberán comunicar a los abonados y usuarios a través de los medios de comunicación colectiva, al Benemérito Cuerpo de Bomberos de Costa Rica y a la Autoridad Reguladora, lo siguiente:

a. Área y población afectadas; b. Tipo de afectación al abonado; c. Duración estimada de la suspensión; d. Precauciones especiales que deberán adoptar los usuarios; e. Razones de la suspensión del servicio; y f. Medidas de contingencia en caso de ser necesarias.

La comunicación deberá realizarse:

a. Para suspensiones programadas, con al menos cuarenta y ocho horas naturales de antelación; b. Para suspensiones no programadas, dentro de las cuatro horas naturales después de producido el reporte de la avería; y c. Para suspensiones por fuerza mayor o caso fortuito, dentro de las cuatro horas naturales después de localizada la afectación.

En todos los casos, si la suspensión del servicio se prolonga por más de ocho horas naturales, el prestador está obligado a brindar un servicio alternativo de suministro de agua potable a los abonados, que cubra las necesidades de hospitales, clínicas y centros de salud; y necesidades básicas de los abonados domiciliares y comunicar mediante medios de comunicación colectiva, la ubicación y condiciones del servicio alternativo de agua potable.

Para un mismo usuario, se podrán realizar como máximo diez suspensiones programadas en un año, siendo que de ellas, no podrán producirse más de dos en un mes.

(Así reformado mediante sesión ordinaria N° 15-2016 del 10 de marzo del 2016)

Los prestadores del servicio de alcantarillado sanitario, deberán verificar que todas las aguas residuales recolectadas por sus sistemas reciban tratamiento y cumplan con lo establecido en el Reglamento de Vertidos.

(Así reformado mediante sesión ordinaria N° 15-2016 del 10 de marzo del 2016)

Los prestadores del servicio de alcantarillado sanitario, deberán mantener un catastro actualizado de las descargas de aguas residuales de tipo especial a su sistema, según la normativa vigente.

Los prestadores deben efectuar las acciones de control necesarias, para prevenir los riesgos de contaminación que provengan de la provisión de servicios que brinda, salvo aquellos que no sean de su exclusiva competencia.

Los sistemas de alcantarillado sanitario solo recibirán aguas residuales, siendo terminantemente prohibida la descarga de aguas pluviales.

Los prestadores deberán gestionar y coordinar de manera periódica con los operadores de sistemas pluviales, medidas correctivas para el control y vigilancia de sus sistemas de alcantarillado sanitario, con la finalidad de que las aguas pluviales estén separadas de dicho sistema.

Los prestadores podrán brindar el servicio de tratamiento de lodos y aguas residuales a efluentes provenientes de sistemas individualizados, como tanques sépticos o plantas de tratamiento privadas o de otros prestadores, y aplicarán la tarifa fijada por la Autoridad Reguladora.

Asimismo, establecerán las condiciones de prestación de este servicio.

Artículo 38B.- De la descarga de aguas residuales de sistemas privados al sistema público de alcantarillado sanitario.

Los prestadores del servicio de alcantarillado sanitario podrán autorizar la descarga de aguas residuales provenientes de sistemas privados de abastecimiento de acueducto (pozo, nacientes, entre otros), si la carga de contaminantes no sobrepasa los límites establecidos en la normativa existente.

(Así adicionado mediante sesión ordinaria N° 15-2016 del 10 de marzo del 2016)

Los prestadores deben evitar la ocurrencia de derrames del sistema de alcantarillado sanitario.

Para estos efectos debe:

a. Dimensionar y adecuar las redes y otros elementos del alcantarillado de acuerdo con las exigencias crecientes sobre el servicio; b. Dar mantenimiento para rehabilitar redes en mal estado y eliminar obstrucciones; y c. Eliminar ingresos ilícitos de aguas pluviales.

a. Investigar y registrar cualquier ingreso ilícito de agua al sistema y su afectación al sistema, b. Identificar puntos o sectores críticos de la red, donde ocurran derrames o exista mayor probabilidad de generación de derrames, c. Identificar y clasificar mensualmente, los derrames detectados en la red de alcantarillado, según su origen, por:

i. Obstrucciones debido a taponamientos o uso indebido del sistema, ii. Falta de capacidad hidráulica del sistema, por defectos de diseño, obsolescencia de la red o descarga de aguas pluviales, iii. Falla energética y iv. Otros.

d. En relación con la descarga de aguas pluviales a la red de alcantarillado sanitario, gestionar con las entidades responsables, las soluciones y medidas correctivas.

(Así reformado mediante sesión ordinaria N° 15-2016 del 10 de marzo del 2016)

El servicio de alcantarillado sanitario no puede ser suspendido por facturación no cancelada.

(Así reformado mediante sesión ordinaria N° 15-2016 del 10 de marzo del 2016)

La instalación, operación y ubicación de hidrantes y de previstas para este servicio, se regirán por lo establecido en la Ley Declaratoria del Servicio de Hidrantes como Servicio Público y Reforma de Leyes Conexas No 8641 y su Reglamento o legislación vigente.

La red de hidrantes para el combate de incendios forma parte integral del servicio de acueducto, por tanto debe ser operada, mantenida, ampliada e instalada por el respectivo prestador, quien deberá cumplir con las condiciones técnicas necesarias para su instalación y operación, con base en la normativa vigente.

Los operadores podrán prestar servicios especiales en los sistemas operados, siempre y cuando no afecten la calidad, continuidad y prestación óptima del servicio brindado a sus abonados.

La prestación de estos servicios debe ajustarse a lo establecido en este reglamento.

Se consideran servicios especiales de acueducto y alcantarillado:

a. La venta de agua potable en bloque, b. Los otorgados a ocupantes de terrenos en precario y campamentos de damnificados y c. Los autorizados para las actividades e instalaciones temporales.

d. Cualquier otro que se identifique y cumpla con la definición establecida en el artículo Estos servicios deben ajustarse a lo establecido en este reglamento.

(Así reformado mediante sesión ordinaria N° 15-2016 del 10 de marzo del 2016)

Los prestadores suministrarán los servicios de acueducto, alcantarillado e hidrantes siempre que sea técnicamente factible a terrenos en precario declarados como tales, y a campamentos de damnificados.

(Así reformado mediante sesión ordinaria N° 15-2016 del 10 de marzo del 2016)

Los prestadores siempre que sea técnicamente factible, están obligados a suministrar los servicios de acueducto, alcantarillado e hidrantes para actividades e instalaciones temporales, siempre y cuando no afecten la calidad, continuidad y prestación óptima de los servicios brindados a sus abonados. Estos servicios deben ajustarse a lo establecido en este reglamento.

Los prestadores, siempre y cuando no afecten la calidad, continuidad y prestación óptima de los servicios brindados a sus abonados, podrán vender agua potable en bloque a:

a. Otro prestador, b. Prestadores de servicios marítimos y aéreos en puertos nacionales autorizados o directamente a empresas navieras y aéreas que operen legalmente en Costa Rica, y c. Vendedores de agua a terceros a través de medios móviles como camiones cisternas, que operen legalmente.

Para el caso de ASADAS, previo a la aplicación de esta figura, debe ser aprobado por el AyA, quien valorará entre otros aspectos, la satisfacción del interés público.

