Water Well permits and Concessions
If you are looking to obtain a drilling permit and water concession in Costa Rica, there are several important steps that you will need to follow. This process typically takes between 9 and 12 months to complete, and involves coordinating with several regulatory agencies.
The first step in obtaining a drilling permit is to have a professional geologist visit your site to recommend the location of the new well. Once the geologist has made a recommendation, you will need to establish a budget for the project.
Once the budget has been approved, you can begin the process of submitting an application for a drilling permit. This involves presenting the required application documents on the MINAE platform. The permit typically takes between 3 and 12 weeks to be approved, provided that you meet all of the necessary requirements.
Once the permit has been approved, the drilling process can begin. After the well has been drilled, a pumping test will be carried out to determine the flow rate, and a water sample will be taken to determine its quality. The drilling, pumping test, and water quality reports will then be delivered to MINAE for review.
To obtain a water concession, the environmental viability process must first be approved by SETENA. This typically takes around a month. Once the environmental viability has been approved, a request for the water concession will be published in La Gaceta for two consecutive months. After the concession has been granted, you can install the pumping system and begin using the water.
In addition to these steps, there are several reports and studies that may be required for a drilling permit, depending on the location of the drill site and other factors. These include studies of saltwater intrusion, interference between wells or bodies of water, and filtration/contamination.
It’s important to work with licensed water well contractors throughout the process of obtaining a drilling permit and water concession. Always submit for a permit and maintain your concessions validly. By following these steps and working with the appropriate regulatory agencies, you can obtain a drilling permit and water concession in Costa Rica that meets your needs and complies with local regulations.