{
"id": "nexus-ext-1-0007-123848",
"citation": "Res. 10076-2008 Sala Constitucional",
"section": "nexus_decisions",
"doc_type": "constitutional_decision",
"title_es": "Suministro de agua potable como servicio esencial y deber de coordinación entre AyA y municipalidades",
"title_en": "Drinking water supply as essential service and coordination duty between AyA and municipalities",
"summary_es": "La Sala Constitucional examina un recurso de amparo presentado por vecinos de Tejarcillos de Alajuelita, a quienes se les negó el abastecimiento de agua potable. El recurrente alegó que la gestión fue denegada bajo el argumento de que pocas personas se beneficiarían. La Sala analiza el suministro de agua potable como un servicio público esencial y oneroso, dirigido a proteger los derechos a la vida y la salud. Se determina que tanto el Instituto Costarricense de Acueductos y Alcantarillados (AyA) como la Municipalidad de Alajuelita son responsables de proveer este servicio. La falta de cobertura por límites territoriales, la falta de presupuesto o tecnicismos no son razones justificables para negar el servicio. La Sala declara con lugar el recurso, ordenando a ambas instituciones coordinar el abastecimiento de agua potable a los vecinos de calle Tejarcillos de manera urgente y adecuada.",
"summary_en": "The Constitutional Chamber reviews an amparo appeal filed by residents of Tejarcillos in Alajuelita, who were denied access to drinking water. The appellant argued that the request was denied on the grounds that few people would benefit. The Chamber analyzes the supply of drinking water as an essential and onerous public service aimed at protecting the rights to life and health. It determines that both the Costa Rican Institute of Aqueducts and Sewers (AyA) and the Municipality of Alajuelita are responsible for providing this service. Lack of coverage due to territorial boundaries, lack of budget, or technicalities are not justifiable reasons to deny the service. The Chamber grants the appeal, ordering both institutions to coordinate the supply of drinking water to the residents of Tejarcillos street urgently and adequately.",
"court_or_agency": "Sala Constitucional",
"date": "2008",
"year": "2008",
"topic_ids": [
"water-law",
"_off-topic"
],
"primary_topic_id": "water-law",
"es_concept_hints": [
"servicio público esencial y oneroso",
"derecho a la vida",
"derecho a la salud",
"ente rector",
"gobierno local",
"coordinación interinstitucional",
"límite territorial"
],
"concept_anchors": [
{
"article": "Art. 169",
"law": "Constitución Política"
},
{
"article": "Art. 4",
"law": "Código Municipal"
},
{
"article": "Art. 1",
"law": "Ley Constitutiva del Instituto Costarricense de Acueductos y Alcantarillados"
},
{
"article": "Art. 2",
"law": "Ley Constitutiva del Instituto Costarricense de Acueductos y Alcantarillados"
}
],
"keywords_es": [
"agua potable",
"servicio público esencial",
"derecho a la vida",
"derecho a la salud",
"Instituto Costarricense de Acueductos y Alcantarillados",
"Municipalidad de Alajuelita",
"coordinación interinstitucional",
"autonomía municipal",
"acueducto metropolitano",
"suministro de agua",
"amparo",
"Sala Constitucional"
],
"keywords_en": [
"drinking water",
"essential public service",
"right to life",
"right to health",
"Costa Rican Institute of Aqueducts and Sewers",
"Municipality of Alajuelita",
"inter-institutional coordination",
"municipal autonomy",
"metropolitan aqueduct",
"water supply",
"amparo",
"Constitutional Chamber"
],
