PUBLIC POLICY IN GROUNDWATER FOR THE TRANSBOUNDARY SHARED AQUIFER BETWEEN HAITI AND DOMINICAN REPUBLIC: FAR FROM THE RHETORIC, CLOSER TO THE REALITY

Governments of the countries at the Hispaniola Island, Haiti Republic and the Dominican Republic, have an imperative necessity to study, and protect their border aquifers. It is necessary public policies for groundwater supply using an international agreement. The interest of United Nations (UN) for ground water supply around the planet has been conducting to the UNESCO for several years to do a deep analysis about border aquifers in order to mitigate conflicts. This institutional preoccupation pretends to motivate to scientists, technicians, lawyers, and other professionals.

For more efficiency, it is necessary to control these policies with a deep emphasis on education about natural resources, its utilization; and, logically, its protection. I have analyzed how to mitigate potential conflicts based on transboundary shared aquifer since I was preparing my research for presentation in SARM-UNESCO between two South American countries borders.

Is noticeable absence of a Water Act and inefficient groundwater policy in both countries of the Hispaniola Island, Haiti Republic and the Dominican Republic. These atypical situations have produced a tremendous political arena in order to regulate their transboundary shared aquifer as the most important source of drinkable water on the Hispaniola Island. For several years, some Haitian and Dominican Republic government agencies have been required to establish clear criteria of extraction of water from aquifers for agricultural, industrial, health, public service, and other uses.

The environmental agency of control in both nations would certify the quality of groundwater, aquifer’s characteristics, and their quantities concerning discharge. In addition, it may authorize a concession license for each deep well a surface separation at least of 1,500 ft. Moreover, each one environment agency in both countries may request chemical groundwater analysis each six months. According to recommendations, it is necessary to establish risk analysis, viability, design, promotion, and implementation of water’s public policies, which will be clear, specific, concrete, and easy to measure in order to protect groundwater resources, constructed system, communities, and authorities.