Punta Cana Treated Water Reuse Plan Targets Landscaping Needs
On a stretch of road near the Punta Cana airport, construction crews move dirt for a new wastewater treatment plant. This site will soon become the hub of a system designed to give treated water a second life—mainly for landscaping across the region, as part of the broader Punta Cana treated water reuse initiative.
David Yoander Núñez September 11, 2026
Wellington Arnaud, director of the National Institute of Potable Water and Sewer (INAPA), revealed the plan during a recent update on the Verón-Punta Cana sanitation project. The facility will initially process one cubic meter of water per second, with the potential to expand to two cubic meters for reuse, mostly in irrigation and public green spaces.
The initiative is part of a larger sanitation program spanning over 200 kilometers of coastline in the Dominican Republic. While Punta Cana’s project has drawn attention for its tourism-driven impact, the reuse component remains one of its least-discussed features—until now.
Arnaud also confirmed that 25 proposals have been submitted for various segments of the program. Bids for the Punta Cana-Verón portion will be reviewed starting October 12. The project was recently presented to the Inter-American Council for Integral Development (CIDI) in Washington, signaling international backing for the effort.
“This isn’t just about removing wastewater from the cycle,” Arnaud said. “It’s about turning treated water back into a resource for the region.”
If successful, the system could ease pressure on freshwater sources, particularly during dry seasons when demand for irrigation rises. The move aligns with broader environmental planning in the area, including a recent land use policy that designated more than half of Verón-Punta Cana as protected territory under a new zoning plan.