En todos los casos, la tarifa por cobrar será la aprobada por la Autoridad Reguladora.

(Así reformado mediante sesión ordinaria N° 15-2016 del 10 de marzo del 2016)

Los operadores prestarán servicios conexos en los sistemas operados. Estos servicios se deben ajustar a lo establecido en este reglamento.

Se consideran servicios conexos, entre otros:

a. Conexión de los servicios; b. Reconexión de los servicios; c. Desconexión del servicio por solicitud del abonado; d. Instalación de fuentes públicas domiciliarias; e. Revisión del sistema de medición; f. Traslado de prevista; y g. Tratamiento de aguas y lodos residuales provenientes de sistemas individuales.

Las inspecciones de las instalaciones internas no son parte del servicio público, por tanto, no es un servicio regulado por la Autoridad Reguladora.

La ejecución de los servicios conexos solo podrá ser realizada por el prestador del servicio, o quien él autorice siguiendo los procedimientos establecidos.

(Así reformado mediante sesión ordinaria N° 15-2016 del 10 de marzo del 2016)

Este servicio permite la interconexión del sistema interno del inmueble a la red pública, puede ser:

a. Servicio de conexión con prevista. Cuando está instalada la tubería y demás accesorios desde la tubería principal hasta el límite físico de los servicios; y b. Servicio de conexión sin prevista. Cuando no existe ningún tipo de instalación que permita la interconexión del servicio.

(Así reformado mediante sesión ordinaria N° 15-2016 del 10 de marzo del 2016)

Es el servicio que permite restituir el abastecimiento de agua potable cuando ha sido suspendido y el abonado se ha puesto a derecho con las obligaciones establecidas por el prestador. En los casos en los que el servicio haya sido suspendido a solicitud del abonado, solo este puede tramitar la reconexión.

No podrá cobrarse suma alguna por reconexión, cuando el servicio se haya suspendido por causas no imputables a los abonados, como la suspensión del servicio por error del prestador.

(Así reformado mediante sesión ordinaria N° 15-2016 del 10 de marzo del 2016)

Para los servicios especiales definidos en este reglamento se establecen los siguientes plazos para su ejecución:

a. Conexión de los servicios: diez días naturales b. Desconexión del servicio por solicitud del abonado: ocho días naturales c. Instalación de fuentes públicas domiciliarias: en el momento que se retira el hidrómetro; d. Revisión del sistema de medición: quince días naturales e. Traslado de prevista: quince días naturales, y f. Tratamiento de aguas y lodos residuales provenientes de sistemas individuales: en el momento en que se recibe el residuo, previa fecha de recibo establecida por el operador del sistema.

Se inicia el cómputo de los plazos a partir del recibido a satisfacción de todos los requisitos establecidos por el prestador.

(Así reformado mediante sesión ordinaria N° 15-2016 del 10 de marzo del 2016)

GESTIÓN DE SERVICIOS

Para cumplir con las condiciones de prestación de los servicios de este reglamento, los prestadores deberán establecer compromisos anuales de gestión, que serán incorporados en el Programa de Mejoras y Expansión Continua de los Servicios (PMYES).

Los prestadores deberán elaborar quinquenalmente y mantener actualizado cada año, un programa en materia de expansión, mantenimiento y mejora de los servicios, que deberá ser presentado ante la Autoridad Reguladora para la revisión conjunta, aprobación y posterior control. A excepción del primer programa, la remisión a la ARESEP es en esos mismos plazos.

El programa deberá elaborarse con base en proyecciones razonables de las necesidades del servicio; incluir metas cualitativas y cuantitativas, en aspectos relevantes para la calidad, eficiencia y expansión de los servicios que se prestan; y contener como mínimo:

a. Condiciones de funcionamiento de la infraestructura actual y futura; b. Áreas servidas y sus planes de expansión; c. Demandas futuras; d. Futuras fuentes de abastecimiento; e. Niveles de servicio, actuales y futuros, f. Niveles de eficiencia actuales y la mejora propuesta en productividad, incluyendo el control y reducción de pérdidas de agua; g. Gestión ambiental; h. Ampliaciones y mejoras de la infraestructura y el respectivo plan de financiamiento; y, i. Nivel de servicio al abonado.

PRESTACIÓN DE SERVICIOS EN CONDICIONES INFERIORES A LA PRESTACIÓN ÓPTIMA

Solo en situaciones excepcionales: caso fortuito, fuerza mayor o suspensiones programadas, se permitirá brindar los servicios en condiciones inferiores a la prestación óptima.

En condiciones de escasez de agua, el prestador podrá restringir su uso, para ello deberá notificar a sus abonados mediante los medios de comunicación colectiva y dar aviso por escrito a la Autoridad Reguladora y al Benemérito Cuerpo de Bomberos, al menos veinticuatro horas naturales antes de que tal restricción se haga efectiva. Las notificaciones especificarán:

a. Justificación, naturaleza y magnitud de la restricción; b. Fecha de inicio y fecha probable de finalización; c. Zonas afectadas; d. Horarios especiales de suministro; y e. Medios alternativos de suministro.

Durante el periodo de escasez, el prestador deberá racionar con criterios de equidad el suministro del agua disponible, con la debida atención hacia la salud. Para asegurar la equidad en el suministro podrá establecer restricciones de uso.

(Así reformado mediante sesión ordinaria N° 15-2016 del 10 de marzo del 2016)

Los servicios alternativos de suministro del servicio de acueducto podrán ser camiones cisternas, tuberías temporales u otro medio, siempre que éstos garanticen que el agua distribuida reúna la característica de calidad potable y asegure una dotación mínima de subsistencia a la población afectada por la interrupción.

(Así reformado mediante sesión ordinaria N° 15-2016 del 10 de marzo del 2016)

Todo sistema de acueducto, alcantarillado sanitario e hidrantes, debe contar con un plan para la atención de emergencias y desastres aprobado por la CNE que deberá remitirse a la Autoridad Reguladora, así como sus posteriores modificaciones en el momento que se realicen.

En caso que se detecte algún problema en la calidad del agua que pueda afectar la salud pública, los prestadores deberán:

a. Aplicar el protocolo definido en el plan para la atención de emergencias y desastres; b. Informar a la población afectada y autoridades competentes a través de los medios de comunicación colectiva, en un plazo máximo de cuatro horas después de producido el reporte del evento ocurrido y las medidas que deba adoptar; c. Adoptar las medidas correctivas correspondientes para habilitar el sistema; y d. En todos los casos en que la suspensión del servicio se prolongue más de ocho horas naturales, el prestador deberá brindar un servicio alternativo de suministro.

(Así reformado mediante sesión ordinaria N° 15-2016 del 10 de marzo del 2016)

En caso de que el servicio de acueducto deba ser restringido, éste se brindará de acuerdo con el siguiente orden de prioridades:

a. Hospitales, centros penitenciarios; b. Clínicas, centros educativos y de salud, albergues para niños y para adultos mayores; c. Viviendas, para atender las necesidades básicas de las familias y de los campamentos de damnificados; d. Instalaciones comerciales, industriales y agroindustriales; e. Instalaciones municipales, gubernamentales, religiosas, organizaciones internacionales, diplomáticas y no gubernamentales, y similares; y f. Actividades e instalaciones temporales.

