Water engineering · Costa Rica
Septic systems and wastewater treatment in Costa Rica, designed by an engineer
Building a home, running a boutique hotel or managing a condo? Ingeniería de las Aguas (INDLA) designs, permits, builds and fixes septic systems, treatment plants, pumping stations and water systems, so your property meets Costa Rican rules from day one. Based in Palmares, working nationwide.
- Engineer-designed systems
- SETENA, MINAE, AyA and Ministry of Health permits
- Homes, villas, hotels, condos and HOAs
- 12water engineering services
- 5government agencies we work with
- 7provinces we serve
- 2kinds of water: waste and drinking
What we do
Everything your property’s water needs
Septic systems, treatment plants, permits, water systems and compliance, handled by one team that designs and builds.
Wastewater treatment plants
Plants for villas, boutique hotels, condos and developments: design, permits, construction and compliance.
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Improved septic tanks
Tank plus anaerobic filter with a properly sized drain field for your home.
Learn moreGovernment permits
SETENA, MINAE, AyA, Ministry of Health and SENARA. We tell you which ones apply and handle them.
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HOA and condo plant compliance
Operational reports, lab analysis and fixes so your condo plant stays compliant with the Ministry of Health.
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Drinking water systems
Water treatment, wells and water permits for homes, hotels and developments.
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Percolation tests
The soil test that sizes your drain field and supports your building permit.
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Pumping stations
Wastewater and water pumping stations designed, built and commissioned.
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Sewer and drainage
Sanitary sewer networks and storm drainage for lots, condos and subdivisions.
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Treatment plant redesign
We fix plants that fail to comply or work poorly, including the permit to modify them.
Learn moreHow it works
The journey of water through a treatment plant
Scroll slowly: this is how wastewater moves through a typical activated sludge plant, from the inlet to reuse or discharge.
Pretreatment
Screens and grit chambers remove solids, sand and grease that would damage the system.
Biological reactor
Bacteria and oxygen break down the organic matter dissolved in the water.
Clarifier
Water settles, sludge sinks and part of it returns to the reactor.
Disinfection
Chlorine or UV light removes microorganisms before discharge.
Reuse or discharge
Water leaves within the limits of Decree 33601-MINAE-S, or is reused for irrigation where allowed.
Illustrative diagram. Each project includes the units its flow, water type and regulations require.
How we work
Four steps, one responsible engineer
Site visit and diagnosis
We review the land, the existing system or the project drawings.
Design and proposal
We explain the solution and its cost in plain words.
Permits
We prepare and file the paperwork with each agency.
Construction and start-up
We build or oversee the works and hand over a working system.
Where we work
Beach towns, mountains and the Central Valley
Guanacaste, the Nicoya Peninsula, Jacó, the Southern Zone, the Caribbean, Atenas, Grecia and Escazú. Tap your area.
- Western Central ValleyAtenas, Grecia, Palmares and San Ramón. Our home base.
- Greater San JoséEscazú, Santa Ana, Heredia and Cartago: condos, HOAs and businesses.
- GuanacasteTamarindo, Flamingo, Nosara, Playas del Coco and the Nicoya Peninsula.
- Central PacificJacó, Herradura, Santa Teresa and Quepos.
- Southern ZoneDominical, Uvita, Ojochal and Pérez Zeledón.
- CaribbeanPuerto Viejo, Cocles, Cahuita and Manzanillo.
- Rest of the countryNorthern Zone, Los Santos, Turrialba and other areas: just ask.
Why an engineer
A bad septic design is paid for twice
Once when it is built, and again when it overflows in the rainy season or the Ministry of Health orders it fixed. We size every system from the real soil and the real use, with calculations and drawings an engineer stands behind.
- Designs based on a real percolation test
- Costa Rican permits explained in plain language
- One team from design to start-up
- Fixing what exists before building new, whenever possible
Our work
Works, systems and equipment
Real photos of tanks, plants, filters and control panels we have worked on.
Partners
We work alongside
Questions owners ask us
Do I need an engineer for a septic system in Costa Rica?
In practice, yes. The septic tank and drain field are part of your building permit, and Decree 42075-S-MINAE asks for the drain field calculation and a percolation test with the construction plans. We prepare both and design the system to match your soil.
How much does a septic system cost in Costa Rica?
It depends on the number of bedrooms or users, the soil, the slope and site access. Send us the location and a few project details on WhatsApp and we will reply with a clear quote.
What is a percolation test and why does it matter?
It is a field test that measures how fast your soil absorbs water. The drain field is sized from that number; skip it and the system tends to overflow in the rainy season.
Our condo or HOA treatment plant fails its lab results. Can you help?
Yes. We diagnose the plant, design the fixes, prepare the Ministry of Health permit to modify it, and handle operational reports and analysis so the plant stays compliant.
Do you work in Guanacaste, the Nicoya Peninsula and the Southern Zone?
Yes. We are based in Palmares and take projects anywhere in Costa Rica, from Tamarindo and Nosara to Jacó, Uvita, Puerto Viejo and the Central Valley.
How do I get a quote?
Message us on WhatsApp at +506 8767-7472 with the property location, the type of project and photos of the site or the current system.
Let’s talk about your project
Buying land, building, or fixing a system?
Send us the location and a few photos on WhatsApp. We reply with a clear plan and a quote.