"excerpt_es": "Sin embargo, este Tribunal ha señalado que el suministro de agua potable constituye un servicio público esencial y oneroso; y que se trata de un servicio dirigido fundamentalmente a la protección del derecho a la vida y a la salud de las personas físicas. [...] La falta de provisión de este servicio en una zona determinada por quedar en un límite territorial, no es ninguna razón justificable para no otorgarles el servicio, así como tampoco la falta de presupuesto o de tecnicismos que pueden ser superados, ya sea por la empresa a la que corresponde o en forma conjunta con aquellos entes rectores en esta materia y responsables de los vecinos del cantón como lo es el gobierno local. [...] Por consiguiente, tan responsable es el AyA en su condición de ente rector y la Municipalidad en tanto gobierna los intereses de la localidad, todo lo cual impone la obligación de coordinar lo correspondiente, para que el servicio se brinde lo antes posible a los vecinos de calle Tejarcillos y de forma adecuada.",
"excerpt_en": "However, this Court has indicated that the supply of drinking water constitutes an essential and onerous public service; and that it is a service fundamentally aimed at protecting the right to life and health of natural persons. [...] The lack of provision of this service in a specific area due to remaining within a territorial limit is no justifiable reason for not granting them the service, nor is the lack of budget or technicalities that can be overcome, either by the responsible company or jointly with those governing entities in this matter and those responsible for the residents of the canton, such as the local government. [...] Therefore, both AyA in its capacity as governing body and the Municipality as it governs the interests of the locality are equally responsible, all of which imposes the obligation to coordinate accordingly, so that the service may be provided as soon as possible to the residents of Tejarcillos street and in an adequate manner.",
"outcome": {
"label_en": "Granted",
"label_es": "Con lugar",
"summary_en": "The amparo appeal is granted due to violation of the right to life and health resulting from the lack of drinking water supply in Tejarcillos of Alajuelita, ordering AyA and the Municipality to coordinate its urgent provision.",
"summary_es": "Se declara con lugar el recurso de amparo por violación del derecho a la vida y la salud derivada de la falta de suministro de agua potable en Tejarcillos de Alajuelita, ordenando al AyA y a la Municipalidad coordinar su provisión urgente."
},
"pull_quotes": [
{
"context": "Considerando III",
"quote_en": "The supply of drinking water constitutes an essential and onerous public service; and it is a service fundamentally aimed at protecting the right to life and health of natural persons.",
"quote_es": "El suministro de agua potable constituye un servicio público esencial y oneroso; y que se trata de un servicio dirigido fundamentalmente a la protección del derecho a la vida y a la salud de las personas físicas."
},
{
"context": "Considerando III",
"quote_en": "The lack of provision of this service in a specific area due to remaining within a territorial limit is no justifiable reason for not granting them the service, nor is the lack of budget or technicalities that can be overcome.",
"quote_es": "La falta de provisión de este servicio en una zona determinada por quedar en un límite territorial, no es ninguna razón justificable para no otorgarles el servicio, así como tampoco la falta de presupuesto o de tecnicismos que pueden ser superados."
},
{
"context": "Considerando III",
"quote_en": "Both AyA in its capacity as governing body and the Municipality as it governs the interests of the locality are equally responsible, all of which imposes the obligation to coordinate accordingly.",
"quote_es": "Tan responsable es el AyA en su condición de ente rector y la Municipalidad en tanto gobierna los intereses de la localidad, todo lo cual impone la obligación de coordinar lo correspondiente."
