Mate is more than an infusion It is widely consumed in Paraguay, Argentina and Uruguay. But in this last country, this herb, which when mixed with hot water conveys its bitter taste to the mouth with a straw and is placed in a container known as a bombilla, is where it is taken for its energetic and antioxidant properties. , this is a national issue. Uruguayans are more than excellent consumers. Thanks to their friendship with Diego Godin, as in the cases of Luis Suárez or Antoine Griezman in Spain, they always carry the “thermos” and the bowl with the herb, as the metal vessel with the water is known. . . spouse It is attachment to the body, a collective ritual. a social network in the public sphere, founded on the basis of invitation and invitation. But for this cultural and meal plan to work, should be water. And that’s what’s missing at unknown levels.. “If it doesn’t rain, there will be a period when the water will become undrinkable,” President Luis Lacalle Pou said a few days ago. However, the sky was not disturbed. The Uruguay Meteorological Institute (Inumet) is not even predicting showers on the near horizon.
Uruguay, with a population of 3.5 million, has been facing each other for four years. A drought date This forced Lacalle to declare a water emergency. The climate change enveloping the region is also hitting the rivers and points to much bigger problems, according to scientists. The capital city of Montevideo and its surroundings have been feeling the effects of fresh water shortages for months. The main source is the Paso Severino dam, about 85 kilometers north of the capital. Collection levels have been dropping for months. It increased from 2,887,394 cubic meters on 20 June to 1,372,116 cubic meters in the last days. According to the latest measurements, the capacity of the reservoir is around 2%. Talking of a week’s supply. The specter of absolute absence hovers over the city.
salting
As the crisis escalated, the company Obras Sanitarias del Estado (OSE) had to increasingly mix the scarce fresh water in the Santa Lucía River, which, due to its proximity to the Río de la Plata, contains significant salt. , in turn adjacent to the Atlantic Ocean. It was forced to increase its chloride and sodium levels to make it drinkable. AND the disturbances began. The Faculty of Medicine asked children not to add salt to food.
Complications go beyond food. Hairdressers cannot wash their hair, and when they do, customers do not even dare to look in the mirror. Bathing and brushing your teeth means being impregnated with the remnants of saline.
buy bottled water
The people of Montevideo and the residents of the surrounding cities had no choice but to go out and buy. bottled water. Sales increased by 224%. Eight liters cost about 3.5 euros. The Ministry of Social Development allocates two liters of free bottled water for children under the age of two and pregnant women. 86% of the stores have discounted prices. 9.1% of poor people in Uruguay did not use it to access this consumption. And now it costs much more.
Uruguay measures in surprise irreconcilable distance between public goals and reality. It is the first country in the world to establish the right to drinking water in its 2004 Magna Carta. The service is inexpensive and regulated by OSE, a monopoly company for 19 years. At the same time, the supply system bears the weight of time and neglect. According to the newspaper ‘El Observador’, pipes lose 30 to 50% of their carry due to neglect.
necessary investments
The right-wing government and its predecessor, the centre-left Broad Front, blame each other for what happened. The first blames his opponents for not doing what is necessary during the years of political hegemony. The opposition speaks of a lack of skill.
Lacalle Pou promised construction of a new reservoir in a month. Responsible companies discourage this kind of optimism. Presidential Secretary Álvaro Delgado pointed out that beyond the stability mechanisms sought “against time”, the definitive solution will come with the project known as the Arazatí project, a $200 million investment that will provide water. to the entire metropolitan network within two years.
Meanwhile, Uruguayans watch the weather forecast daily, even with knowledge from experts. the rain Aspirations won’t be enough to stop the difficulties. The taste of salt threatens to become an irritating habit. Mate must be drunk with mineral water or go through a complex period of abstinence.