(Así reformado mediante sesión ordinaria N° 15-2016 del 10 de marzo del 2016)

RELACIÓN DEL PRESTADOR CON EL ABONADO

Los prestadores deben establecer los trámites necesarios para las gestiones relacionadas con la prestación de los servicios y adoptar los reglamentos, documentos para solicitar un nuevo servicio ("Condiciones de la Prestación de los Servicios de acueducto, Alcantarillado Sanitario e Hidrantes"), procedimientos y regulaciones adicionales que establezcan las relaciones con sus abonados, en armonía con la normativa vigente.

(Así reformado mediante sesión ordinaria N° 15-2016 del 10 de marzo del 2016)

Los prestadores deben publicar en el diario oficial La Gaceta y en los medios que consideren oportunos, todo procedimiento o requisito referido a la prestación de los servicios y sus trámites cuando estos modifiquen o crean obligaciones o derechos, junto con los instructivos, reglamentos, manuales, formularios, protocolos y demás documentos complementarios. Estos documentos deben estar ubicados en los lugares de atención al público, así como en su sitio web, si contara con uno.

Los prestadores brindarán a sus abonados e interesados la información necesaria que les permita conocer las características de los servicios que reciben, las tarifas fijadas por la Autoridad Reguladora; los niveles de servicio exigidos y las acciones que implementará para alcanzarlos.

Es obligación del prestador informar oportunamente a los abonados los lugares y medios habilitados para la cancelación de las facturas.

Para el acceso a los servicios, las partes deberán suscribir el documento denominado "Condiciones de la prestación de los servicios de acueducto, alcantarillado sanitario e hidrantes".

Dicho documento con base en este reglamento y la legislación vigente, establecerá las condiciones que regirán la prestación de los servicios.

(Así reformado mediante sesión ordinaria N° 15-2016 del 10 de marzo del 2016)

Considerando lo establecido en este reglamento, los prestadores diseñarán el formato genérico del documento de "Condiciones de la prestación de los servicios de acueducto, alcantarillado sanitario e hidrantes", el cual será presentado a la ARESEP para su aprobación.

Para el caso de ASADAS el AyA deberá presentar dicho documento.

(Así reformado mediante sesión ordinaria N° 15-2016 del 10 de marzo del 2016)

DE LOS SERVICIOS

Los prestadores deben admitir solicitudes de servicio, sin discriminación de acceso, a quien cumpla con los requisitos y obligaciones respectivas.

Los servicios de acueducto y alcantarillado sanitario sólo podrán ser solicitados por el propietario o por quien ostente mediante las figuras de representación establecidas por el ordenamiento jurídico, la manifestación de voluntad del propietario.

Una vez cumplidos los requisitos y cancelada la tarifa respectiva, los prestadores contarán con un plazo máximo de ocho días naturales para realizar la conexión de cada servicio aprobado. Para la instalación de hidrómetros, se observarán las condiciones establecidas en la Norma Técnica de Hidrómetros.

(Así reformado mediante sesión ordinaria N° 15-2016 del 10 de marzo del 2016)

La prevista o conexión para los servicios de acueducto y alcantarillado sanitario, se ubicarán en la acera, zona pública o estructura construida expresamente para ello, según corresponda.

En todo inmueble en que haya más de una unidad de consumo, éstas deben tener, tanto para el servicio de acueducto como para el de alcantarillado sanitario, conexión independiente, y el servicio de acueducto debe tener su respectiva medición. Sólo se permitirá una conexión de cada servicio con varias unidades de consumo en los casos donde no sea técnicamente factible instalar conexiones independientes.

Se podrá solicitar para una misma propiedad varias conexiones y los prestadores las aprobarán si es técnicamente factible.

Los prestadores están obligados a atender toda solicitud de desconexión del servicio, siempre y cuando no haya pendientes de pago ni afectación a terceros de manera directa. Esta solicitud debe atenderse en un plazo máximo cinco días naturales contados a partir del recibido a satisfacción de todos los requisitos establecidos por el prestador.

(Así reformado mediante sesión ordinaria N° 15-2016 del 10 de marzo del 2016)

Los prestadores podrán negar un servicio cuando se presente cualquiera de las siguientes causales:

a. Incumplimiento a las leyes o regulaciones del servicio; b. Problemas en la red interna que pongan en peligro de contaminación el sistema público de acueducto; c. Peligro o emergencia debidamente identificada, que afecte a personas o propiedades privadas o públicas; d. Incapacidad o negativa para corregir cualquier deficiencia o defecto en el sistema interno que haya sido reportado por el prestador, o autoridad competente; e. La solicitud corresponda a un área declarada como zona de protección; f. El inmueble por servir se encuentre fuera del área de cobertura del prestador; y g. Que no sea técnicamente factible.

El prestador debe emitir en forma escrita la decisión y justificar las razones del rechazo, según el artículo 9 de este reglamento y dentro de los plazos establecidos en el artículo 11.

(Así reformado mediante sesión ordinaria N° 15-2016 del 10 de marzo del 2016)

Los prestadores podrán suspender el servicio de acueducto cuando se presente alguna de las siguientes causales:

a. Incumplimiento a las leyes o regulaciones del servicio; b. Problemas en la red interna que pongan en peligro de contaminación el sistema público de acueducto; c. En caso de peligro o emergencia debidamente identificados, que afecten a personas o propiedades privadas o públicas; d. Incapacidad o negativa para corregir cualquier deficiencia o defecto en el sistema interno que haya sido reportado por el prestador o autoridad competente; e. Falta de pago del servicio posterior al cumplimiento de la fecha de cancelación de la factura, siempre y cuando en la facturación entregada o dispuesta al abonado en el lugar o medio señalado, se indique la fecha de vencimiento. Posterior a ello, la suspensión se hará efectiva antes de la siguiente facturación, en caso de subsistir el incumplimiento de pago; f. Ceder el agua a un tercero; g. Utilizar el agua para usos no autorizados; h. Manipulación indebida comprobada de los accesorios de la conexión (hidrómetro, válvulas, tubería); i. Por conexiones ilícitas; y j. Incumplimiento de las restricciones de uso establecidas en condiciones de escasez.

Cuando se incurra en alguna de estas causales de suspensión del servicio, con excepción de la causal indicada en el inciso e., y así se haya determinado siguiendo el debido proceso; el prestador comunicará al abonado la fecha de suspensión en el medio señalado y con 24 horas de anticipación.

(Así reformado mediante session ordinaria N° 15-2016 del 10 de marzo del 2016)

El servicio de acueducto no podrá ser suspendido por la falta de pago de servicios de otra naturaleza diferente a un servicio público regulado por la Autoridad Reguladora que brinde el prestador.

La suspensión del servicio no procede cuando:

a. El abonado esté al día con la última facturación; b. El abonado esté al día con la última facturación, aunque tenga facturaciones anteriores pendientes de pago.

c. El abonado demuestre a la cuadrilla de corta que ha cancelado la factura, aún en fecha posterior al vencimiento; y d. Sea viernes, sábado, domingo o día anterior a un feriado, salvo si al día siguiente el prestador tiene habilitado el servicio de recaudación y reconexión.

El prestador debe notificar al abonado su condición de moroso; asimismo, pondrá a disposición de sus abonados medios electrónicos para consultar su estado de cuenta.

