The reputation of Interagua collapses in Via a la Costa

Ecuadornews:

The inhabitants and businesses of the Via a la Costa sector woke up with the new sof the suspension of drinking water service in the sector; although for some it was not new, since in less than a week three cuts have been registered.

The concessionaire Interagua reported that this time the shortage is due to damage to the aqueduct of 700 millimeters, specifically at the height of kilometer 29.Until the end of this edition could not overcome the inconvenience.

Those affected are the approximate 60,000 residents of the 34 urbanizations, cooperatives and communes.

The location of the tourist stops of kilometers 17 (Puerto Hondo), 23 (Chongón) and24 (toll), whose tanks had only a few gallons of liquid, were not saved from the situation either.

“It will only reach for a few hours. We did not expect this inconvenience. We are waiting for an answer, “said the municipal administrator of the establishments, Reinaldo Torres, who could not hide his concern.

The president of the Federation of Urbanizations of the Via a la Costa sector Guillermo Ayala, believes that Interagua must be sincere with the users, because the image of the company is at stake.

“We are restless, worried and upset because this is not normal. We have been livingin this sector for eight years and it is always the same situation, “says Ayala.

It considers that Interagua should tell the truth about the state of the aqueduct,because the damages are constant.

Iván Sierra, market researcher and marketing expert, says that “the enormous succession of cuts”, some scheduled and others not, not only affect the road to the coast but to other sectors with equal or greater frequency. This affects notoriously the image of the institution.

“I am sure that if in any of the affected areas they could choose between a new option and Interagua, the company would have it difficult,” he says.

Andrés Seminario, expert in Marketing and Communication, prefers to speak in general terms, since “the client does not like surprises”.

“Consumers understand that service companies may have problems and errors in coverage, but what bothers them is when those suspensions are not timely reported and does not let you take alternative actions to resolve it,” he says.

Seminario adds that failure to notify the consumer for the reasons of the affectation isjustified when it comes to something not scheduled or for an emergency “but must inform immediately through the different tools”.

He believes that what the user says should be taken with a grip, “because you have to see if the company really did not report on the measures”. CFR -JPZ

CHRONOLOGY

09/13/2018

Guayaquil suffers a new suspension of scheduled drinking water. The cut of the service extended for 23 hours, that is, until 16:00 on Friday 14. The cut is related to rehabilitation works executed in the 1,800-mm aqueduct.

10/24/2018

For the rehabilitation works on the 1,800 mm aqueduct located in El Cóndor, park of the Francisco de Orellana citadel, the service is suspended for 28 hours. The Via a la Costa sectgor was one of those affected.

11/23/2018

The service was suspended from 05:00 to 18:00. The cut was from kilometer 14 to 35.The measure was due to technical inspections and maping on the aqueduct of 700mm.

11/27/2018

The cut was from 10:00 to 04:00 on November 29. Interagua indicated that it detected a leak at kilometer 29. The suspension was for the entire area.

11/30/2018

It was planned to continue with investigations and surveys with the Smart Ball system, from 05:00 to 23:00. The company indicated that it complied with the immediate repair at kilometer 30. (I)

Source: https://www.expreso.ec/guayaquil/interagua-cortes-vialacosta-servicio-entidades-YK2509133