Sewage & Wastewater

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Wastewater is one of the biggest environmental issues affecting the Bocas del Toro archipelago.  Wastewater requirements are site- and project-specific. The appropriate system depends on the property’s use, wastewater volume, soil, groundwater, flood risk, location and proximity to marine or other sensitive ecosystems. Before installing, replacing or altering a wastewater system, obtain confirmation from the relevant authorities and an appropriately qualified professional.

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DGNTI-COPANIT 35-2019 – Discharge of Liquid Effluents to Continental and Marine Waters Approved by Resolution No. 58 of 27 June 2019.

RESOLUTION No. 351 OF 26-07-2000 under the DGNTI-COPANIT regulations.

Law No. 21 of 1980 (amended by Law No. 57 of 2008),

Law 41 of 1998 – General Environmental Law (prohibits environmental contamination and establishes the environmental protection framework)

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Can I pipe treated wastewater into the ocean?

Possibly, but only through an approved treatment and discharge system. Treatment alone does not authorize the discharge. 

Only if it has been authorized.

Even high-quality treated effluent requires:

• A MiAmbiente discharge concession.

• Compliance with Panama's technical standards for liquid effluent.

• Monitoring and sampling requirements.

• Approval of the discharge location.

This is regulated through Panama's DGNTI-COPANIT 35 technical standard on wastewater discharges and the permitting system administered by MiAmbiente.

 

Can I discharge grey water into the sea?

Generally no, unless it forms part of an authorized treatment and discharge system that complies with Panama's regulations.

Simply running a pipe from a shower or kitchen to the beach or mangroves is not an approved method of wastewater disposal.

Grey water includes water from:

• Showers

• Bathroom sinks

• Laundry

• Hand basins

It does not include toilet waste (black water).

A common misconception is that because grey water does not contain toilet waste, it can simply be discharged into the environment.

That is not generally the case.

Untreated greywater may still contain:

• detergents,

• oils and grease,

• bacteria,

• nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus),

• cleaning chemicals.

Directly discharging untreated greywater onto beaches or into mangroves, streams or the sea may violate environmental, public-health and water-quality requirements. Greywater should be incorporated into an appropriately designed and approved wastewater-management system

 

Septic Systems

Most homes in Bocas use:

• Septic tank

• Leach field (drain field/infiltration field)

These systems are reviewed as part of the building approval process, with MINSA responsible for reviewing and approving wastewater treatment systems in construction plans.

 

Where can a leach field be built?

The exact design depends on:

• soil type,

• groundwater level,

• site topography,

• wastewater volume,

• local health requirements.

Wastewater and sanitation plans may require review by MINSA and other competent authorities as part of the building, environmental and operational approval processes. A municipal construction permit does not replace any environmental or discharge authorization required from MiAMBIENTE.

For coastal sites in Bocas, shallow groundwater, flooding, or proximity to mangroves or the shoreline may require a different system or additional engineering.

 

Septic and On-Site Wastewater Systems

Where no public sewer system is available, an approved on-site system may include a septic tank, soil-infiltration system, packaged treatment plant or another engineered solution.

The appropriate system depends on the proposed use, wastewater volume, soil permeability, groundwater level, flood risk, available land, proximity to wells and nearby sensitive environments.

A septic tank alone stores and partially treats wastewater; it is not necessarily a complete disposal system. The final effluent must be managed through a method accepted by the relevant authorities for that specific site.

Conventional infiltration or leach fields may be unsuitable on small, flood-prone, waterlogged or environmentally sensitive coastal properties. Property owners should obtain project-specific confirmation from MINSA, MiAMBIENTE and the other approving authorities before construction. Resolution DM-0075of 2024 April 26

 

When is a septic system NOT suitable?

A conventional leach field may not be appropriate where:

 The groundwater is very shallow.

 The property floods regularly.

 The soil does not drain properly.

 The property is immediately adjacent to mangroves.

The lot is too small to meet health and engineering requirements.

In these situations, an engineered wastewater treatment system may be required.

 

Hotels & Resorts

Hotels, restaurants, resorts and other higher-occupancy developments must use systems designed for their expected wastewater volume and pollutant load. A small residential system may be inadequate and may not receive approval for commercial use.

They often require:

• engineered treatment systems,

• larger treatment capacity,

• professional design,

• and approval by the relevant authorities as part of the development review.

 

Regulations for Land-Based Properties (Hotels, Homes, Over-water Structures)

Waterfront or over-water structures piping waste directly into the ocean:

• General Environmental Law (Law 41 of 1998): This law makes it illegal to pollute water bodies or degrade natural marine resources.

• Violations carry heavy administrative fines and potential criminal penalties.

• DGNTI-COPANIT 35-2019 applies to liquid-effluent discharges to continental and marine receiving waters.

• DGNTI-COPANIT 39-2000 applies to discharges entering wastewater collection systems. The applicable standard therefore depends on where the effluent is discharged

 

Inspections and Enforcement

MiAMBIENTE and MINSA may inspect wastewater systems and investigate suspected discharges that threaten environmental quality or public health. Depending on the circumstances and applicable procedure, authorities may require corrective measures, initiate sanctioning proceedings, suspend an activity or refer a matter to another competent authority.

The fact that a property or business has operated for many years does not necessarily establish that its wastewater system complies with current legal requirements. MiAMBIENTE continues to inspect facilities, initiate administrative proceedings and require operators to undertake the discharge-concession process where required.

 

Penalties

Violating wastewater and sewage disposal laws in Panama carries severe administrative, civil, and criminal penalties. The Ministry of Environment (MiAmbiente) and the Ministry of Health (MINSA) actively enforce these rules, especially in coastal tourist areas like Playa Venao and Bocas del Toro.

The penalties are structured based on the severity of the ecological and public health risk:

 

1. Administrative Fines

Under Law No. 41 of 1998 (General Environmental Law), MiAmbiente has the legal authority to issue written warnings or impose financial fines up to a maximum cap of $10,000,000 USD for catastrophic ecological damage.

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Possible Consequences of Non-Compliance

Depending on the applicable law, seriousness of the conduct, environmental harm, public-health risk, prior history and administrative procedure, consequences may include:

• Written warnings or corrective orders.

• Administrative fines.

• Suspension of works or operations.

• Closure of an establishment in appropriate cases.

• Cancellation or modification of an authorization.

• Required repair, remediation or restoration.

• Civil liability for resulting damage.

• Referral for criminal investigation where the facts may constitute an environmental or public-health offence.

Penalties are determined by the competent authority under the legislation applicable to the specific facts.

 

2. Operational Bans and Closures

Monetary fines are rarely issued in isolation.

Regulatory authorities usually pair them with immediate operation closure.

• Temporary Suspension: MiAmbiente or MINSA will issue an immediate cease-and-desist or closure order to a hotel, restaurant, or construction project. The business cannot reopen until it installs a certified, functioning wastewater treatment plant or septic system. 

• Definitive Permanent Closure: Reserved for highly severe infractions where public health is heavily impacted and the entity fails or refuses to make the mandated structural corrections. 

• Clean-Up Responsibility: The offending party must pay 100% of all environmental remediation, mitigation, and clean-up costs out of pocket.

 

3. Criminal Liability and Jail Time

Under Panama’s Penal Code, intentionally or negligently polluting water resources is classified as a fraudulent offence or environmental crime.

• Individuals who destroy, pollute, or degrade natural resources in direct violation of environmental codes face 3 to 8 years of imprisonment depending on the severity and intent of the damage.​

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