(Así reformado mediante sesión ordinaria N° 15-2016 del 10 de marzo del 2016)

El prestador del servicio restaurará la conexión del servicio en un plazo no mayor a las 24 horas naturales, si ese día corresponde al prestador cerrar sus oficinas, deberá realizarla el día hábil siguiente.

Para ambos casos una vez corregida la causa de la suspensión.

(Así reformado mediante sesión ordinaria N° 15-2016 del 10 de marzo del 2016)

Este artículo fue reubicado y será el número 41.

(Así reformado mediante sesión ordinaria N° 15-2016 del 10 de marzo del 2016)

El prestador deberá tramitar, investigar y resolver las quejas y denuncias presentadas por la prestación del servicio, de acuerdo con los plazos y procedimientos establecidos en la Ley General de la Administración Pública N°6227.

En el caso de quejas referidas a la calidad del agua, el prestador está obligado a tramitar la queja y ejecutar una solución temporal en menos de 48 horas, especialmente si la situación pueda crear riesgo sanitario, y ésta atente contra la salud pública o el ambiente.

(Así reformado mediante sesión ordinaria N° 15-2016 del 10 de marzo del 2016)

Ante la interposición de una queja por alto consumo, el prestador deberá:

a. Hacer una visita de campo para identificar si existen causas asignables al operador o al abonado que afectan los registros de consumo.

i. Si las causas son asignables al operador, modificar la factura afectada con base en el consumo promedio normal.

ii. Si no se identifican causas asignables al operador o al abonado y el hidrómetro en uso supera los 1000 m3 acumulados de consumo, verificar la precisión de la medición del hidrómetro, mediante pruebas técnicas establecidas en la Norma Técnica de Hidrómetros, AR-HSA-2008. Si el resultado de las pruebas determina inexactitud de la medición, el costo será asumido por el prestador, caso contrario, lo asume el abonado b. Realizar el cobro del monto reclamado posterior a la emisión de la resolución final del proceso; c. Realizar el cobro del monto del mes siguiente con base en el consumo real indicado por el hidrómetro; Tratándose de quejas presentadas ante la Autoridad Reguladora sin haber sido interpuestas previamente ante el operador, posterior a la notificación de la ARESEP del inicio del trámite de la queja, el prestador aplicará el procedimiento antes indicado.

Los prestadores cuando detecten un alto consumo deberán notificarlo al abonado en un plazo máximo de 10 días naturales, en el medio señalado por el abonado.

(Así reformado mediante sesión ordinaria N° 15-2016 del 10 de marzo del 2016)

Para el cobro de facturaciones pendientes de pago, el prestador podrá formalizar arreglos de pago o realizar el procedimiento correspondiente, ya sea en la vía administrativa o judicial.

Las denuncias no estarán sujetas a formalidades, por lo que pueden plantearse personalmente o por cualquier medio de comunicación que el operador habilite para este fin, siendo suficiente que el denunciante especifique la irregularidad y su ubicación.

El prestador deberá tramitarlas de forma expedita, realizando los análisis técnicos y legales requeridos, especialmente si la situación puede crear riesgo sanitario, atentar contra a la salud pública o el ambiente. Los resultados de la misma deben comunicarse al interesado, en caso de haber indicado medio para atender notificaciones.

Los prestadores están obligados a indicar los lugares o medios necesarios para recibir quejas y denuncias las veinticuatro horas del día, durante los trescientos sesenta y cinco días del año. Estos serán indicados en las facturas de cobro del servicio o en los medios que consideren necesarios.

Pueden presentarse quejas por facturación errónea en los siguientes casos:

a. Factura cancelada: Si se identificara un error en una factura cancelada, tanto el prestador como el abonado, podrán gestionar la recuperación de la respectiva diferencia a su favor.

La diferencia se debe recuperar o reintegrar en un plazo máximo de quince días naturales o en la siguiente facturación b. Factura no cancelada: De presentarse una queja por una factura emitida pero no cancelada, el prestador deberá suspender la obligación de pago de esa factura, hasta tanto se emita la resolución final, y:

i. Si la gestión se resuelve a favor del abonado, con base en la resolución final, el prestador modificará el monto a pagar y le comunicará al abonado formalmente en el medio o lugar ofrecido.

ii. Si la gestión es rechazada, con base en la resolución final, el prestador, comunicará al abonado formalmente en el medio o lugar ofrecido, el nuevo plazo de vencimiento y el monto pendiente de pago. No cobrará recargos por mora desde el vencimiento hasta la fecha de notificación de la resolución final.

En todos los casos el nuevo plazo de vencimiento no será inferior a cinco días hábiles a partir de la fecha de notificación. En caso de morosidad se seguirá con el proceso de cobro establecido.

(Así reformado mediante sesión ordinaria N° 15-2016 del 10 de marzo del 2016)

Si el abonado o usuario debidamente autorizado, interpone una queja ante el prestador, éste deberá resolverle en forma escrita, dentro de los quince días naturales siguientes al recibo de la gestión, pudiendo dicho plazo extenderse hasta un mes, dada la complejidad de la queja.

Si el prestador rechaza dicha gestión, deberá fundamentar por escrito su decisión.

(Así reformado mediante sesión ordinaria N° 15-2016 del 10 de marzo del 2016)

Todos los consumos del servicio de acueducto, incluyendo los servicios especiales, deben ser medidos, siempre que técnicamente sea factible, según lo establece la Norma Técnica de Hidrómetros.

(Así reformado mediante sesión ordinaria N° 15-2016 del 10 de marzo del 2016)

El sistema de lectura de los hidrómetros debe ser permanente, mensual o bimestral, de tal forma que los ciclos de lectura mantengan uniformidad en el período de consumo.

El prestador está obligado a reparar, corregir o reemplazar los hidrómetros dentro del plazo máximo de diez días naturales después de detectar que el mismo presenta condiciones de registro fuera de los porcentajes de error permitidos por la normativa vigente.

La facturación del mes en el cual se presentó la condición antes indicada se realizará con base en el consumo promedio normal del abonado.

(Así reformado mediante sesión ordinaria N° 15-2016 del 10 de marzo del 2010)

El prestador emitirá y pondrá al cobro una única factura la cual será mensual e incluirá todos los servicios prestados a los que se refiere este reglamento.

La factura puede ser física o electrónica. Si un abonado no tiene o no puede acceder los medios digitales, debe indicarlo al prestador, quien deberá realizar el cobro mediante factura física.

(Así reformado mediante sesión ordinaria N° 15-2016 del 10 de marzo del 2016)

La facturación por los servicios de acueducto, alcantarillado sanitario e hidrantes estará basada en los volúmenes de agua consumidos:

a. Para el servicio de acueducto: en el valor reportado por la medición directa con hidrómetro; b. Para los servicios de alcantarillado sanitario e hidrantes: en el consumo del servicio de acueducto o en el consumo del abastecimiento de agua propio cuando se dé esta situación. En ambos casos, el operador deberá instalar un hidrómetro para medir el consumo de agua; y c. Cuando no sea técnicamente factible instalar el hidrómetro, en el consumo promedio de la categoría tarifaria a la que pertenece, definido por la ARESEP en el último estudio tarifario.

