SANTIAGO, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC — At the 2026 Expo Construcción RD (EXCO RD), a premier regional construction industry gathering held in Santiago, Wellington Arnaud, executive director of the Dominican Republic’s National Institute of Drinking Water and Sewerage (INAPA), delivered a keynote address outlining how strategic, long-term public water and sanitation infrastructure drives inclusive human development, environmental sustainability, and public confidence in government services. Arnaud’s presentation, titled “Planning to Transform: Effective Management as a Path to Human Development, Sustainability and Public Trust,” broke down key ongoing and completed projects advanced by INAPA over his tenure, framing each as a product of intentional strategic planning and consistent policy continuity.
Among the major projects Arnaud highlighted are new drinking water systems serving communities across the country, including the aqueduct projects in Villa Altagracia, Monción, Navarrete, Ocoa, Miches, and Pedernales, which have expanded reliable access to clean drinking water for tens of thousands of Dominican households. Moving to sanitation and environmental initiatives, Arnaud spotlighted the rehabilitation of the Gurabo stream, a project widely recognized as one of the most impactful environmental interventions currently underway in the Dominican Republic. He also noted the completion and expansion of modern wastewater treatment facilities in Baní, Peravia province, and Las Matas de Farfán, San Juan province, two key facilities that are boosting public health outcomes and reducing water pollution in local ecosystems.
“At its core, this work is human development,” Arnaud emphasized during his address. “Every investment we make in water and sanitation infrastructure is an investment directly into the quality of life of the Dominican people.” He added that all of INAPA’s recent achievements align with the commitment of Dominican President Luis Abinader to expand equitable access to essential public utility services across the country.
Arnaud also drew attention to INAPA’s Universal Sanitation Program for Coastal and Tourist Cities, an initiative that has earned international acclaim from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), which has named the program a regional benchmark for innovation and measurable impact in the sanitation sector.
Hosted at the Pontificia Universidad Católica Madre y Maestra (PUCMM) in Santiago, EXCO RD 2026 runs from June 17 to 19 and is organized by the Cibao Association of Housing Developers and Builders (APROCOVICI). As the leading construction and real estate trade fair for the Cibao region, the event is designed to accelerate industry growth, showcase cutting-edge construction innovation, create new cross-sector business connections, and establish itself as a flagship annual platform for the Dominican Republic’s fast-growing construction industry.