Esencia proposes sourcing water from private wells and reverse osmosis

By THE STAR STAFF

Roberto Ruiz Vargas, a representative for the Esencia Project, stated on Tuesday that the proposed development in Cabo Rojo would obtain water through private wells, a reverse osmosis plant, treated water reuse and rainwater harvesting, without connecting to the Puerto Rico Aqueduct and Sewer Authority (PRASA) system.

“The administrative record makes it clear that the project does not contemplate interconnections with public networks and that this independence is part of the conditions of the approvals obtained,” said Ruiz Vargas during a public hearing held by the Senate Committee on Innovation, Reform, and Appointments.

Ruiz Vargas, appearing on behalf of Cabo Rojo Land Acquisition LLC and Three Rules Capital LLC, maintained that the project rejected the alternative of funding an expansion of PRASA’s Betances filtration plant. In addition to wells and water reuse, the proposed system would have the capacity to desalinate seawater as a contingency measure.

The project estimates a daily water requirement of 1.5 million gallons. Ruiz Vargas said their estimates, based on hydrogeological data from the U.S. Geological Survey, place the aquifer’s regional capacity at some 10 million gallons per day.

Sen. María de Lourdes Santiago questioned the fact that the estimates rely on hydrogeological data collected as far back as the 1990s and asked for evidence that the water could actually be extracted. Ruiz Vargas replied that experts utilized federal information regarding the aquifer’s location, depth and transmissivity.

He said an initial stage of local testing confirmed the hydrogeological characteristics described in the federal data, while a second stage is intended to determine the specific configuration and capacity of the wells that would supply the development. The project also plans to deepen one of the wells to study the deep aquifer.

“Everything hinges on demonstrating capacity; if your experts were mistaken or the federal estimates prove incorrect, you have a problem,” Senate President Thomas Rivera Schatz warned.

“We cannot develop a project that lacks a water supply; we must comply with all laws, the regulatory framework, state controls, and the conditions of approval,” Ruiz Vargas replied.

Independent Senator Eliezer Molina Pérez questioned the aquifer estimates, arguing that factors such as precipitation, evaporation, and weather phenomena must be taken into account.