(Así reformado mediante sesión ordinaria N° 15-2016 del 10 de marzo del 2016)

En caso de lectura bimestral o cuando no sea posible efectuar la lectura del hidrómetro, la facturación de los meses sin lectura, se hará con base en un consumo estimado del abonado, no se deberán realizar dos facturaciones estimadas consecutivas; salvo que exista caso fortuito, fuerza mayor, o en casos no controlados por el prestador y debidamente justificados y probados por este.

(Así reformado mediante sesión ordinaria N° 15-2016 del 10 de marzo del 2016)

Los abonados del servicio de acueducto que reciban un servicio discontinuo cuya causa no sea caso fortuito, fuerza mayor; suspensiones programadas por mantenimiento, realización de mejoras o nuevas inversiones o daño causado por terceros; sino atribuible al prestador, durante el periodo de incumplimiento no se les cobrará el cargo fijo, en el caso de que no exista cargo fijo, se aplicará una disminución del 50% del monto de la factura.

El ajuste del monto será aplicable cuando la discontinuidad implique:

a. Prestación del servicio menor a 16 horas naturales diarias durante al menos 20 días naturales al mes y b. Suspensión del servicio durante 24 horas naturales por más de tres días naturales consecutivos o más de 7 días naturales no consecutivos, ambos en el mismo mes.

La provisión de agua mediante sistemas alternativos de abastecimiento no eximirá al prestador de aplicar la excepción al pago del cargo fijo o la disminución del 50% del monto de la factura.

Las consideraciones de caso fortuito o fuerza mayor deben ser determinadas mediante evaluación del área técnica del prestador o demostradas por el abonado a la Autoridad Reguladora.

(Así reformado mediante sesión ordinaria N° 15-2016 del 10 de marzo del 2016)

Al abonado que se le suspenda el servicio de acueducto por causas no atribuibles al prestador, deberá cancelar el cargo fijo durante todo el periodo de suspensión.

El prestador debe comunicar al abonado esta situación.

Los abonados del servicio de acueducto que reciban agua que incumple las normas y principios de calidad establecidas, siempre y cuando dicho incumplimiento no sea atribuible a, caso fortuito, fuerza mayor o daño a terceros; sino atribuible al prestador, durante el periodo de incumplimiento pagarán únicamente el monto correspondiente al cargo fijo, en el caso de que no exista cargo fijo, pagarán el 50% de la factura por el servicio.

Para la aplicación del ajuste en el monto de la facturación, el abonado deberá presentar las pruebas que demuestren los hechos, y si el operador conoce de los hechos debe aplicar el no cobro de oficio a todos los abonados afectados.

(Así reformado mediante sesión ordinaria N° 15-2016 del 10 de marzo del 2016)

Cuando por razones técnicas un prestador debe brindar el servicio de acueducto y otro prestador el de alcantarillado sanitario, deberán firmar un convenio y comunicarlo en forma escrita a los abonados en esta condición. El prestador del servicio de acueducto deberá facturar el costo de ambos servicios según las tarifas fijadas por la Autoridad Reguladora para cada prestador y trasladar mensualmente al prestador del servicio de alcantarillado sanitario el monto correspondiente, previa cancelación de los costos de transacción acordados en el convenio.

Para el caso de ASADAS el convenio debe ser previamente validado por el AyA.

(Así reformado mediante sesión ordinaria N° 15-2016 del 10 de marzo del 2016)

El agua que sea utilizada para el combate de incendios, prácticas, simulacros, emergencias y otras actividades similares, no será facturada por los prestadores, pero el consumo debe ser contabilizado mensualmente. Será obligación de cada prestador coordinar con el Benemérito Cuerpo de Bomberos de Costa Rica el reporte de esta información.

Cuando se presenten quejas por altas facturaciones o altos consumos, y existan dudas con respecto al consumo registrado por el hidrómetro, el prestador deberá hacer una vista de campo para conocer el funcionamiento de este dispositivo, en la cual el abonado o su representante podrán estar presentes.

Si no se identifican causas asignables al operador o al abonado y el hidrómetro en uso supera un volumen acumulado los 1000 m3, el prestador deberá verificar la precisión de la medición a través de la pruebas técnicas establecidas en la Norma Técnica de Hidrómetros, AR-HSA-2008; debiendo el prestador comunicar al abonado el resultado en el plazo de 8 días naturales.

El costo de la revisión correrá por cuenta del solicitante, excepto que se compruebe el mal funcionamiento del hidrómetro.

(Así reformado mediante sesión ordinaria N° 15-2016 del 10 de marzo del 2016)

Para la desinstalación y el traslado de hidrómetros en operación, el prestador debe establecer procedimientos que aseguren que estas acciones no alteren sus características operativas.

La factura, impresa o digital, debe contener como mínimo:

a. Nombre y logotipo del prestador; b. Cédula jurídica, dirección física, electrónica o sitio web, números de teléfonos y fax del prestador; c. Nombre del abonado; d. Localización; e. Número de identificación del servicio; f. Número de medidor; g. Periodo al cobro; h. Fecha de vencimiento; i. Fecha y lectura anterior; j. Fecha y lectura actual; k. Número de días del periodo de cobro; l. Número de factura; m. Consumo mensual, n. Tipo de tarifa; o. Historial de consumo de los últimos seis meses; p. Desglose del monto por tipo de servicio y tarifa; q. Monto por pagar por arreglos de pago, de existir; r. Monto total; s. Monto del cargo por mora; t. Espacio para avisos, por ejemplo:

i. Cantidad de facturas y montos pendientes de pago, ii. Notificación del corte de servicio por no pago, iii. Notificación de cambios generales o individuales de tarifas, iv. Notificación de un alto consumo, u. Indicar si el consumo es estimado; v. Número de teléfono y correo electrónico para reportar averías; y w. El número 8000 ARESEP (8000-273737) y el correo: [email protected] (Así reformado mediante sesión ordinaria N° 15-2016 del 10 de marzo del 2016)

El prestador entregará o pondrá a disposición del abonado la factura correspondiente al consumo de sus servicios, con un mínimo de 10 días naturales antes del vencimiento, en el lugar o por el medio señalado por el abonado.

(Así reformado mediante sesión ordinaria N° 15-2016 del 10 de marzo del 2016)

Cuando un servicio ha sido prestado por un tiempo menor al ciclo de facturación, para su cobro, se procederá de la siguiente manera:

a. El cargo fijo: Este monto no será afectado; b. El consumo:

i. Si se trata de un servicio medido, se facturará según el registro de medición indicado por el hidrómetro.

ii. Si se trata de servicio fijo, se cobrará proporcionalmente la cantidad de días durante la cual se prestó efectivamente el servicio.

(Así reformado mediante sesión ordinaria N° 15-2016 del 10 de marzo del 2016)

Para una conexión que abastece a varias unidades de consumo, el prestador emitirá una sola factura, en la cual incluirá el cobro por los servicios de acueducto, hidrantes, alcantarillado sanitario y gestión ambiental (tarifa hídrica) y el monto a pagar se establecerá de la siguiente manera:

I. Para tarifas de la categoría domiciliaria

i. Si la conexión es medida:

a. Para acueducto o alcantarillado sanitario: el cargo fijo de acueducto o alcantarillado sanitario más el producto de la tarifa respectiva por el consumo individual. Este valor se multiplica por el número de unidades de consumo.

