Water shortage in Chile leaves no peace – reservoirs report deficit of up to 60%

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – The phenomenon of water scarcity in the country is far from receding. And even though the network of reservoirs monitored by the General Water Directorate (DGA) during the last few days reported an increase in the accumulation of resources with respect to 2021, the capacity of use is not even close to half.

According to the latest Weekly Hydrometeorological Report of the DGA as of January 17, the total water accumulation reached 5.223.8 billion m3, i.e., 109% more than what was reported in January last year (4.801.7 billion m3), and a historical deficit of -24%.

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Thus, while the infrastructures intended for generation recorded an accumulated volume of 2.996 billion m3, i.e., an increase of 133% compared to 2021, the monthly averages of the other reservoirs grouped according to their primary use show a generalized deficit.

In the case of reservoirs intended for drinking water, this lack of resources reaches 24%, irrigation 46%, and irrigation and generation 50%.

The reservoirs recorded an average volume of 76% compared to January of last year, and only seven pools located between the regions of O’Higgins and Biobío, except the Chonchi reservoir in the Antofagasta Region, exceeded the historical monthly average: three for irrigation and four for generation.

On the other hand, the DGA pointed out that the average volume accumulated in the reservoirs as of January 17 reached 40% of their capacity.

This implies an increase of only 3% with respect to the previous year. Thus, those for generation with records close to the top reported 86% of use, those for irrigation and drainage 20%, those for drinking water 52%, and those for irrigation 32%.

DEFICIT IN DRINKING WATER RESERVOIRS

According to the DGA report, the five largest reservoirs in the network accumulated 3.8389 billion m3, equivalent to 73.4% of the total, and with a deficit of -25.1%. And if we talk about the lack of water resources, the reservoirs used for drinking water are not far behind.

Regarding the situation in the Metropolitan Region, the volume of El Yeso is 19.6% below its historical monthly average. In other words, its reserves are only 0.2 million m3. In the Valparaíso Region, the reserves of Aromos are 31.7% lower, and Peñuelas are 98.6% lower.

Thus, of the 25 reservoirs monitored, only nine accumulate more water than in 2021: These are Chonchi in the Antofagasta Region (+14.4%); El Yeso in the Metropolitan Region (+6.1%); Colbún (21.3%), Laguna Maule (3.1%), Bullileo (+9.4%) and Digua (+28.9%) in Maule; Coihueco (+1.1%) in Ñuble; and Ralco (111.9%) and Pangue (1.9%) in Biobío.

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