Uruguay unveils river conservation plan

Uruguay's government unveiled a three-year plan to preserve the Negro river basin (in photo), which will require nearly US$18mn.

The initiative, presented by the government committee that manages the basin, entails measures in five areas: potable water and sanitation, biodiversity conservation, strengthening of local authorities, sustainable production and gathering information on the river basin ecosystem, documents from the housing ministry (MVOTMA) show.

MVOTMA said the measures are expected to take effect before the opening of a planned pulp mill by Finnish firm UPM, which already has one mill in Uruguay that led to a diplomatic spat with Argentina.

Other measures include strengthening surveillance systems in the basin and installing alert mechanisms in the case of floods or droughts.

Waterworks planned in the region include reinforcing wastewater collectors in the town of Paso de los Toros in Tacuarembó department, which will cost US$23mn, studies to expand wastewater disposal services in the town of Centenario, and a new wastewater treatment plant for the town of San Gregorio de Polanco which will cost US$10mn.

When presenting the plan, interim housing minister Jorge Rucks said the Negro basin "covers a fourth of the country. Hence we must be very careful how we will work in order to protect and maintain its waters as a central asset," the presidency's office said in a press release.