[Cargo fijo(ac o alc) + (tarifa (aco lc) x consumo individual)] x # unidades de consumo b. Para hidrantes y gestión ambiental (tarifa hídrica): se multiplica la tarifa respectiva por el consumo individual y este producto multiplicado por el número de unidades de consumo.

Monto=[(tarifa (hidrantes o gestión ambiental) X consumo individual) x # unidades consumo] El consumo individual se obtiene de dividir el consumo total registrado por el hidrómetro entre la cantidad de unidades de consumo.

consumo individual= consumo total(m3) --------------------------- # unidades consumo El monto total de la factura es la suma de los montos individuales de cada servicio: acueducto, alcantarillado sanitario, hidrantes y gestión ambiental (tarifa hídrica).

El número de unidades de consumo debe establecerse mediante prueba de abastecimiento realizada de oficio por el prestador.

ii. Si la conexión es sin medición (servicio fijo) a. Para acueducto o alcantarillado sanitario: el cargo fijo de acueducto o alcantarillado sanitario más la tarifa respectiva, este valor se multiplica por la cantidad de unidades de consumo.

Monto = [cargo fijo (ac o alc) + tarifa fija (ac o alc) ] X # unidades consumo b. Para hidrantes y gestión ambiental (tarifa hídrica): la tarifa fija de hidrantes o gestión ambiental se multiplica por la cantidad de unidades de consumo.

Monto =[ tarifa fija (hidrantes o gestión amb.) x # unidades consumo] El monto total de la factura es la suma de los montos individuales de cada servicio: acueducto, alcantarillado sanitario, hidrantes y gestión ambiental (tarifa hídrica).

II. Para las otras categorías tarifarias

i.Si la conexión es medida:

a. Para acueducto y alcantarillado sanitario: el cargo fijo de acueducto o alcantarillado sanitario se suma al producto de la tarifa de acueducto o alcantarillado sanitario por el consumo total registrado por el hidrómetro.

Monto=[cargo fijo (ac, alc,) x # unidades de consumo + (tarifa(ac oalc) x consumo total registrado) ] b. Para hidrantes y gestión ambiental (tarifa hídrica): la tarifa de hidrantes o gestión ambiental se multiplica por el consumo total registrado por el hidrómetro.

Monto=[tarifa (hidrantes o gestión amb.) x consumo total registrado ] ii. Si la conexión es sin medición (servicio fijo):

a. Para acueducto y alcantarillado sanitario: el cargo fijo de acueducto o alcantarillado sanitario más la tarifa fija respectiva, este valor multiplicado por el número de unidades de consumo.

Monto=[cargo fijo (ac o alc) + tarifa (ac o alc) ] x # unidades consumo b. Para hidrantes y gestión ambiental (tarifa hídrica): la tarifa de hidrante o gestión ambiental multiplicada por el número de unidades de consumo.

Monto=[ tarifa (hidrantes o gestión ambiental) x # unidades consumo ] El monto total de la factura es la suma de los montos individuales de cada servicio: acueducto, alcantarillado sanitario, hidrantes y gestión ambiental (tarifa hídrica).

Para todos los casos, si los servicios de alcantarillado sanitario y gestión ambiental no se brindan; no aplica el cobro, excepto para el servicio de alcantarillado sanitario cuando este sea técnicamente factible de ser brindado y el interesado no realice los trámites y obras necesarias para la autorización del servicio.

Para las ASADAS, según su estructura tarifaria, el concepto de cargo fijo se sustituye por tarifa base.

Cuando en una misma conexión existan diferentes usos del agua, el prestador:

a. Realizará la facturación del consumo con la tarifa de la categoría más alta.

b. Notificará al abonado sobre la aplicación tarifaria para que, en el plazo de dos meses independice los servicios.

c. Reclasificará el servicio con la tarifa aplicada, si cumplido el plazo, el abonado no realiza lo solicitado.

d. Aplicará a todo el consumo la tarifa domiciliaria, sí el uso del agua adicional al domiciliario no requiere del permiso sanitario.

(Así reformado mediante sesión ordinaria N° 15-2016 del 10 de marzo del 2016)

Cuando se identifique una conexión ilícita:

a. Si el servicio ha sido suspendido y el abonado reconecta ilícitamente el servicio, el prestador lo suspenderá nuevamente. El prestador para reconectarlo cobrará la tarifa por reconexión del servicio y facturará el consumo desde la fecha de suspensión hasta la última desconexión el monto equivalente al consumo estimado si el servicio es medido, o la tarifa fija si el servicio es sin medición; b. Si el servicio es conectado ilícitamente en más de dos ocasiones, el prestador procederá a eliminar la prevista y cobrar el consumo estimado si el servicio es medido, o la tarifa fija si el servicio es sin medición; c. Para volver a instalar el servicio, el prestador debe asegurarse que el interesado esté al día con sus compromisos y cobrar el monto correspondiente a un servicio nuevo sin prevista, además de los otros cargos que apliquen; d. En los casos de conexiones ilícitas realizadas para abastecer viviendas unifamiliares, previa verificación del cumplimiento de requisitos y el pago de la respectiva tarifa por conexión de un nuevo servicio, el operador deberá formalizarlos como abonados regulares y realizar el cobro de los consumos evadidos por un periodo mínimo de seis meses o mayor con fundamento en las pruebas que el operador tenga acceso, y e. En los demás casos de conexiones ilícitas, el prestador está obligado a suspender el servicio y recuperar los costos en que incurrió durante el período de uso ilícito del servicio, así como los ingresos no recibidos por los consumos evadidos, por un periodo de hasta seis meses. Lo anterior con fundamento en las pruebas a las que el operador tenga acceso.

En todos los casos el prestador debe seguir el debido proceso y emprenderá las acciones judiciales que sean legalmente pertinentes, así como aplicar el procedimiento para refacturar.

(Así reformado mediante sesión ordinaria N° 15-2016 del 10 de marzo del 2016)

Una factura puesta al cobro se deberá anular y refacturar o emitir una nota de crédito o débito según corresponda, cuando se determine que existen:

a. Errores en la facturación; b. Errores en la lectura del hidrómetro; c. Afectación de la medición del consumo por fugas en la parte pública del sistema; d. Afectación de la medición por presiones superiores a las permitidas según la normativa vigente; y e. Otras c usas determinadas por el prestador o la Autoridad Reguladora, cumpliendo con el debido proceso.

(Así reformado mediante sesión ordinaria N° 15-2016 del 10 de marzo del 2016)

Los prestadores a solicitud del abonado, deberán efectuar ajustes a las facturas por altos consumos cuando procedan las siguientes condiciones:

a. Hasta dos facturas emitidas consecutivamente cada dieciocho facturaciones; b. Para las categorías domiciliaria y preferencial; c. Que la primera de las dos facturas emitidas consecutivamente, registre medición igual o superior a 40 metros cúbicos.

d. Que el prestador compruebe que el incremento en el consumo se originó por una fuga.

Para la aplicación de nuevos ajustes, el abonado deberá demostrar que realizó las reparaciones pertinentes.

Si el alto consumo se genera por problemas en la red del prestador, como altas presiones, el prestador deberá realizar todos los ajustes que sean necesarios no pudiendo cobrar los altos consumos registrados.

