The South American country is currently experiencing the worst drought since records began in 1949. A historic lack of rainfall is straining freshwater supplies and severely affecting water supply and quality in the capital , Montevideo.
With our correspondent in Buenos Aires, Theo Conscience
Since the beginning of May, in homes in the Uruguayan capital, tap water has tasted abnormally salty. To save critical reserves, the OSE, the entity in charge of water supply, distributes a mixture of fresh water and water drawn from the Rio de la Plata estuary.
To do this, the entity previously had to raise its maximum sodium and chloride concentration thresholds. An exceptional measure taken in consultation with the Ministry of Health, which nevertheless caused a wave of indignation. As consumers flock to the bottles of mineral water that are beginning to run out on supermarket shelves, the Minister for the Environment has specified that, although not strictly drinkable, tap water remains suitable for consumption. “ The water is not, shall we say, drinkable, according to the “perfect” definition of drinking water. A definition that actually presents indicators. We say water is drinkable and consumable. It is another definition, which is almost added to the other. If we concentrate on really technical points, and if we exchange positions, this water, we say, is not drinkable but drinkable and consumable, in accordance with public health », Tries to justify Robert Bouvier.
The authorities had to resort to this solution because of the critical state of the fresh water reserves of the Paso Severino dam. With 4.5 million cubic meters, these are currently at their historic minimum and can barely guarantee supply until mid-June. In all, nearly two million people, or more than half of Uruguay’s population, depend on this reservoir for access to drinking water.
On May 31, scientists and NGOs call for demonstrations against the government’s management of the crisis.
