After several weeks, residents of Chitré in the province of Herrera are beginning to see better days regarding the water supply in their homes. The lack of potable water in Chitré led to citizen demonstrations after residents took to the streets demanding a continuous supply in their homes. Dozens of people have taken to the streets demanding water 24 hours a day, pointing out that in several sectors the service remains irregular. The protesters indicated that due to the lack of supply in their homes, many families have to buy water or get it from tanks installed in squares and other public spaces, which has become a frequent practice to obtain water. Meanwhile, the Instituto de Acueductos y Alcantarillados Nacionales (IDAAN) reported that the potable water system in the district is currently in stable condition, both in its production and distribution network. According to the entity, the service reaches approximately 95% coverage during the day, with pressures between normal and medium in most of the district, while at night the system reaches 100% user coverage. In a statement, IDAAN also indicated that the system registers a production close to eight million gallons daily, a figure that has improved thanks to operational adjustments at the water treatment plant and the contribution of deep wells that continue to reinforce the supply. In the last three months, as reported, five new wells have been activated, contributing about 300 thousand additional gallons daily, adding to the 13 previously operational wells, representing a total contribution of about 650 thousand gallons daily to the system. However, the institution recalled that the water distributed in Chitré should still not be used for direct human consumption until the Ministry of Health concludes the analysis and officially confirms its potability.
