In January 2022, the Governor of the Metropolitan Region, Claudio Orrego, warned that due to the effects of climate change and the ongoing megadrought, water rationing could not be ruled out that year. His statement—along with a campaign that included the Governor rapping—brought public and media attention to the issue of water scarcity. But what is actually happening with water scarcity in Chile?
To grasp the situation, two major factors must be considered: current water availability and the demand on this resource from the population, ecosystems, and productive sectors.
Water scarcity is rightly linked to climate change, as it has increased the natural variability of the water cycle worldwide, with multiple and diverse impacts. This threatens both human activity and ecosystem health.
In Chile, decreasing precipitation and drier air caused by rising temperatures in recent years have led to droughts in many regions (Escenarios Hídricos 2030, 2018). National data from 258 weather stations show a 7% decrease in annual rainfall per decade over the last 40 years (DGAC, 2021). Since 2007, the situation has worsened, with below-average rainfall and a deficit of 26% in 2020 alone (DGAC, 2021).
Chile’s main groundwater reserves also show a marked decline in well levels, particularly in the north-central regions (Escenarios Hídricos 2030, 2018). Glaciers are retreating or losing mass across the north, center, and south, and rising freezing levels are reducing snow accumulation (Santibáñez, 2017).
Droughts have become more frequent and longer in the central and southern zones of the country, especially in coastal areas (Escenarios Hídricos 2030, 2018). Since 2010, the area between Coquimbo and La Araucanía—nearly one-third of the country—has seen a 30% reduction in rainfall (FCH, 2021). This prolonged drought in central Chile is the longest and most severe on record, earning the name “megadrought.”
In his statement, Governor Orrego made a key point: “The call is for everyone—individuals, organizations, companies, and the state—to take care of such a valuable and scarce resource.” The significance lies in the fact that both people and organizations have contributed to the growing water demand, driven by demographic and economic growth.
Water extraction reaches 4,900 m³/s, equivalent to 166 billion cubic meters per year. Of this, 7% is consumed (i.e., not returned to the original basin), totaling 346 m³/s. This demand is projected to increase by 4.5% by 2030 and 9.7% by 2040 (DGA, 2017).
Agriculture accounts for 72% of national water consumption, followed by potable water production (12%), industry (7%), and mining (4%). The remaining 5% is split between livestock and electricity generation (DGA, 2017). This means that nearly 90% of Chile’s water consumption is linked to productive sectors—highlighting the impact efficient water management by companies can have on national water availability.
To address this, Chile’s Sustainability and Climate Change Agency promotes water footprint reporting through its “Certificado Azul” (Blue Certificate) initiative. This improves the availability of data for water management and planning, while benefiting businesses by helping them reduce costs and meet stakeholder expectations.
At ImplementaSur, we’ve worked with companies in mining, industry, ports, food, and other sectors to measure their water footprints. These inventories identify major consumption activities and assess their territorial impact. Based on these assessments, we’ve also supported companies in applying for and obtaining the Certificado Azul.
Without a shift to more efficient and conscious water consumption, availability will continue to fall short. Already, the statistics are concerning: 76% of Chile’s land is affected by drought, desertification, and land degradation (Emanuelli et al., 2016); 110 aquifers have demand exceeding their recharge capacity (Ministry of the Interior, 2015); As of March 2022, 188 municipalities—54.3% of all municipalities—were officially declared water-scarce zones (DGA, 2022), affecting over 8 million people.
Chile’s National Water Resources Policy estimates a water gap (the difference between effective availability and demand) of 82.6 m³/s nationally (Ministry of the Interior, 2015). This gap could grow to 149 m³/s by 2030, based on projected growth and planned infrastructure.
The situation is alarming. Water is a globally scarce resource, and Chile ranks 18th among countries at highest risk of water crisis, according to the World Resources Institute’s Water Risk Atlas (WRI, 2015). It’s time for all sectors to take action to ensure its sustainable use. Despite the criticisms of Governor Orrego’s rap, one of his verses rings true: “Taking care of water is our responsibility: yours, mine, and everyone’s as a society.”
