Although the drinking water supply crisis in the Chitré district is expected to be resolved soon, authorities have confirmed that there is still no exact date for the full restoration of the service. While it has been indicated that this could happen during the month of February, the situation coincides with the celebration of the 2026 Carnival, which keeps residents and visitors concerned due to the large influx of people visiting this region of the country. Currently, in Chitré and part of Los Santos, the water is not suitable for human consumption, so alternative supply measures remain in place, including more than 45 tanks at fixed points throughout the district. The regional director of IDAAN, Yaurus Ibarra, indicated that this Monday the process of disinfecting the pipes and distribution network began in the first sector of the Chitré district, which covers a wide area that includes the Circunvalación highway and all its adjacent areas, the La Arena corregimiento and some sectors of Monagrillo. This process will have a duration of approximately three days, and once completed, the disinfection of the second sector will proceed, which includes the rest of Chitré, Llano Bonito, the rest of Monagrillo, San Juan Bautista and the city center, on a date that has not yet been announced. Faced with this scenario, Ibarra stated, the water supply tanks will have to remain operational during the carnival days, as the system will not yet be in normal conditions. However, the authorities are evaluating alternatives for the tanks located in areas where "mojadera" activities are traditionally held, such as the Centenario Park in Chitré and the Plaza de Monagrillo. In these cases, the relocation of the tanks to other strategic points is being considered, as well as an increase in the frequency of water trucks, with the aim of guaranteeing the supply to both the resident population and the thousands of visitors who arrive in the region during the festivities.
