The service in depth
Across large parts of the country — especially coastal Guanacaste and the Nicoya Peninsula — there is no public network in front of the property and no prospect of one soon. There, the only legal source of water is a concession granted by MINAE's Water Directorate: the registered, auditable right to use a set flow from a well, spring, or stream.
The process is demanding by design. It requires hydrogeological studies, pumping tests under official guidelines, georeferenced plans that match the SINIGIR registry, and coordination with SENARA where wells sit over protected aquifers. A poorly assembled file is not rejected quickly — it stalls for years in correction rounds, which is worse.
RAM integrates the three pieces the process demands: hydrogeology (source studies and certified pumping tests), spatial precision (GNSS georeferencing validated against SINIGIR), and case management before MINAE and SENARA through to resolution. Just as important: we first assess whether a concession is the right route at all, because sometimes a pipeline extension or an agreement solves it better and faster.
The problem
In areas without public water — common in Santa Teresa, Nosara and rural Guanacaste — the only legal source is a government water concession. The process requires hydrogeological studies, certified pumping tests and georeferenced plans. Done wrong, it means years of delay or an illegal well that can be shut down.
How we do it
- Source evaluation and feasibility
- Field studies and tests
- Complete filing
- Follow-up to resolution
Proven experience
Two groundwater concessions obtained in Santa Teresa de Cóbano for a condominium project, plus hydrogeological studies for developments of up to 250 homes.
Projects behind this service
Santa Teresa concessions
Two groundwater concessions obtained before MINAE's Water Directorate for a condominium project in Santa Teresa, including hydrogeological studies and environmental viability of the wells. Proof the route works in the country's most contested area.
View project →250-home condominium
Hydrogeological services for a 250-home development, combined with pipeline extension management: how we evaluate an own-source and a network connection in parallel to pick the best route.
Rincón de la Vieja spring
Extensive survey of a spring on the slopes of Rincón de la Vieja, documented in over a thousand field files — the level of detail we apply before committing a source to a project.
Technologies & methods: QGIS + hydrology · Flow gauging · MINAE-DA case files
Applicable Costa Rican regulations
- Ley de Aguas (N.º 276) y trámites de la Dirección de Aguas del MINAE
- Lineamientos de pruebas de bombeo de AyA y Dirección de Aguas
- Normativa SENARA sobre acuíferos y zonas de recarga
- Permisos de vertido (Reglamento de Vertido y Reúso de Aguas Residuales)
Regulatory references are informational and current as of July 2026. Each project and file requires its own technical assessment. Technical lead: Eng. Ariel Fernando Araya Ly · CFIA IC-34246.
Official texts: AyA · Dirección de Aguas · MINAE · CFIA
Frequently asked questions
Can I drill first and legalize later?
Not advisable: an unpermitted well can be sealed and compromises your project and your investment. The correct route starts with feasibility and permits.
How long does a concession take?
Typically 8–18 months depending on the zone. A well-prepared file from the start makes the difference.
My well has existed for years but was never registered. What now?
A frequent case. The route depends on location, aquifer, and use: we assess the real situation and define whether regularization applies, with which studies and in what order. Operating without a concession risks closure exactly when your project needs the water most.
Does a concession support building permits?
Yes: a registered concession, with its authorized flow and use, is the legal water source institutions accept where no public network exists.
What if SENARA has the aquifer under restriction?
Case by case: some zones limit new extractions. Part of our initial assessment is precisely verifying the aquifer's status before you invest in major studies.
Where the network doesn't reach, legal water is built with serious studies and a flawless file. RAM has already walked that road in Santa Teresa — we know exactly what MINAE asks for and how to deliver it.
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