The low rainfall on the river slightly benefited the Paso Severino reservoir, vital to the capital, Montevideo.
By Roberto Morejon
Uruguayans sighed with relief at the recent lull in some rains, many still insufficient to ease the acute drought, the worst in 70 years, and causing a water crisis, the worst in local history.
The river’s low rainfall easily benefited the Paso Severino reservoir, vital to the capital Montevideo, and was affected like the rest of the country.
The stated reservoir, the largest in Uruguay, has fallen dangerously to less than 2.4 percent of its capacity, prompting logical fears.
The dire situation has grown in importance in recent months as the channels through which the vital fluid travels narrowed and salt water began to flow from clients’ faucets in their homes.
For many Uruguayans, the current difficulties are not only related to the absence of storms, but also highlight the lack of official measures to mitigate the effects of droughts.
According to the directors of the National Administration of State Sanitary Works, the current water crisis could have been avoided if the government of neoliberal President Luis Lacalle Pou had implemented infrastructure works.
The said public company had to cut $200 million in investments and disrupt the country’s former President Tabaré Vázquez’s plan to build a dam on a major river.
Recall that, as is common in the philosophy of this type of right-wing government, government funding decreases during their tenure.
With the nagging availability of the vital natural resource, our only option is to resort to bottled water sold in stores, but disadvantaged sectors suffering from low wages say they are struggling to obtain it.
Adding to all of this is what opposition sources have denounced, defining as a lack of transparency and communication on the part of the Lacalle Pou government regarding the water crisis.
Fortunately, Uruguayans are counting on the recent rains that will allow for moderate freshwater flow in the Santa Lucía River basin.
According to experts, however, normal conditions would only recover in Uruguay if an average of at least 100 millimeters of precipitation were recorded in August and September in each of these months.
Meanwhile, the government is content to recommend reducing household water consumption.