}
],
"cites": [],
"cited_by": [],
"references": {
"internal": [],
"external": []
},
"source_url": "https://nexuspj.poder-judicial.go.cr/document/ext-1-0007-123848",
"tier": 2,
"_editorial_citation_count": 0,
"regulations_by_article": null,
"amendments_by_article": null,
"dictamen_by_article": null,
"concordancias_by_article": null,
"afectaciones_by_article": null,
"resoluciones_by_article": null,
"cited_by_votos": [],
"cited_norms": [],
"cited_norms_inverted": [
{
"doc_id": "norm-38533",
"norm_num": "7135",
"norm_name": "Ley de la Jurisdicción Constitucional",
"tipo_norma": "Ley",
"norm_fecha": "11/10/1989"
},
{
"doc_id": "norm-5561",
"norm_num": "4574",
"norm_name": "Código Municipal",
"tipo_norma": "Ley",
"norm_fecha": "04/05/1970"
},
{
"doc_id": "norm-871",
"norm_num": "0",
"norm_name": "Derecho a un ambiente sano y ecológicamente equilibrado — Artículo 50 de la Constitución Política",
"tipo_norma": "Constitución Política",
"norm_fecha": "07/11/1949"
}
],
"sentencias_relacionadas": [],
"temas_y_subtemas": [],
"cascade_only": false,
"amendment_count": 0,
"body_es_text": "“I.- Objeto\r\ndel recurso. El recurrente alega que al igual que otros vecinos ha\r\nsolicitado el abastecimiento de agua potable, pero dicha gestión fue denegada,\r\naduciendo que son pocas las personas que estarían beneficiándose.” \n\r\n\r\n\n“…III.- Sobre el fondo. Respecto al suministro de agua\r\npotable, este Tribunal en la sentencia número 2006-15416 de las quince\r\nhoras cincuenta y siete minutos del 25 de octubre del 2006, resolvió: \n\r\n\r\n\n“III.- Sobre el fondo. Este Tribunal ha declarado con lugar\r\nrecursos de amparo contra asociaciones que administran acueductos rurales\r\ncuando está en juego la salud humana. En efecto, de conformidad con el artículo\r\n21 de la Constitución Política, la vida humana es inviolable y, en\r\nconsecuencia, atenta contra ese derecho, que es fundamental, toda acción u\r\nomisión que la pongan en peligro. En el presente caso, la omisión de la\r\nAsociación recurrida de otorgar el servicio de acueducto al recurrente se\r\nencuentra debidamente justificada por cuanto según consta en las pruebas\r\naportadas, las propiedades del recurrente se ubican en el cantón de San Rafael\r\nde Heredia y el Acueducto accionado no se encuentra obligado a brindar el\r\nservicio de agua potable a aquellas propiedades que no pertenezcan al sector\r\npara el cual fue creado, que según lo indicado en el informe rendido a esta\r\nSala, el abastecimiento de agua potable lo es únicamente a los vecinos de\r\nConcepción de San Isidro de Heredia y no del cantón de San Rafael de Heredia,\r\nen consecuencia, la actuación de la asociación recurrida no significó la\r\nlimitación de ningún derecho, ya que precisamente el derecho a disfrutar del\r\nservicio se obtiene mediante la solicitud de concesión de la paja y el\r\ncumplimiento de los requisitos que cada institución establezca. \n\r\n\r\n\nEn este caso\r\nconcreto no está en peligro la salud del recurrente por cuanto deberá de\r\ngestionar la conexión del servicio de agua potable ante la empresa que le\r\ncorresponde de conformidad a la localización de sus propiedades. Por otra parte,\r\nen cuanto a la alegada discriminación en el sentido a que a otros vecinos, el\r\nacueducto recurrido sí les ha instalado la paja, de conformidad a lo\r\nmanifestado por el Presidente de Asociación, debe de tener en cuenta el\r\nrecurrente, que el principio de igualdad que esta Sala tutela es la igualdad\r\nante la ley y no aquella que la enfrenta o contradice; en razón de ello, aún\r\ncuando por error administrativo se hubiere otorgado las pajas a terrenos que no\r\nse encuentran localizados en el cantón de San Isidro, o se le haya sellado los\r\nplanos al antiguo propietario, si existe irregularidad en la expedición de los\r\nmismos no puede la Sala homologar la situación del amparado a la de otras\r\npersonas que lo hayan obtenido por error administrativo, pues el error no crea derechos\r\nsubjetivos.” \n\r\n\r\n\n En\r\nel presente asunto, quedó acreditado que mediante oficio del 28 de enero del\r\n2008 el recurrente, conjuntamente con otros vecinos, le solicitó al Alcalde\r\nMunicipal de Alajuelita autorización para colocar un\r\ntubo a una distancia de 500\r\n metros, calle Tejarcillos a\r\nsalir a Escazú, para satisfacer de agua potable a\r\nciertas viviendas que en el verano se quedan sin ese