3.5mln Uruguayans left without potable tap water amid drought

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
15 Jul 2023 10:13

The crisis was forecasted long ago when experts said the country's single reservoir, Montevideo, was exposed to vulnerabilities that would cause water supplies to diminish.

The dried Canelon Grande reservoir just north of Canelones, in southern Uruguay, earlier in March (AFP)

Drought in Uruguay has been so severe that nearly 3.5 million citizens are now left without access to tap water fit for drinking, with experts warning that the situation is likely to worsen amid ongoing climate change.

The crisis was forecasted long ago when experts said that the country's single reservoir, Montevideo, was exposed to vulnerabilities that would cause water supplies to diminish.

To make up the supply, authorities are taking water from the Rio de la Plata estuary, where seawater is mixed with freshwater, giving tap water a salty taste.

By May, the mixed water had reached the maximum levels of sodium and chlorides recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO), making the water taste salty and raising concerns about its potential hazards to human health.

The government maintained that added chemicals to the water only impact the taste and smell but pose no serious risk to human health.

But pregnant women and people, babies, and people with health conditions are still skeptical about the consumption of tap water, saying more research needs to be done to ensure its safety.

Some experts have warned against taking long showers, while others have reported that their water heaters had been damaged due to high amounts of sodium in the water.

A poll conducted in May found that about half of people residing in affected areas had reduced their consumption of tap water, while 35% said they completely stopped drinking it.

Uruguayan President Luis Lacalle Pou announced emergency measures including lifting taxes on bottled water and distributing two liters of free water daily to 21,000 vulnerable families. He also vowed to build a new reservoir in a month.