MONTEVIDEO, May 24 (Prensa Latina) Forecasts by the Uruguayan Institute of Meteorology (Inumet) came true today, with rain falling from the west and south-west coasts to the center and south of the country, which has been hit by a long-standing drought.
The rainfall reached the Santa Lucía river basin, where rain is needed to restore the dwindling reserves of fresh water in the springs that feed this capital, the metropolitan area and part of the Canelones department.
Inumet reported rainfall through noon in areas of the Santa Lucia Basin and the Río de la Plata.
According to the records, the rain is not plentiful or copious, but the forecast points to precipitation through Friday.
The general director of Obras Sanitarias del Estado, Arturo Castagnino, said that in order to start restoring the water reserves in the Paso Severino, the reservoir that supplies the vital fluid, there must be sustained and abundant rains in its basin in a few minutes, about 50 millimeter hrs
Uruguay is experiencing a water crisis due to drought that has prompted the declaration of an agricultural emergency.
At the same time, the lack of rain in some regions of the country affected the supply and quality of running water.
The crisis prompted the State Sanitation Administration, with the approval of other government institutions, to search further down the Río de la Plata for water, increasing the sodium and chloride levels of the liquid coming out of the faucets.
It is drinking water, but not drinking water, said Environment Minister Robert Bouvier.
For her part, Health Minister Karina Rando recommended that pregnant women, babies and patients with various chronic diseases drink bottled water.
Sales of this product have tripled in the city’s shops, while the government distributes it in schools and hospitals and plans to import it from neighboring countries.
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