liquido. Por oficio A.M.C.E. No. 025-2008 del 30 de enero del 2008, el Alcalde\r\nMunicipal de Alajuelita le solicitó al Presidente\r\nEjecutivo del Instituto Costarricense de Acueductos y Alcantarillados,\r\nautorizar el proyecto requerido por los vecinos de la Urbanización de Tejarcillos, ubicada en el centro de Alajuelita,\r\na fin de que pueda ser incluido en el presupuesto de A y A y se realice algún\r\nconvenio entre las comunidades y el A y A. Por oficio No. PRE-DD- 2008-0040 del 4 de febrero del 2008, Mario Solano\r\nHerrera en su condición de Director del Despacho de la Presidencia Ejecutiva\r\ndel Instituto Costarricense de Acueductos y Alcantarillados, le comunicó al\r\nAlcalde Municipal de Alajuelita que su gestión había\r\nsido trasladada al Director de la Región Metropolitana con la instrucción de la\r\nPresidencia de coordinar la ayuda por parte del A y A sobre los solicitado. No\r\nobstante, mediante memorando No. DGRM-077-2008 del 26\r\nde febrero del 2008, el Director de la Región Metropolitana del Instituto\r\nCostarricense de Acueductos y Alcantarillados, le comunicó al Alcalde citado\r\nque el sector para el cual se solicita la instalación de una nueva tubería a\r\nfin de mejorar las condiciones de abastecimiento de agua, es un sector fuera\r\ndel área de abastecimiento del Acueducto Metropolitano, actualmente\r\nestablecido, donde el problema de agua no se resuelve con la instalación de\r\ntubería nueva, por lo que se les imposibilita ofrecerle la colaboración\r\nrequerida en dicha solicitud. Sin embargo, este Tribunal ha señalado que el\r\nsuministro de agua potable constituye un servicio público esencial y oneroso; y\r\nque se trata de un servicio dirigido fundamentalmente a la protección del\r\nderecho a la vida y a la salud de las personas físicas. Esos derechos implican\r\nla posibilidad de exigir del Estado ciertas prestaciones, ámbito en el cual se\r\nve obligado a proporcionar algunos servicios públicos, sobre todo los que\r\nresultan esenciales para mantener condiciones sanitarias favorables a la\r\npreservación de la vida y la salud de las personas. No obstante, el servicio\r\npúblico de agua potable no se presta en forma gratuita, de ahí que incluso,\r\ncuando -por falta de pago- se interrumpe el suministro de agua potable a\r\nconsumidores domésticos, se ha considerado necesario que el usuario tenga una\r\nfuente de aprovisionamiento gratuita, que es la fuente pública, accesible de\r\nmanera que con una diligencia razonable de su parte, pueda aprovisionarse para\r\nsus actividades mínimas. La falta de provisión de este servicio en una zona\r\ndeterminada por quedar en un límite territorial, no es ninguna razón\r\njustificable para no otorgarles el servicio, así como tampoco la falta de\r\npresupuesto o de tecnicismos que pueden ser superados, ya sea por la empresa a\r\nla que corresponde o en forma conjunta con aquellos entes rectores en esta\r\nmateria y responsables de los vecinos del cantón como lo es el gobierno local. Lo\r\ncierto, es que el servicio de agua potable debe brindarse a los vecinos de\r\ncalle Tejarcillos. Es conveniente tomar en cuenta lo\r\nestablecido en el artículo 169 de la Constitución Política en relación con el\r\nRégimen Municipal: \n\r\n\r\n\n \"Artículo\r\n169.- \n\r\n\r\n\n La\r\nAdministración de los intereses y servicios locales en cada cantón, estará a\r\ncargo del Gobierno Municipal, formado de un cuerpo deliberante, integrado por\r\nregidores municipales de elección popular, y de un funcionario ejecutivo que\r\ndesignará la ley.\" \n\r\n\r\n\n Por su parte\r\nel Código Municipal, en el artículo 4 regula lo relativo a las atribuciones de\r\nlas municipalidades: \n\r\n\r\n\n \"Artículo\r\n4.- \n\r\n\r\n\n La\r\nmunicipalidad posee la autonomía política, administrativa y financiera que le\r\nconfiere la Constitución Política. Dentro de sus atribuciones se\r\nincluyen: \n\r\n\r\n\n a) Dictar\r\nlos reglamentos autónomos de organización y de servicio, así como cualquier\r\notra disposición que autorice el ordenamiento jurídico. \n\r\n\r\n\n b) Acordar\r\nsus presupuestos y ejecutarlos. \n\r\n\r\n\n c)\r\nAdministrar y prestar los servicios públicos municipales. \n\r\n\r\n\n d) Aprobar\r\nlas tasas, los precios y las contribuciones municipales, y proponer los\r\nproyectos de tarifas de impuestos municipales. \n\r\n\r\n\n e) Percibir\r\ny administrar, en su carácter de administración tributaria, los tributos y\r\ndemás ingresos municipales. \n\r\n\r\n\n f) Concertar,\r\ncon personas o entidades nacionales o extranjeras, pactos, convenios o\r\ncontratos necesarios para el cumplimiento de sus funciones. \n\r\n\r\n\n g) Convocar\r\nal municipio a consultas populares, para los fines establecidos en esta ley y\r\nsu reglamento.