National Drought Plan measures
Further to the recently announced Water Code reform bill, which will give Chile’s hydric resources the status of ‘national assets of public use’; and the measures introduced last year, which included the appointment of a Water Resources delegate and support for over 84,000 farmers, today the Government announced details of the National Drought Plan, a comprehensive plan comprising a series of measures, some of which will take effect immediately.
Short term measures
These measures provide short term, immediate solutions to emergency situations to ensure the availability of water for human consumption as well as for the agricultural and livestock sectors throughout Chile.
→ Use of water trucks to ensure the availability of water for human consumption, including the procurement of water trucks where necessary.
→ Agricultural Development Institute (INDAP) support for small livestock farmers and bee-keepers to buy fodder, plants, seeds or equipment.
→ Resources for the family nutrition program.
→ Exploitation of underground water reserves, river channeling works and canal restorations, where required.
→ Installation of geo-membranes to prevent losses from water storage and transportation systems.
→ Installation of around 6,500 domestic rainwater collection systems (for homes currently supplied by water trucks), in the Biobío, Araucania, Los Rios and Los Lagos regions.
→ Small scale irrigation works overseen by the National Irrigation Commission, such as deepening wells, waterproofing canals and technical irrigation systems.
Medium term measures
These measures cover the more complex works with implementation times of up to four years, to provide more permanent solutions to water supply problems.
→ Installation of micro desalination plants in the Coquimbo, Valparaíso, Maule and Biobío regions.
→ Recovery and construction of small reservoirs during the next two years as part of the Micro and Small Reservoirs Plan, which was announced on March 5 this year.
→ Water efficiency criteria to be incorporated into new social housing projects funded by the Housing Ministry’s Fondo Solidario de Elección de Viviendas DS 49. The criteria will include water saving flush systems for toilets and special faucets to ensure lower water consumption. Taking into consideration water usage and heating costs, it is estimated that these measures will generate savings of between 40 and 70%.
Long term measures
These measures address water supply problems at a structural level.
→ Desalination plants in Copiapó, Petorca, and La Ligua; in the Choapa and Limari basins; and the Azapa Desalination Plant that has been promised for the Arica y Parinacota region.
→ Construction of 19 large reservoirs by 2024, eight of which have been prioritized for construction over the next two years: Valle Hermoso (Coquimbo region); Punilla (Biobío region); Los Aromos extension (Valparaíso region); Chironta (Arica y Parinacota region); Aconcagua y Las Palmas (Valparaíso region); Zapallar (Biobío region); and Livilcar (Arica y Parinacota region).