Uruguay is facing the worst water shortage in 74 years, which has led authorities to consider using the Rio de la Plata estuary to secure the supply, albeit with significant risks. During a protest, a young protester held up a sign with the ominous message “Warning, do not drink water!” accompanied by a drawing of a glass covered by the prohibition sign.
This situation reflects the fears of the population in the face of the serious water crisis caused by the lack of rainfall and climate change. There is the fear of running out of drinking water or that the water available will be of poor quality for human consumption.
Faced with prolonged drought and dwindling reserves, Uruguayan authorities have had to blend water from the Rio de la Plata estuary with the little that remains in storage. However, this blending results in a liquid with high levels of sodium and chloride, causing concern among the population.
The authorities have temporarily raised the permitted sodium limit to guarantee the supply. However, the consumption of water with these characteristics is discouraged for certain groups, such as pregnant women and people with chronic diseases.
The water crisis has led to an increase in the consumption of bottled water, and part of the shortage is attributed to the poor state of the infrastructure, which causes losses in drinking water.
The situation particularly affects the south of the country, where most of the population is concentrated, including the capital, Montevideo. The Paso Severino dam, the main source of supply for the capital, has reached critical levels.
This crisis has generated political tensions between the government of Luis Lacalle Pou and the opposition Frente Amplio (FA). The FA accuses the government of dismissing a plan to build a dam that would increase the supply of fresh water.
Faced with this situation, the government has announced measures such as the acquisition of a desalination plant and the acceleration of repairs to damaged pipelines. However, it is recognized that previous administrations have not adequately addressed the country’s water problem.