\" \n\r\n\r\n\n En cuanto\r\na las potestades del Instituto Costarricense de Acueductos y Alcantarillados (A\r\ny A), es menester remitirnos a lo que establece la Ley Constitutiva del\r\nInstituto, en este sentido: \n\r\n\r\n\n “Artículo\r\n1: Con el objeto de dirigir, fijar políticas, establecer y aplicar normas,\r\nrealizar y promover el planeamiento, financiamiento y desarrollo y de resolver\r\ntodo lo relacionado con el suministro de agua potable e y recolección y\r\nevacuación de aguas negras y residuos industriales líquidos, lo mismo que el aspecto\r\nnormativo de los sistemas de alcantarillado pluvial en áreas urbanas, para todo\r\nel territorio nacional se crea el Instituto Costarricense de Acueductos y\r\nAlcantarillados, como institución autónoma del Estado.” \n\r\n\r\n\n “Artículo 2:\r\nCorresponde al Instituto Costarricense de Acueductos y Alcantarillados: \n\r\n\r\n\n a)\r\nDirigir y vigilar todo lo concerniente para proveer a los habitantes de la\r\nrepública de un servicio de agua potable, recolección y evacuación de aguas\r\nnegras y residuos industriales líquidos y de aguas pluviales en las áreas\r\nurbanas; \n\r\n\r\n\n (…)” \n\r\n\r\n\n “g)\r\nAdministrar y operar directamente los sistemas de acueductos y alcantarillados\r\nen todo el país, los cuales se irán asumiendo tomando en cuenta la conveniencia\r\ny disponibilidad de recursos. Los sistemas que actualmente están administrados\r\ny operados por las corporaciones municipales podrán seguir a cargo de éstas,\r\nmientras suministren un servicio eficiente. \n\r\n\r\n\n Bajo\r\nningún concepto podrá delegar la administración de los sistemas de acueductos y\r\nalcantarillado sanitario del Área Metropolitana. \n\r\n\r\n\nTampoco podrá\r\ndelegar la administración de los sistemas sobre los cuales exista\r\nresponsabilidad financiera y mientras ésta corresponda directamente al\r\nInstituto. \n\r\n\r\n\n Queda\r\nfacultada la institución para convenir con organismos locales, la\r\nadministración de tales servicios o administrarlos a través de juntas\r\nadministradoras de integración mixta entre el Instituto y las respectivas\r\ncomunidades, siempre que así conviniere para la mejor prestación de los\r\nservicios y de acuerdo con los reglamentos respectivos. \n\r\n\r\n\n Por las\r\nmismas razones y con las mismas características, también podrán crearse juntas\r\nadministradoras regionales que involucren a varias municipalidades; \n\r\n\r\n\n (…)” \n\r\n\r\n\n Así las\r\ncosas, quedó debidamente acreditado que el Instituto Costarricense de\r\nAcueductos y Alcantarillados es el ente rector de velar y resolver\r\ntodo lo relacionado con el suministro de agua potable y recolección y\r\nevacuación de aguas negras. Por su parte, la Municipalidad recurrida como\r\ngobierno local, debe atender los intereses de la localidad. No resulta\r\natendible para este Tribunal que ambas instituciones se descarguen mutuamente\r\ntoda la responsabilidad de lo acusado. Por consiguiente, tan responsable es el AyA en su condición de ente rector y la Municipalidad en\r\ntanto gobierna los intereses de la localidad, todo lo cual impone la obligación\r\nde coordinar lo correspondiente, para que el servicio se brinde lo antes\r\nposible a los vecinos de calle Tejarcillos y de forma\r\nadecuada. En consecuencia, se debe declarar con lugar el recurso.”",
"body_en_text": "“I.- Purpose of the appeal. The appellant alleges that, like other neighbors, he has requested the supply of drinking water, but that request was denied, on the grounds that few people would be benefiting.”\n\n“…III.- On the merits. Regarding the supply of drinking water, this Court, in judgment number 2006-15416 of fifteen hours fifty-seven minutes on October 25, 2006, held:\n\n“III.