- Initiatives in Arica, Antofagasta, Atacama, Santiago and Valparaíso seek to raise awareness about the importance of caring for water resources within the framework of the commemoration of World Water Day, created by the United Nations in 1993.
- Talks in kindergartens, guided tours of facilities and even a cultural activity on Artificial Intelligence are some of the activities.
The Chilean Association for Desalination and Water Reuse - ACADES - has promoted a series of activities in the regions of Arica, Antofagasta, Atacama, Santiago and Valparaíso through its member companies. The objective is to commemorate World Water Day by highlighting the importance of caring for water as a fundamental resource for both human consumption and for industries such as mining and, especially, for agriculture.
“The various actions will invite the community to get involved in caring for water as a source of life, encouraging responsible use and the role that each person plays in collaborating with reuse and access to new sources, such as, for example, desalination and other alternatives that are emerging from the latest technologies developed by start-ups and entrepreneurs in general,” said Carlos Foxley, president of ACADES.
This is how companies such as Aguas del Altiplano will give a talk about the water cycle for the National Board of Kindergartens (JUNJI) and in parallel, a visit to the “Lluta” water production plant together with neighborhood leaders. In addition, in Iquique they will have an exhibition on climate change and water scarcity in collaboration with the Government of Tarapacá, and then, another activity with the Superintendence of Sanitary Services at the INACAP Institute.
For its part, Aguas Antofagasta has already carried out various actions in the region throughout the month of March, which will continue in the coming weeks. These include a visit to the plant by the presidential delegation and the Seremis of Public Works, Energy and Environment; and within the framework of its commitment to the environment, they have signed agreements with municipalities in order to promote the supply of water for agriculture in the desert and the propagation of native flora to recover green areas. On Water Day, they will carry out activities with gardens and schools, as well as a fair with public and private companies.
In the Atacama region, the second version of the family race will be held in Copiapó, organized by the company Nueva Atacama, part of the Aguas Nuevas Group. The activity, which in its last edition had more than 300 participants, will once again be open, free of charge, to the public and to pets. The event will have two routes of three and five kilometers, in which the categories of all competitors will participate, those over 50 years old in both routes, the pet friendly category and the most original costume in the three-kilometer route. This race aims to promote healthy and active living, and above all, to highlight the importance of taking care of water, which consequently means being careful and sustainable with the environment. The regional manager of the Nueva Atacama subsidiary, Sergio Fuentes, said that “the fact of having a permanent source in the most arid desert in the world, which is reliable in quantity and quality, allows for water security, promoting the economic development of the entire region.”
In the Valparaíso region, the Aguas Pacífico multipurpose plant located in Puchuncaví has organized a visit for Rural Potable Water Associations (APR) to share experiences and innovations that can complement each other. Within the framework of the water month, the company has renewed its commitment to provide a stable supply of water to various industries, and if necessary, for human consumption in a context of national drought, especially with the water crisis that this region is specifically suffering.
In Santiago, there will be a guided tour of Manuela Garretón's exhibition "Hybrid Ecologies" at the La Moneda Cultural Center, followed by a discussion that will address the problem raised by the installation regarding the water footprint of Artificial Intelligence.
These are just some of the activities that will be carried out in the framework of this important date, which has been commemorated since 1993 by the United Nations. On this 31st anniversary, the international organization has called it "Water for Peace," a global campaign that seeks to encourage everyone - from individuals and families to companies and governments - to do everything possible to cooperate on water issues and pave the way for a more harmonious society.
