Uruguayan government authorities are considering the implementation of irrigation systems due to changes in the country's rainfall patterns, local paper La República reported.
One of the possibilities is the implementation of an integrated geographic information system to monitor natural resources such as water, and analyze any eventual changes in their sustainability patterns, an executive from a local construction firm told BNamericas.
Some of the entities involved in the initiative are the cattle, agriculture and fishing ministry, the housing and environment ministry, the Universidad de la República, as well as private sector representatives.
Droughts and floods in the country are becoming more frequent and intense than they used to be, housing and environmental minister Carlos Colacce was quoted as saying.
"Not taking measures in time would be a catastrophe," Colacce added.
Authorities are also instructing agricultural producers on the proper construction of reservoirs, which have already been built in five departments to control floods and ensure water resources during periods of drought.
Government officials and private sector representatives are also looking to ensure the sustainability of the country's aquifers, seen by many as Uruguay's richest asset at a time when water is becoming a more and more valued resource.
Up to now, the country has relied exclusively on rainfall for irrigation and water supply. There was simply no need to implement irrigation technology, the construction firm executive said.
Rainfall recently began to be less frequent but heavier than before. Experts blame this change on global warming, arguing it is not a temporary phenomenon, the executive added.
Local water infrastructure construction firms are providing guidance to government authorities and the private sector regarding the water resources available in certain areas and about how they are being used, the executive said.
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