- On the merits. This Court has granted appeals for constitutional protection (recursos de amparo) against associations that administer rural aqueducts when human health is at stake. Indeed, pursuant to Article 21 of the Political Constitution, human life is inviolable and, consequently, any action or omission that endangers that right, which is fundamental, violates it. In the present case, the respondent Association's omission to provide aqueduct service to the appellant is duly justified because, as shown in the evidence provided, the appellant's properties are located in the canton of San Rafael de Heredia and the respondent Aqueduct is not obligated to provide drinking water service to properties that do not belong to the sector for which it was created, which, according to the report rendered to this Chamber, the supply of drinking water is only to the neighbors of Concepción de San Isidro de Heredia and not of the canton of San Rafael de Heredia; consequently, the respondent association's action did not constitute a limitation of any right, since precisely the right to enjoy the service is obtained through the request for a connection (paja) concession and compliance with the requirements established by each institution.\n\nIn this specific case, the appellant's health is not in danger because he must manage the connection to the drinking water service through the company that corresponds to him according to the location of his properties. On the other hand, regarding the alleged discrimination in the sense that the respondent aqueduct has installed connections (paja) for other neighbors, according to what was stated by the Association President, the appellant must bear in mind that the principle of equality that this Chamber protects is equality before the law and not that which confronts or contradicts it; for this reason, even if due to administrative error connections (pajas) had been granted to lands not located in the canton of San Isidro, or plans had been sealed for the former owner, if there is an irregularity in their issuance, the Chamber cannot equate the situation of the protected party to that of other persons who may have obtained it through administrative error, because error does not create subjective rights.”\n\nIn the present matter, it was established that, through official communication (oficio) of January 28, 2008, the appellant, jointly with other neighbors, requested the Municipal Mayor of Alajuelita for authorization to place a pipe over a distance of 500 meters, from Tejarcillos street to exit towards Escazú, to supply drinking water to certain homes that are left without that liquid in the summer. Through official communication A.M.C.E. No. 025-2008 of January 30, 2008, the Municipal Mayor of Alajuelita requested the Executive President of the Instituto Costarricense de Acueductos y Alcantarillados to authorize the project requested by the neighbors of the Tejarcillos Urbanization, located in the center of Alajuelita, so that it could be included in the AyA budget and some agreement could be made between the communities and AyA. Through official communication No. PRE-DD- 2008-0040 of February 4, 2008, Mario Solano Herrera, in his capacity as Director of the Office of the Executive Presidency of the Instituto Costarricense de Acueductos y Alcantarillados, informed the Municipal Mayor of Alajuelita that his request had been forwarded to the Director of the Metropolitan Region with instructions from the Presidency to coordinate assistance from AyA regarding what was requested. However, through memorandum No. DGRM-077-2008 of February 26, 2008, the Director of the Metropolitan Region of the Instituto Costarricense de Acueductos y Alcantarillados informed the aforementioned Mayor that the sector for which the installation of a new pipeline is requested in order to improve water supply conditions is a sector outside the supply area of the currently established Metropolitan Aqueduct, where the water problem is not solved by installing new piping, making it impossible to offer the collaboration requested in that application. However, this Court has indicated that the supply of drinking water constitutes an essential and onerous public service; and that it is a service fundamentally aimed at protecting the right to life and health of natural persons. Those rights imply the possibility of demanding certain services from the State, an area in which it is obliged to provide some public services, especially those that are essential to maintain sanitary conditions favorable to the preservation of life and health. Nevertheless, the public service of drinking water is not provided free of charge, hence