OSE President suggests making scheduled cuts as a solution to salt water

2023-05-18 02:30:50

In the midst of the serious drinking water crisis affecting Montevideo and its metropolitan area, the president of OSE, Raúl Montero, has proposed an alternative that could mitigate the situation. During the interpellation carried out this Wednesday in the Senate by the Broad Front, Montero pointed out the possibility of implementing scheduled cuts as a measure to deal with this pressing situation.

Alternative: Scheduled outages as a solution

The OSE president emphasized that, given the lack of viable options, scheduled cuts could be the most feasible alternative to address the potable water crisis in Montevideo. This proposal would consist of establishing a schedule of supply cuts in certain areas and specific times of the day, in order to rationalize consumption and ensure a minimum supply for all users.

Unlike other countries in the region, where this strategy has been applied successfully in similar situations, in Uruguay the implementation of programmed cuts has not yet been considered. However, Montero maintains that this measure could be a temporary and necessary solution given the seriousness of the situation.

Challenges and considerations on the water crisis

While scheduled outages could provide relief from potable water shortages, they also pose significant challenges and considerations. One of the main challenges lies in planning and effective communication with users. It is essential to establish a clear and detailed schedule, which allows people to organize and adapt to restricted supply hours.

Likewise, it is essential to guarantee that the scheduled cuts are equitable and do not disproportionately harm certain sectors of the population. The most vulnerable areas must be prevented from suffering even more limited access to drinking water, which could exacerbate existing inequalities.

Alteration of drinking water parameters

Instead of implementing the scheduled cuts, up to now it has been decided to alter two of the parameters that regulate the quality of drinking water in Montevideo: chloride and sodium levels. This decision was made with the objective of maintaining the water supply, although with certain modifications in its composition.

The alteration of these parameters is not without controversy, since it implies that the drinking water supplied to homes contains higher amounts of chlorides and sodium than those recommended. This could have implications for people’s health, especially for those with medical conditions sensitive to these substances.