Costa Rica Water Just The Facts What is

Costa Rica Water

Just The Facts What is Costa Rica known for to you? Costa Rica is one of the world’s best fruit growing countries in the world. • • • Some of the fruits they grow are: papayas, mangos, pineapple, cantaloupe, blackberries, lemons and limes, guavas, passion fruit, mamones, avocados, watermelons, etc. The wildlife includes monkeys, sloths, frogs, lizards, butterflies, etc. This country also has many rainforests, jungles, valcanoes, rivers, etc.

Sports! What is most popular for kids to do in free time in Costa Rica? • SPORTS! Soccer is the most popular activity to do after school or on any free time for children. From playing in the backyard with brothers and sisters, to playing on a field with 20 to 30 people, soccer is undoubtibly happening all the time. The national Costa Rican soccer team is La Sele. • The other sports played are tennis, running, fishing, baseball, basketball, surfing, snorkeling, and swimming.

Water In 2005, water started to be a big problem for Costa Rica. They had almost no source of fresh drinking water. An underground water source under a volcanoe was being polluted by 2 ways: one, there were buildings that led off pollution which caused smoke to get into the water, and two, there were coffee grounds which led off pollution into the water, too. Sadly, it is still going on now.

Pineapples In 2009 -2012, communities in Costa Rica are also suffering from water pollution. • • • People used to be able to get a glass and get water straight from the sink, but now they are only able to use tap water for cleaning purposes. The reason for this was a pineapple company called Milano, brought truck loads of pineapples and contaminated the water. The pineapples were found to carry herbicide bromacil, a herbicide which is used to brush citrus, but is proven to be able to give cancer to animals.

Effects People have been getting horrible sicknesses from the water, such as: • • • Skin rashes asthma miscarriages possibly death stomach sickness many more deadly diseases

What YOU can do to help Some of the ways you can help to get rid of water pollution is: • • • Not leaving litter in sinks, toilets, beaches, or any source of water Conserve Water: Turn off sink when not using it, shower, etc. This reduces the amount of contaminated water, and prevents water shortages. Pick up trash at beaches, lakes, rivers, ponds, or any natural water sources.

Solutions The possible solution to eliminate water pollution would be to have the river zoned off and regulated to maintain purity. Septic tanks would be phased out of use, which would be replaced by by sewage pipes. This would limit the amount of nitrates coming into these rivers.