El Bosque Homesites Have Water Letters

Each homesite at El Bosque comes with a water letter — the official document required to begin construction in Nosara. After puchasing a homesite, you can break ground on your new home right away.

For anyone considering property in Nosara with plans to build, this is important to understand. New water letters are currently not being issued, and without one, a construction permit cannot be obtained — meaning a property can be legally owned but not built on until the moratorium on new letters is lifted.

At El Bosque, this is not an issue as our water supply is independent from the local ASADA. We have two fully permitted wells on the property, and our system feeds a 250,000-liter storage tank that distributes water to all homesites and amenities.

Read on for more information on the situation.

Part of our onsite well and pump system

Our water storage tank

What is a water letter?

A “water letter” (or carta de disponibilidad de agua) is an official document issued by an ASADA certifying that sufficient water is available for a new property or development. It is legally required before construction can begin on any project, and by law it guarantees access to water for 20 years.

What is an ASADA?

ASADAS (Asociación Administradora de Sistemas de Acueductos y Alcantarillados) are community-run, non-profit water boards responsible for supplying, maintaining, and regulating potable water. They are regulated by Costa Rica’s national water authority, AyA. In Nosara, the Playas de Nosara ASADA operates the aqueduct system serving areas like Guiones and Pelada.

The Situation in Nosara

The Playas de Nosara ASADA infrastructure is in very good shape. It has more than sufficient water storage and distribution capacity to serve the area for years to come, even accounting for future growth. The challenge is water access. With rapid development and the local population growing, existing wells cannot meet increased demand. In 2021, the AyA placed the Playas de Nosara ASADA in a status called No Factibilidad Técnica para el otorgamiento del Servicio. This legally prohibits issuing new water letters until updated studies and data confirm that the system has sufficient capacity. Expanding that capacity requires new wells, investment, and lengthy legal approvals — all of which are still underway.

If you have any questions on this topic, we’d be happy to talk with you.