“Friend, I am from the rain
because it is a singing harp
of wires and ties
“who are clacking furiously…”
Violeta Parra, a poet and a leading figure in Chilean popular music, described something that is often scarce in central and northern Chile: rain.
The meteorological phenomenon is remembered with a certain nostalgia by a large part of this South American country that has been hit for years by a mega-drought.
The prolonged water crisis – which spread from 2009 to 2022, being the worst of the last 50 years– caused lakes, rivers, reservoirs and wells in the central regions to dry up completely, while many farmers and ranchers lost everything.
But that stingy rain has returned with force in recent months, giving hope to Chileans who had already become accustomed to a desert climate.
The month of June of this 2024 It became the rainiest of the last 22 years in the Metropolitan Region – where the capital, Santiago, is located – according to the Meteorological Directorate of Chile.
With these precipitations – combined with other bad weather fronts that occurred in May – a surplus of more than 100% was accumulated in several cities in the country compared to the previous year.
This trend had already been evident since the second half of 2023, when more rainfall than usual was also recorded.
And although the storms left thousands of people homeless – Gabriel Boric’s government has even had to declare some regions of the country a “catastrophe zone” – many Chileans who have businesses that depend on water have felt relief and hope.
Which sites have shown signs of recovery? Here are some of the most iconic ones.
1. Aculeo Lagoon
The Aculeo Lagoon was one of the most obvious symbols of the drought that hit Chile until 2022.
Located 70 kilometers south of Santiago, this place was for decades a important tourist center especially for city dwellers looking to escape the capital.
All kinds of water sports were practiced there, such as water skiing, sailing and kayaking.
It was also a key area for local farmers.
But after years without rain – to which was added an alleged poor management of the consumption of its waters, according to some investigations -, In 2018 it was officially declared dry.
The images went around the world: water and vegetation turned into cracked earth with docks and boats that went nowhere.
Many tourist businesses were forced to close, while farmers and ranchers had to emigrate.
“This is a lagoon that does not have a river to feed it, but rather depends strictly on rainfall. So, if it does not rain, it does not receive water and ends up drying up,” he explains to BBC Mundo. Raúl Cordero, climatologist at the University of Santiago.
By mid-2023, however, the outlook began to change.
Thanks to the increase in rainfall, the lagoon has accumulated some water again.
Satellite images published by NASA showed that in September last year its size was 5 square kilometers and one meter deep. Before the drought, it was approximately 12 square kilometers in size and had a maximum depth of 7 meters.
The trend continued this year and after the historic rains of June – when they were recorded 183 millimeters of water fell In the central part of the country, the lagoon has recovered a significant part of its size (although it has not yet reached the size it had before the drought).
This caused the return of more than 70 species of birds, representing 68% of the total bird population that existed before the water shortage, according to data from the Altos de Cantillana Nature Reserve.
It also caused some local farmers to return and begin planting crops in the area again.
All of the above has brought hope to its residents and to those who have businesses in the area.
“People are very happy because tourists who come for a day or two days are returning. So many people have benefited, from stores to pharmacies or cafes,” he explains to BBC Mundo. Christian Campino, owner of the Los Alamos resort that offers cabins and camping sites on the lagoon.
The businessman settled here 30 years ago and says that back then it was a place “full of life.”
“We used to water ski, sail, swim… But all that ended overnight,” he says.
“Many businesses, similar to mine, had to close because they did not adapt. “They lived off the lagoon. I had to put in a swimming pool, soccer fields and event halls…”, he adds.
Despite rising water levels here, Campino and other residents are watching what is happening with caution.
“We are only at 65% recovery. The water has not yet reached the docks. We hope that it continues to rain, otherwise it will be difficult to recover the entire lagoon,” he said.
2. Petorca River
In the midst of the heavy rains recorded last June, there was a phenomenon that caused special commotion among Chileans: the return of the Petorca River.
Located in the Valparaíso region, this flow has not decreased for six years due to drought.
Videos circulated on social media of neighbors celebrating as they watched him run again. The event was called “the water festival.”
Petorca has been one of the areas most affected by water shortages in Chile. Local producers have been severely affected by not having the means to feed their animals or maintain their land.
And not only that.