El ajuste en la facturación se realizará con base en el consumo promedio normal del abonado y la respectiva tarifa según el uso que se realiza y la estructura tarifaria vigente.

(Así reformado mediante sesión ordinaria N° 15-2016 del 10 de marzo del 2016)

Se presentarán modificaciones en la facturación por:

a. Cambio individual del tipo de tarifa. La modificación del tipo de tarifa se justifica en un cambio de uso del agua, se aplicará a partir de la fecha de la orden de servicio, documento en el cual se determinará el cambio; y b. Cambio general de las tarifas. Regirán a partir de su publicación en el diario oficial La Gaceta o a partir del momento en que lo indique la resolución emitida por la Autoridad Reguladora.

c. Cambio por modificación del nivel de servicio.

(Así reformado mediante sesión ordinaria N° 15-2016 del 10 de marzo del 2016)

Los prestadores están obligados a:

a. Cobrar por todos los servicios que tengan tarifa autorizada; b. Implementar una gestión eficiente de cobro y de recuperación de montos pendientes de pago; c. Poner a disposición de los abonados las facturas al cobro por los servicios prestados, en forma física o digital; y d. Entregar al abonado, si lo solicita, factura física por los servicios brindados; y e. Entregar al abonado, si lo solicita, el resultado de la lectura efectuada.

El servicio para fuentes públicas de ornato se facturará con base en el consumo registrado y conforme la metodología y régimen tarifario aprobado por la Autoridad Reguladora. En el caso de las fuentes públicas de ornato operadas por los prestadores, se registrará el consumo mensual, el cual se integrará al sistema comercial.

PROYECTOS DE CONSUMO MASIVO Y EXTENSIONES DE LOS SISTEMAS

Los prestadores deben asegurarse que en los nuevos proyectos de consumo masivo se construya la totalidad de las redes de los servicios y las mismas sean conectadas a los sistemas existentes siguiendo las normas de diseño y construcción vigentes.

Los prestadores no están en la obligación de financiar la ampliación de los sistemas de acueductos y alcantarillado sanitario, incluidas las fuentes de abastecimiento, si dichos proyectos no están contemplados en el PMYES. Para esos efectos, podrán recurrir a la participación de la inversión privada siempre que así lo determinen los estudios técnicos correspondientes que respalden su factibilidad, sin que con ello se comprometa la demanda de los abonados actuales, ni se atente contra el interés público.

(Así reformado mediante sesión ordinaria N° 15-2016 del 10 de marzo del 2016)

Las extensiones de los sistemas pueden ser ejecutadas por el prestador o por un tercero bajo la supervisión del titular del servicio. Toda la infraestructura debe ser traspasada al prestador para su operación, mantenimiento y reposición futura.

Con el fin de habilitar más servicios en una zona determinada, bajo el concepto de participación de la inversión privada, un particular podrá costear y ejecutar obras tendientes a mejorar o ampliar los sistemas de acueductos y alcantarillados sanitarios existentes, lo anterior bajo la aprobación, fiscalización y seguimiento del prestador. Una vez concluida la infraestructura, ésta será donada a título gratuito, junto con los terrenos y servidumbres libres de gravámenes y anotaciones sobre los cuales pesan las obras, lo anterior para la debida operación, mantenimiento y administración por parte del operador.

(Así reformado mediante sesión ordinaria N° 15-2016 del 10 de marzo del 2016)

El prestador deberá velar porque, en los diseños de las obras que un particular pretenda costear y ejecutar, se prevea un dimensionamiento suficiente que permita resguardar la dotación de los abonados actuales y los futuros en resguardo del interés público. Asimismo, el operador deberá velar que estas obras sean compatibles con las exigencias técnicas para procurar el abastecimiento de los hidrantes.

(Así reformado mediante sesión ordinaria N° 15-2016 del 10 de marzo del 2016)

Para financiar las inversiones futuras y que un proyecto de consumo masivo no afecte la gestión del servicio programada, los prestadores de servicio podrán recurrir a la figura de financiamiento denominada "Aporte para Nuevos Desarrollos".

DEL ABONADO

Los principales derechos de los abonados son los siguientes:

a. Recibir los servicios en condiciones de prestación óptima; b. Ser atendido oportunamente y recibir respuestas de sus gestiones en los plazos establecidos por Ley; c. Recibir en forma gratuita, toda información específica y razonable que le permita:

i. Ejercer sus derechos, ii. Hacer uso y disposición apropiada de los servicios, iii. Conocer las condiciones de prestación, el PMYES, los precios y tarifas de los servicios, iv. Conocer las propuestas y estudios de modificación de precios y tarifas, y v. Prevenir riesgos.

d. Reclamar ante el prestador o ante la Autoridad Reguladora cuando:

i. Se compruebe que los servicios no cumplen con las metas cualitativas y cuantitativas fijadas, ii. Se produzcan alteraciones en la facturación por altos consumos o porque las tarifas no coincidan con las fijadas por la Autoridad Reguladora y iii. El prestador incumpla con las obligaciones establecidas en la Ley de la Autoridad Reguladora N°7593.

e. Disponer de la información de su factura con la debida antelación a su vencimiento, en el tiempo establecido y por el medio o lugar señalado, f. Solicitar modificaciones y consultas sobre los servicios, como:

i. Independización del servicio por segregación de la propiedad, ii. Cambio de diámetro de la conexión, iii. Traslados del punto de conexión, iv. Desconexión de los servicios, v. Lugar o medio para el envío de facturas, vi. Nombre de la cuenta o contrato, vii. Cambio de tarifa por modificación del uso del servicio, viii.Emisión de duplicado de factura, ix. Estados de cuentas e historiales de pago, x. Certificaciones y constancias sobre los servicios: disponibilidad, situación de pago, historial de consumo, etc., xi. Otros trámites relacionados con los servicios, g. Recibir comunicación oportuna sobre suspensiones de servicio y en caso necesario, sobre abastecimiento alterno de agua potable, y h. Ser notificado cuando se presente un alto consumo.

Para realizar estos trámites y ejercer sus derechos, el abonado deberá presentar los requisitos establecidos por el prestador del servicio. Tratándose del usuario deberá este además ostentar representación jurídica que manifieste la voluntad del abonado.

Los principales deberes de los abonados son los siguientes:

a. Mantener en buen estado de funcionamiento sus instalaciones interiores; b. Hacer uso de las instalaciones de acuerdo con este reglamento; c. Dar a los servicios el uso exclusivo para el que fueron contratados; d. Los abonados que depositan aguas no ordinarias, darle el tratamiento previo que exige el reglamento de vertidos; e. Mantener separados los sistemas internos de aguas pluviales y aguas residuales; f. Mantener libre de todo tipo de obstrucciones la caja de registro del alcantarillado sanitario y la caja de protección del hidrómetro; g. Pagar oportunamente y en el plazo fijado sus compromisos con el prestador de servicio; h. Cumplir oportunamente con sus obligaciones establecidas en el documento "Condiciones de la Prestación de los Servicios de Acueducto, Alcantarillado Sanitario e Hidrantes" o las que le indique el prestador para mejorar el servicio; y i. Permitir al personal autorizado y debidamente identificado del prestador, acceso a su domicilio para realizar acciones propias de su labor.

j. De acuerdo con la Ley General de Salud, conectarse al sistema de alcantarillado Sanitario si éste está en funcionamiento y el servicio es técnicamente factible de ser brindado.

