Govt. envisions rain catchment park

A 30ha rain catchment park for south central Santiago would help control flooding by storing six to seven days of rainfall, the public works ministry reported. Parque la Aguada represents an innovative and economic solution, according to public works under-secretary Clemente Perez, adding that this project would cost some US$12mn, versus US$26mn to build a new collector. "In addition, the fact that the park would flood five, six or, at the most, seven days a year, means the rest of the period it would be a green area for community relaxation." Containment lagoons would be built in 11 of the 30ha, according to authorities, which have been working on the project for about a year. Engineering studies are slated to begin next year.