In 2021, Some schools were forced to reduce their hours of activities due to water cuts. Much of the community has depended for years on water trucks (or tankers), having to maneuver to take advantage of every last drop, literally.
In addition to the lack of rainfall, some people point to agribusiness for the drought in the area, as well as the poor distribution of water.
It is worth remembering that Chile is the only country in the world that has its waters privatizedaccording to the Water Code dating back to 1981.
But the critical situation of the people of Petorca began to improve little by little with the rains that occurred in 2023 and even more so with the last frontal system in June of this year that brought the river back to them.
“Seeing the water running again was a blessing. People were very excited, the workers were happy,” the agronomist told BBC Mundo. Javiera Vallejos, who, together with her sisters, has a flower plantation in the commune.
“I have been working in Petorca for 20 years and I have always had to fight for water. I have only seen the river go down twice. I have already calculated that when that happens, I have 7 years of insurance because the wells fill up, and the aquifers fill up.”explains the businesswoman.
“It’s not a lifelong solution, but it gives us a few years of peace of mind,” he adds.
Like Javiera Vallejos, many farmers – who usually grow things like lettuce, potatoes or sweet cucumbers – feel relieved to see that their fields are no longer as dry as before.
3. Peñuelas Lake and other reservoirs:
Lake Peñuelas is an artificial reservoir that was created in 1900 with the aim of providing drinking water to the Valparaíso region.
For decades it served its purpose, but with the drought that affected central Chile since 2009, the lake’s water level continued to decrease.
Until the summer of 2021, the situation was no longer sustainable and It ceased to be a source of water for the nearly two million residents of Valparaíso.
“We had 0.01% of water in the reservoir. That is, the lake was on the verge of drying up completely, only a small puddle was visible,” he explained to BBC Mundo. Oscar Salazaradministrator of the Peñuelas Lake National Reserve.
With the lack of water, much of the area’s wildlife also disappeared, such as the black-necked swans or coscorobas.
Much of the native vegetation dried up and the entire landscape deteriorated.
But, as happened with the Laguna de Aculeo or Petorca, this site has also shown signs of recovery with the recent rains.
“Last winter, 496 millimeters of rain fell and with that, it recovered a little: reached 4.7% of its capacity,” says Oscar Salazar.
“And with this year’s rains it recovered even more. With more than 500 millimeters of water fallen, the reservoir is already at the 25.2% of its capacity”, adds.
Although it has not yet reached historic levels, Salazar says that a significant change can already be seen in the local ecosystem.
“The environment has changed, many birds have returned, such as black-necked swans, ducks and herons. And it has become a kind of green lung in central Chile again,” he says.
The reserve manager explains that although the lake has not been used again to provide drinking water to the surrounding community, Its recovery ensures supplies in case of emergencies.
Along with Peñuelas, there are other reservoirs that have also experienced an increase in their water levels.
According to a report by San Sebastián University, most of the dams that supply water to the cities of Santiago and Valparaíso are almost at 100% of their capacity.
One of them is Gypsum, located in the Andes mountain range.
According to records from the National Water Authority, at the end of June this year it was at 89% capacity. Another notable case is the reservoir The Aromoswhich is located in the commune of Limache and which reached 100% of its capacity.
A similar situation exists in the Rapel lake, in the O’Higgins region, which is now returning to its historical capacity after having been severely affected by the drought.
Expert warning
Despite the relief that the rains have brought to some central regions of Chile, experts warn that this does not mean that the drought affecting the South American country will be over.
In fact, some are sceptical about the real impact of the recent rainfall, pointing out that, without further rain, available water levels are likely to fall again in the short term.
“If drought caused damage for 14 years in a row, one or two rainy years do not solve all the problems.” “s,” says climatologist Raúl Cordero.
“Unfortunately, for Chile, climate change means drought. And the next few years will most likely not be as good as this one,” he added.
Cordero explains that the situation may become even more complicated by the arrival of the La Niña phenomenon which in Chile – as well as in Peru, Bolivia, southern Brazil and Argentina – manifests itself through water scarcity.
In light of this, activists are calling on the country’s authorities to take measures to help mitigate the negative effects of the lack of water on the population.
Meanwhile, many Chileans affected by the megadrought are hoping to make the most of the rains that have fallen and are awaiting possible new rainfall.
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