SANTIAGO, Chile, May 23 (UPI) -- Antofagasta, a city in northern Chile, has become the first in Latin America to meet 100% of its drinking water needs with desalinated seawater.
A $130 million investment expanded an existing desalination plant, originally built in 2003, to supply potable water to the city's 500,000 residents, Public Works Minister Jessica López has announced.
Situated in one of the driest regions in the world, northern Chile faces growing freshwater scarcity. In response, major mining companies, partnering with the government, have turned to innovative and sustainable solutions to secure water for local communities and mining operations.
"Investment from mining companies in these types of projects is crucial. It ensures a permanent and stable water source for operations and benefits the community by freeing up freshwater for human consumption, farming and livestock. It also eases pressure on aquifers and rivers," said Jorge Vargas, spokesperson for the non-governmental organization Red Ciudadana.
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