Chile prioritizes water security as cities face scarcity

Chile's government and the private sector will cooperate on 12 projects to improve water security in the coming years, with the objective of preventing shortages as cities keep growing.

Talking to daily El Mercurio, water regulator SISS head Ronaldo Bruna said half the projects will start this year.

The initiatives are the result of a series of meetings between government officials and private sector players that began in 2017 to set the main objectives for the sector between now and 2030.

The objectives were divided into climate change, city growth and services for users.

Bruna warned that major Chilean cities are facing water scarcity in the near future, so "we must take action now in order to prevent" a full-blown crisis.

The 12 plans are (the first six will begin this year):

1. Creating an alert system for natural disasters.

2. Wastewater reuse and improvements to water networks to prevent losses.

3. Coordination between the housing ministry and water service concessionaires to speed up concessions for new areas and install water infrastructure in new residential areas.

4. Renovation of sewer networks, higher investment in rain water collectors and use of collected water to refill aquifers.

5. Water utilities to provide the public with regular reports on their activities.

6. Increased quality controls at water intakes and potable water sources.

7. Including potable water needs in irrigation projects and hydroelectric dams.

8. Reducing the environmental impact of water usage.

9. Creating an open data room within SISS on available water sources.

10. Applying new quality standards to water utilities.

11. Including water management courses in the programs handled by the education ministry.

12. Creating a "blue seal" to certify residential water installations or those of irrigation, mining and other industries as water efficient or environmentally friendly.

Bruna admitted that some of the projects could require legislative changes.