Formation of the Association:

• In September 2004 members of the Lagunas Water Association Board were elected by an at-large community vote.
• After the legal documents were prepared, the association, formally Asociación Administradora del Acueductos de Lagunas de Aguirre, was formed and in March 2005 registered in the National Registry.  The Association at that time became a legal entity comprised of all water-using community members.
• Guiding principles for the Association and its elected Board were received, translated and provided to the members.
• In March 2005 the Board, by community vote, was given approval to install individual meters and a purification system.
• Also in March 2005 fes for the 2005 year were presented and agreed upon by the community.

Identification of the Distribution System:

• In May 2005 members of the Board undertook the difficult task of identifying all of the water users along the system.  The main trunk lines, their sizes , and all pipes and valves branching to water user’s properties were identified.  Markers were placed for individual meter installation.
• Simultaneously, a map of the system was updated, illustrating tank locations, pipe sizes and other pertinent information obtained through the identification process.
• A projected date of November 2005 was established for the installation of individual meters and a system purification system.
• The distribution line was rerouted in various locations where it ran through inaccessible or private property.

Research

• In April 2005 the Board began researching the numerous an diverse types of water meters, filtration systems and purification systems.  Companies were contacted and information gathered, presented and reviewed.
• In accordance with AyA (the government ministry in charge of water issues) recommendations, meters for individual properties were selected.
• Three types of purification systems were carefully reviewed for cost, effectiveness and ease (or difficulty) of maintenance.  Recommendations for the installation of a single purification system will be presented to the community at the next meeting.
• A 50 micron filtration system was selected.  This system with two cleanable filament cartridges is required to prevent sediment from entering the distribution lines.

Installation

• In July 2005 AyA approved meters were purchased for individual properties.
• In August 2005 installation of the meters by a professional AyA installer commenced on a per meter cost basis.
• Also in August 2005 the filament filtration system was installed above the system storage tanks and a secure enclosure was constructed.

Accounting

• In April 2005 a bank account was opened at Banco Cuscatlan in the name of the Association with the President, Treasurer and a third member of the Board as signatories.
• Also in April 2005 a computer database was designed to record and present all transactions in summary reports to the community.  The first of these was presented at the March 2005 community meeting and will be presented at each one hereafter.
• During May and June 2005, funds were transferred from an unsecured account to the Banco Cuscatlan account, and a payment method was created for individual users.
• In August 2005 a database was designed in anticipation of the initiation in 2006 of metered usage and billings as well as to track receivables.
• In September 2005 a third party accountant was selected to maintain the legally required accounting books.

Communication

• It was realized that communication to the community was both critical and difficult.  To face this challenge the Board began disseminating information in two different ways.
• All meeting minutes, as well as additional pertinent information, have been posted on the Lagunas de Barú website at www.lagunasdebaru.com. 
• The same information, additional reminders and data has also been posted on the Community Information Board located at the junction of the main Lgunas road and the Ridge Road.

Future Considerations

• It is now legally incumbent on the Association to install a purification system.  The Board’s recommendation will be presented to the community and installed as soon as possible thereafter.
• It may be necessary to acquire a back-up pump for the Cespedes spring.  The current pump is operating in its third year and, should it fail, water distribution will be severely affected during the dry season.
• Geographical boundaries for the Lagunas Water System must be established in order to limit its physical growth.
• With the anticipation of additional housing, careful measurements of the existing water capacity and output must be made well before the system reaches the upper limits of its ability to continue to provide water to the community.