OSE is carrying out measures to prevent the metropolitan area from running out of water, such as installing tanks in schools and reducing pressure.
While the lack of rain continues to affect all of Uruguay, the Metropolitan area is one of the most affected, which is why the National Administration of State Sanitary Works (OSE) took action on it again and decreased water pressure in the area as long as it coincided install drinking water tanks in schools.
At the end of last month, the board of directors of OSE had taken the measure of increasing the measurement of sodium in the fluid from 200 milligrams per liter to 280 mg/L, while chloride they went from 280 mg/L to 450 mg/L. While last Friday, the Ministry of Public Health (MSP) authorized a new increase in the measures, which will go to 400 mg/L and 700 mg/L respectively.
This generated controversy within the government about whether the water was drinkable or not. According to him National Bromatological Regulationthe water that comes out of the faucets it is not drinkable but neither does it imply damage to health. This has to do with the so-called electrical organs, which are the flavor and the color that has the water According to the regulation, water that is not considered potable can be distributed only in exceptional cases such as this.
Less pressure for the metropolitan area
However, OSE’s decisions did not remain in the water salinity, but now he chose to reduce the pressure in the metropolitan area. To feed this area, OSE pumps water from the Santa Lucía River – around 70,000 cubic meters that represent 10% of the demand – as well as from the Paso Severino dam, which is also mixed with waters found below the river. de la Plata, which is what gives the salinity to the water.
Currently, OSE has four pumps that pump 460 thousand cubic meters per day, somewhat insufficient for the metropolitan area since need 600 thousand. That is why it plans to install a new pump that will allow 482,000 cubic meters to be removed, although it is also insufficient.
The director of OSE for the Broad Front, Edgardo Ortuno, stated that the company is waiting for the June rains and they plan to continue like this during May to cover the necessary supply. Within the metropolitan area, the most affected cities are Mines in Lavalleja, Nueva Helvecia in Colonia and San José de Mayo in San José.
a desperate solution
While OSE is carrying out the pressure reduction, it is also studying the possibility of implementation of drinking water tanks in schools, a decision that could be extended to residential areas. According to El País, the water would be carried in tanker trucks and would come from maldonado. This measure has the objective of allowing students to access water with less chloride and sodium.
Source: Ambito
