Dominican Republic

 General Information 

The Dominican Republic has made important strides in expanding access to drinking water, yet wastewater management has remained a critical gap. Less than 20% of wastewater is adequately treated, and untreated discharges into rivers, aquifers, and coastal ecosystems continue to undermine public health and economic sectors such as tourism and fisheries. Rapid urbanization and insufficient financial frameworks have placed additional pressure on already fragile systems. 

Through GEF CReW+, the country advanced both regulatory reforms and practical interventions. The project developed the Technical Environmental Regulation on Control of Discharges to Surface Waters, Sanitary Sewerage, Coastal Waters and Reuse of Treated Wastewater, strengthening the legal framework for wastewater management. It also organized a national workshop on wastewater reuse, helping to build consensus and raise awareness among policymakers, utilities, and the private sector. On the financial front, GEF CReW+ carried out an analysis for a tariff structure proposal, laying the foundation for sustainable cost recovery and equitable financing of sanitation services. At the infrastructure level, the project completed the design for the rehabilitation of the wastewater treatment plants at the Universidad Autónoma de Santo Domingo (UASD) – Santiago campus and in Sabana Yegua, and went further by rehabilitating the treatment plant at the UASD Santiago campus. 

Together, these actions have strengthened national regulation, advanced sustainable financing, and improved treatment infrastructure, providing the Dominican Republic with both policy tools and practical models to expand integrated water and wastewater management nationwide.