The DIGH shall provide services within the framework of this regulation, which shall consist of:
7.1 General Finding (Dictamen General) This corresponds to technical pronouncements regarding hydrogeological conditions, the criterion issued by SENARA being required to carry out procedures in public or private entities, or by private parties, or for a specific interest of the applicant.
The general finding (dictamen general) shall indicate, based on existing hydrogeological data, the intrinsic or specific vulnerability to the quality and quantity that could affect the groundwater resource due to the development of the activity, work, or project, based on the project description and the hydrogeological information available in SENARA.
Once the General Finding is prepared, the resolution shall be sent to the user via email, to the address duly indicated in their request, or through the digital platform provided by SENARA.
7.2 Detailed Finding (Dictamen detallado) This is carried out based on exhaustive local hydrogeological studies prepared by the user to determine the hydrogeological conditions, the intrinsic and specific vulnerability to contamination of aquifer layers (mantos acuíferos) in a given area, and aquifer recharge, which must comply with the terms of reference established and published by SENARA. The resolution of these findings shall be used to carry out procedures in Public Institutions, or also for a specific interest of the applicant for productive or construction activities, works, or projects.
The terms of reference, as well as the documentation to be included in the hydrogeological studies, are defined by the DIGH and are available to users on the SENARA website.
In the detailed findings (dictámenes detallados), a criterion shall be issued on the conditions under which the intended activity, work, or project will be developed, based on the local hydrogeological studies provided by the interested party and the hydrogeological information available in SENARA.
Once the Detailed Finding is prepared, the resolution shall be sent to the user via email, to the address duly indicated in their request, or through the digital platform provided by SENARA.
7.3 Certifications of technical hydrogeological information This consists of the preparation of a certified document issued by the Dirección de Investigación y Gestión Hídrica, regarding the existing technical hydrogeological information registered in SENARA, according to the geographical-administrative location and the coordinates provided by the user. The certifications may include a list from the SENARA database of wells and springs located near the area where the project is intended to be developed, as well as information from vulnerability maps and recharge maps.
7.4 Well hearing with the Dirección de Agua of the MINAE This consists of the analysis and resolution of the information received through the hearing (audiencia) that the Dirección de Agua of MINAE consults with SENARA, as established in current legislation, to assess the documents of: Final Drilling Report, the Pumping Test Report, Interference Study between Wells or with Surface Water Bodies, Wellhead Protection Zone Study, Studies on the Risk of Saline Intrusion, Calculation of available flow, or any other documentation or specific studies requested by the Dirección de Agua of MINAE and/or SENARA when managing drilling permits for exploratory wells, well registration, water concessions (concesiones), or modifications to extraction conditions. The hydrogeological studies accompanying this process must comply with SENARA's terms of reference.
7.5 Query of information on wells and climatic stations This consists of the query service for information that SENARA holds in the National Well Archive (Archivo Nacional de Pozos) and information from the meteorological stations administered by SENARA. For wells, the information provided to the user consists of the record from the National Well Archive of SENARA and the respective final drilling report. This information may be delivered via email by DIGH technicians, or the user may make a direct query through the Well Database on the SENARA website.
The climatic information to be provided to the user considers monthly data or historical averages, depending on the record of each station.
7.6 Advisories for the preparation or review of hydrogeological studies for public institutions.
This mainly consists of the technical advisory process in matters of hydrogeological studies, sustainable use plans, cantonal water management plans, recharge management, and various water projects, that SENARA provides to public entities, with the aim of incorporating the protection of groundwater and surface water resources into development plans. The tasks to be developed, the terms of reference, the scope, service objectives, development stages, and the amount charged for the same, shall be defined by mutual agreement through an agreement (convenio) or the mechanism subscribed by SENARA with the relevant public entity, according to the specific studies to be developed, as well as the complexity and territorial area of the study.