(Así reformado mediante sesión ordinaria N° 15-2016 del 10 de marzo del 2016)

TARIFAS Y APORTES

Los prestadores cobrarán las tarifas y precios fijados por la Autoridad Reguladora para la prestación de los servicios de acueducto, alcantarillado sanitario, hidrantes, especiales, conexos y gestión ambiental.

Si el abonado se encuentra conectado a los servicios que brinda el prestador, pero no hace uso de ellos, deberá cancelar las respectivas tarifas por servicios fijos autorizadas por la Autoridad Reguladora.

(Así reformado mediante sesión ordinaria N° 15-2016 del 10 de marzo del 2016)

La Autoridad Reguladora establecerá el modelo, la metodología y la estructura tarifaria para la gestión ambiental y los servicios referidos en este Reglamento.

El aporte para nuevos desarrollos es el monto que debe pagar el desarrollador de un proyecto de consumo masivo para financiar las inversiones necesarias para la ampliación, mejoras y modificaciones de los servicios, de manera que el nuevo desarrollo no afecte la gestión programada por el prestador.

Se exceptúan del pago del aporte por nuevos desarrollos a los proyectos habitacionales de interés social.

PROTECCIÓN DEL AMBIENTE

Para la utilización racional del recurso hídrico, la continuidad y sostenibilidad de los servicios, el prestador deberá implementar las acciones necesarias para su protección, conservación, recuperación y preservación a través de planes de gestión ambiental, cuyos costos podrán ser reconocidos mediante una tarifa denominada Tarifa de Gestión Ambiental.

Los prestadores deberán remitir quinquenalmente a la Autoridad Reguladora un programa de protección del recurso hídrico, el cual debe considerar todos los impactos negativos y positivos sobre el medio ambiente que puedan generar brindar los servicios, así como las acciones correctivas respectivas.

(Así reformado mediante sesión ordinaria N° 15-2016 del 10 de marzo del 2016)

Los prestadores deberán realizar sus funciones utilizando procesos amigables con el ambiente; es decir, que prevenga, limite, minimice o repare los daños al medio ambiente.

Todo prestador que incumpla este Reglamento se hará acreedor de las sanciones establecidas en la Ley N° 7593 y sus reformas, así como las definidas en el ordenamiento jurídico vigente.

En caso de que alguna disposición emitida por los prestadores se contraponga a este Reglamento, el prestador deberá aplicar lo aquí dispuesto.

Las reformas al reglamento: "Prestación de los Servicios de Acueducto, Alcantarillado Sanitario e Hidrantes, AR-PSAYA- 2013", rigen a partir de la fecha de su publicación en La Gaceta, excepto para las Asociaciones Administradoras de Sistemas de Acueductos y Alcantarillados Comunales (ASADAS) cuyas reformas les regirán en la misma fecha en que entre en vigencia para ellas, el Reglamento: "Prestación de los Servicios de Acueducto, Alcantarillado Sanitario e Hidrantes, ARPSAYA-2013", publicado en el alcance N°50 a La Gaceta N° 186 del 29 de setiembre del 2014, con excepción de los plazos establecidos en los Transitorios de esta reforma.

(Así reformado mediante sesión ordinaria N° 15-2016 del 10 de marzo del 2016)

La información requerida de las ASADAS en los transitorios, debe ser presentada por el AYA como titular del servicio, en el plazo establecido en cada transitorio. Para efectos de cumplimiento de reglamento "Prestación de los Servicios de Acueducto, Alcantarillado Sanitario e Hidrantes, ARPSAYA-2013" y esta reforma, el AyA debe clasificar las ASADAS en tres categorías: A, B y, C.

(Así adicionado mediante sesión ordinaria N° 15-2016 del 10 de marzo del 2016)

TRANSITORIOS

Los prestadores deberán remitir a la Autoridad Reguladora el plan para la atención de emergencias y desastres aprobado por la CNE, en un plazo de dieciocho meses a partir de la publicación de esta reforma. El AYA deberá remitir el plan de las ASADAS categorías A en un plazo de 18 meses, el de las ASADAS categorías B y C en un plazo de 24 meses.

(Así reformado mediante sesión ordinaria N° 15-2016 del 10 de marzo del 2016)

Los prestadores que no posean el servicio permanente de atención al usuario, se les concede para implementarlo, un plazo de doce meses a partir de la publicación de esta reforma. Para las ASADAS categorías A, un plazo de 18 meses; para las ASADAS categorías B y C un plazo de 24 meses.

(Así reformado mediante sesión ordinaria N° 15-2016 del 10 de marzo del 2016)

Los prestadores deberán remitir a la Autoridad Reguladora el "Programa de Mejoras y Expansión Continua de los Servicios" en un plazo de dieciocho meses a partir de la publicación de esta reforma. El AYA deberá remitir el programa de las ASADAS categorías A en un plazo de 18 meses, el de las ASADAS categorías B en un plazo de 24 meses y para las ASADAS categorías C en un plazo de 36 meses.

(Así reformado mediante sesión ordinaria N° 15-2016 del 10 de marzo del 2016)

Los prestadores deben cumplir con los "sistemas de información" en un plazo de veinticuatro meses a partir de la publicación de esta reforma. El AYA deberá informar de ese cumplimiento para las ASADAS categorías A en un plazo de 24 meses, para las ASADAS categorías B, en un plazo de 30 meses y para las ASADAS categorías C en un plazo de 36 meses.

(Así reformado mediante sesión ordinaria N° 15-2016 del 10 de marzo del 2016)

Los prestadores que posean laboratorios para verificar sistemas de medición o conteo deben estar acreditados ante el ECA o la autoridad competente en un plazo de veinticuatro meses a partir de la publicación de esta reforma.

(Así reformado mediante sesión ordinaria N° 15-2016 del 10 de marzo del 2016)

Los prestadores deben remitir a la Autoridad Reguladora el primer "Programa de Protección del Recuso hídrico", en un plazo de dieciocho meses a partir de la publicación de esta reforma. El AYA deberá remitir el programa de las ASADAS categorías A en un plazo de 18 meses, el de las ASADAS categorías B en un plazo de 24 meses y para las ASADAS categorías C en un plazo de 36 meses.

(Así reformado mediante sesión ordinaria N° 15-2016 del 10 de marzo del 2016)

Los prestadores deben remitir a la Autoridad Reguladora el formato del documento "Condiciones de la prestación de los servicios de acueducto, alcantarillado sanitario e hidrantes" en un plazo de seis meses a partir de la publicación de esta reforma. El AYA deberá remitir el documento de las tres categorías de ASADAS en un plazo de ocho meses.

(Así reformado mediante sesión ordinaria N° 15-2016 del 10 de marzo del 2016)

Cada prestador debe remitir a la Autoridad Reguladora un " Plan de implementación de este reglamento" en un plazo de cinco meses a partir de la publicación de esta reforma. El AYA deberá remitir el plan de las ASADAS categorías A en un plazo de 11 meses, el de las ASADAS categorías B y C en un plazo de 16 meses.

(Así adicionado mediante sesión ordinaria N° 15-2016 del 10 de marzo del 2016)