Clean water is a prerequisite for tourism's success in Costa Rica because:

• There are more than 72 beaches dedicated to tourism and 18 major rivers/watersheds,  all of which are contaminated to differing degrees by agriculture, industry,  including the tourism industry
• There were 1.6 million visitors in 2005 and the numbers are increasing
• Who benefits? 70% of tourism's earnings go to the hotel sector
• Who consumes? Each tourist uses an average of 150 liters of water per day
• Only 4% of Costa Rica has access to adequate sewage disposal service 
• 70% of the country uses septic tanks
• 0% of the country TREATS its water quality
• Who will pay? There is new legislation and new water quality parameters that  will be enforced through effluent taxes
• Who will do the charging? The National Environmental Auditor and the Ministry of  Health 

Bio-Solutions is an official supplier for the Sustainable Tourism Program of the Costa Rican Institute of Tourism. To obtain more information about this program that promotes eco-conscious hotels of Costa Rica, visit their website.

In order for tourism to grow, our committment to take care of what visitors come to see, touch, hear and smell must grow as well...