“A city cannot live without water,” Claudio Orego, governor of the Santiago metropolitan area, told a news conference. “And we are in an unprecedented situation in the 491-year history of Santiago, where we have to prepare so that there is not enough water for everyone who lives here.” The plan includes a four-level alert system that goes from green to red and starts with public service announcements, proceeds to reduce water pressure and ends with rotating water breaks of up to 24 hours for approximately 1.7 million customers. The warning system is based on the capacity of the Maipo and Mapocho rivers, which supply the capital with most of its water and have seen the water level drop as the drought continues. The government estimates that the country’s water availability has dropped by 10% to 37% in the last 30 years and could be reduced by 50% in northern and central Chile by 2060. River water shortages, measured in liters per second, will determine whether cuts are made every 12, six or four days. In each case, they have seized it, despite obstacles we can scarcely imagine. “ “This is the first time in history that Santiago has a blueprint for water because of the severity of climate change,” Orrego said. “It’s important for citizens to understand that climate change is here to stay. It’s not just global, it’s local. “ Areas fed by wells or sources other than the two rivers will be excluded from the cuts.