even when—due to non-payment—the supply of drinking water to domestic consumers is interrupted, it has been considered necessary for the user to have a free source of supply, which is the public fountain, accessible so that with reasonable diligence on their part, they can supply themselves for their minimum activities. The lack of provision of this service in a specific area because it lies on a territorial boundary is no justifiable reason for not granting them the service, nor is the lack of budget or technicalities that can be overcome, either by the corresponding company or jointly with those governing bodies in this matter and those responsible for the canton’s neighbors, such as the local government. The truth is that the drinking water service must be provided to the neighbors of Tejarcillos street. It is advisable to take into account the provisions of Article 169 of the Political Constitution in relation to the Municipal Regime:\n\n\"Article 169.-\n\nThe Administration of local interests and services in each canton shall be the responsibility of the Municipal Government, formed by a deliberative body, composed of municipal council members (regidores municipales) of popular election, and an executive official designated by law.\"\n\nFor its part, the Municipal Code, in Article 4, regulates matters related to the powers of the municipalities:\n\n\"Article 4.-\n\nThe municipality possesses the political, administrative, and financial autonomy conferred upon it by the Political Constitution. Its powers include:\n\na) Issuing autonomous regulations for organization and service, as well as any other provision authorized by the legal system.\n\nb) Approving its budgets and executing them.\n\nc) Administering and providing municipal public services.\n\nd) Approving municipal rates, prices, and contributions, and proposing draft rates for municipal taxes.\n\ne) Collecting and administering, in its capacity as tax administration, municipal taxes and other income.\n\nf) Entering, with national or foreign persons or entities, into pacts, agreements, or contracts necessary for the fulfillment of its functions.\n\ng) Convening the municipality for popular consultations, for the purposes established in this law and its regulation.\"\n\nRegarding the powers of the Instituto Costarricense de Acueductos y Alcantarillados (AyA), it is necessary to refer to what is established by the Institute's Constitutive Law, in this regard:\n\n“Article 1: With the purpose of directing, setting policies, establishing and applying norms, performing and promoting the planning, financing, and development of and resolving everything related to the supply of drinking water and the collection and evacuation of wastewater (aguas negras) and liquid industrial waste, as well as the regulatory aspect of stormwater drainage systems (sistemas de alcantarillado pluvial) in urban areas, for the entire national territory, the Instituto Costarricense de Acueductos y Alcantarillados is created, as an autonomous institution of the State.”\n\n“Article 2: The Instituto Costarricense de Acueductos y Alcantarillados is responsible for:\n\na) Directing and overseeing everything concerning providing the inhabitants of the republic with a service of drinking water, collection and evacuation of wastewater (aguas negras) and liquid industrial waste and stormwater (aguas pluviales) in urban areas;\n\n(…)”\n\n“g) Directly administering and operating the aqueduct and sewerage systems throughout the country, which shall be gradually assumed considering convenience and resource availability. Systems currently administered and operated by municipal corporations may continue to be managed by them, as long as they provide efficient service.\n\nUnder no circumstances may it delegate the administration of the aqueduct and sanitary sewerage systems of the Metropolitan Area.\n\nNor may it delegate the administration of systems over which there exists financial responsibility and while this corresponds directly to the Institute.\n\nThe institution is empowered to agree with local bodies on the administration of such services or to administer them through administrative boards (juntas administradoras) of mixed composition between the Institute and the respective communities, whenever this is convenient for the better provision of services and in accordance with the respective regulations.