problems getting water and health crisis Esmeraldas Esmeraldas The drinking water in homes Esmeralda has become the greatest torment for three months. Hundreds of people complain about the cuts, which sometimes last up to two weeks in some neighborhoods of the city. The problem also affects Atacames and Rioverde cantons, which are served by the same supplier.
The health situation is so worrying that this week were due to suspend classes for three days, by the poor conditions of schools.
Water Company, EAPA-San Mateo, operates a system close to collapse. The five pumps of the plant, in operation since 1993 - continually stop and there are difficulties to purify raw water for turbidity, and the piping network needs to be changed. And there are no resources.
But EAPA-San Mateo also sinks into administrative and financial problems. Board members complain of centralism and that even half of their subscribers canceled their returns.
Its chief executive, Estupiñán Omar says that things "went wrong" from the beginning. That the project is as planned in two phases which included building the first plant uptake and change intradomiciliaria integral network, but the latter was not. "The pipe buried in the city dating back 52 years. These are networks of asbestos-cement pipe was never replaced by high-strength PVC, "he says.
The second phase looked at a pool to facilitate the process of purification and construction of an alternate network between San Mateo and emeralds for use in an emergency. Nothing was done.
Inabronco The company built the plant and in turn was the first administrator. In 2004, by a special decree establishing EAPA-San Mateo.
The board consists of five officers. It is headed by a CEO appointed by the president of the Republic, the others being the Minister of Housing or his representative, Undersecretary of Environmental Health, a delegate from the Municipality of Esmeraldas and a representative of the production chambers.
The first president was Ricardo Morcillo and the regime of Rafael Correa has been two directors: Jorge Cotera and Omar Estupiñán Weir. The first lives in Quito.
Rónmel Councilman Ruiz, CEO of the Municipality, complains that the company is managed directly from the Government and that he did not heed. "For five months did not call meeting of the board, I'm practically alone, the three delegates of the Government make and unmake, whips.
Mayor of Esmeraldas, Estupiñán Ernesto Quintero (MPD), accused of inadequacy and lack of enforcement for the managers of the plant. He says the council is on track to assume responsibility for EAPA-San Mateo, but requires that the plant is delivered in optimal operating conditions. "That does not serve water plant has to be repowering, we can not take property which we will not be rehabilitated because they have money for that," he says.
For this upgrade, President Correa pledged $ 8.5 million, but the resources yet to arrive. The rehabilitation work would last six months.
EAPA-San Mateo, according to its chief executive, had debts that sometimes become unaffordable. "We have an income of $ 300,000 per month and spend $ 600,000, this business is not profitable, is on the verge of collapse," says Omar Estupinan, who reiterated before the water cuts the company announced that the service charge for the last two months .
In the technical department advises that there are 36,700 registered subscribers. Of these, only 13,000 paid their taxes.
in the Atacama, where the company recorded 7,800 subscribers. Of these, only about 2,000 canceled their consumption. "The worst part is that of the 13,000 who do pay, 20% have underground lines and canceled an unrealistic price it consumes," said Ferrer.
Antonia Montano, president of the Chamber of Tourism Atacames, said that in the last two holidays the drinking water supply failed and were multiple complaints from tourists.
population was affected by unsafe
on campuses by the lack of water, suspending classes repeatedly. In turn, the students staged protest marches.
Pipe Networks
changed network of asbestos-cement pipe for PVC, the system would be authorized to operate 50 more years. Debt
The Municipality of Esmeraldas be one of the main debtor, with $ 13,000.
Ecuavisa. 
Marreth Maria Luisa Peralta, mother of Ramona, was a tremendous surprise to get home and open the small canton in which his daughter sent him two perfumes and $ 250, which was itself was a brick brick! of those used to build houses. 
gave him a phone number of a company official 'Western', in Quito, who told him that if I sent the company said is not responsible for losses. 