\n\nFor the same reasons and with the same characteristics, regional administrative boards involving several municipalities may also be created;\n\n(…)”\n\nThus, it was duly established that the Instituto Costarricense de Acueductos y Alcantarillados is the governing body for ensuring and resolving everything related to the supply of drinking water and the collection and evacuation of wastewater (aguas negras). For its part, the respondent Municipality, as the local government, must attend to the interests of the locality. It is not acceptable to this Court that both institutions mutually discharge all responsibility for what is alleged. Consequently, AyA is just as responsible in its capacity as governing body as the Municipality is insofar as it governs the interests of the locality, all of which imposes the obligation to coordinate what is necessary so that the service is provided to the neighbors of Tejarcillos street as soon as possible and in an adequate manner. Therefore, the appeal for constitutional protection (recurso) must be granted.”\n\n\n\n g) To call\nthe municipality to popular consultations, for the purposes established in this law\nand its regulations.\"
\n\n Regarding\nthe powers of the Instituto Costarricense de Acueductos y Alcantarillados (A\ny A), it is necessary to refer to what is established by the Constitutive Law of the\nInstitute, in this sense:
\n\n “Article\n1: With the purpose of directing, setting policies, establishing and applying norms,\ncarrying out and promoting planning, financing, and development, and resolving\neverything related to the supply of potable water and the collection and\nevacuation of sewage (aguas negras) and liquid industrial waste, as well as the\nnormative aspect of storm drainage (alcantarillado pluvial) systems in urban areas, for\nthe entire national territory, the Instituto Costarricense de Acueductos y\nAlcantarillados is created, as an autonomous institution of the State.”
\n\n “Article 2:\nThe Instituto Costarricense de Acueductos y Alcantarillados is responsible for:
\n\n a)\nDirect and oversee everything concerning providing the inhabitants of the\nrepublic with a service of potable water, collection and evacuation of sewage\nand liquid industrial waste, and of rainwater in urban\nareas;
\n\n (…)”
\n\n “g)\nAdminister and directly operate the aqueduct and sewerage systems\nthroughout the country, which shall be gradually assumed taking into account convenience\nand availability of resources. The systems currently administered\nand operated by municipal corporations may continue under their charge,\nas long as they provide an efficient service.
\n\n Under\nno concept may it delegate the administration of the aqueduct and\nsanitary sewerage systems of the Metropolitan Area.
\n\nNor may it\ndelegate the administration of the systems for which there exists\nfinancial responsibility and as long as this corresponds directly to the\nInstitute.
\n\n The institution is empowered\nto agree with local organizations, the\nadministration of such services or to administer them through\nadministrative boards (juntas administradoras) of mixed composition between the Institute and the respective\ncommunities, whenever that is suitable for the better provision of the\nservices and in accordance with the respective regulations.
\n\n For the\nsame reasons and with the same characteristics, regional administrative boards\nmay also be created that involve several municipalities;
\n\n (…)”
\n\n Thus,\nit was duly proven that the Instituto Costarricense de\nAcueductos y Alcantarillados is the governing body for ensuring and resolving\neverything related to the supply of potable water and the collection and\nevacuation of sewage. For its part, the appealed Municipality, as\nlocal government, must attend to the interests of the locality. It is not\nacceptable to this Court that both institutions mutually discharge\nall responsibility for what is alleged. Consequently, the AyA is just as responsible in its condition as governing body, as is the Municipality in\nas much as it governs the interests of the locality, all of which imposes the obligation\nto coordinate accordingly, so that the service is provided as soon as\npossible to the residents of Tejarcillos street and in an adequate\nmanner. As a result, the appeal must be granted.”
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