Lack of Rain in Chile Forces Change in Plant Life
2022-05-01
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1In Chile's capital, Santiago, plants like grass are becoming rare after 13 years of extremely little rainfall.
2The drought has forced the city of six million people to limit water use.
3It has also caused local officials and landscapers to replace plants that need a lot of water with desert plants.
4"Santiago's landscaping is from years ago, designed for a Mediterranean climate.
5Now we are in a semi-desert climate," Valentina Vega of the Providencia neighborhood, told Reuters.
6"We can't waste all that water anymore."
7Recently, Chile announced a plan to ration water in the capital.
8It is the first such measure in the city's nearly 500-year history.
9It involves a four-level system that includes restrictions on water pressure and cutting off water to parts of the city for periods of time.
10In Providencia, the local government plans to change planted areas along roads into areas with plants that need little water.
11A special watering system is also planned.
12"This saves almost 90% of water compared to traditional landscaping," Vega added.
13The city is also divided. Rich areas have more areas with trees and plants which are little seen in poorer areas.
14But everyone is making changes, using native plants and modernized watering systems to avoid waste.
15Economics student Aracely Rodriguez, 26, lives in Pudahuel, an area in the northwest of Santiago.
16"Where I live there are no parks or green areas nearby, there is not much to water," Rodriguez said, adding: "We try to take care of the water. We have a conscience."
17Rodrigo Fuster is an expert in water management from the University of Chile.
18He said people need to change the way they use water.
19He said Santiago now receives less rainfall and snow from the nearby Andes Mountains.
20This has reduced river water available to the city.
21In Santiago's main city park, waterways that carry water from the Maipo and Mopocho rivers to the park are 80 percent lower than normal.
22Park officials have updated the water systems and added trees that can live in the climate.
23"The drought hits us all," said Eduardo Villalobos, who helps supervise the park.
24He added that people need to change what they do each day to save water.
25In the park and others across Santiago, a combined five hectares of grass area has already been replaced, he said.
26This saves 300,000 liters of water during each watering period.
27Local people have been divided about the changes.
28Some said the new landscaping in places just looked like rocks.
29Others said change would take time and could also be beautiful.
30Dina Robles pointed to a sustainable garden in front of her house full of different plants, colorful flowers, and grasses.
31The smell of plants often used in cooking, mint and rosemary, was carried by the wind.
32"A neighbor told me she regretted the change, that they had been promised flowers and there were only stones," Robles said with a laugh.
33She added that it took three months for the plants near her house to flower.
34"Then it all exploded in shades of violet and blue. It's very beautiful," she said.
35I'm Gregory Stachel.
1In Chile's capital, Santiago, plants like grass are becoming rare after 13 years of extremely little rainfall. 2The drought has forced the city of six million people to limit water use. It has also caused local officials and landscapers to replace plants that need a lot of water with desert plants. 3"Santiago's landscaping is from years ago, designed for a Mediterranean climate. Now we are in a semi-desert climate," Valentina Vega of the Providencia neighborhood, told Reuters. "We can't waste all that water anymore." 4Recently, Chile announced a plan to ration water in the capital. It is the first such measure in the city's nearly 500-year history. It involves a four-level system that includes restrictions on water pressure and cutting off water to parts of the city for periods of time. 5In Providencia, the local government plans to change planted areas along roads into areas with plants that need little water. A special watering system is also planned. 6"This saves almost 90% of water compared to traditional landscaping," Vega added. 7The city is also divided. Rich areas have more areas with trees and plants which are little seen in poorer areas. But everyone is making changes, using native plants and modernized watering systems to avoid waste. 8Economics student Aracely Rodriguez, 26, lives in Pudahuel, an area in the northwest of Santiago. 9"Where I live there are no parks or green areas nearby, there is not much to water," Rodriguez said, adding: "We try to take care of the water. We have a conscience." 10Reducing water 11Rodrigo Fuster is an expert in water management from the University of Chile. He said people need to change the way they use water. He said Santiago now receives less rainfall and snow from the nearby Andes Mountains. This has reduced river water available to the city. 12In Santiago's main city park, waterways that carry water from the Maipo and Mopocho rivers to the park are 80 percent lower than normal. Park officials have updated the water systems and added trees that can live in the climate. 13"The drought hits us all," said Eduardo Villalobos, who helps supervise the park. He added that people need to change what they do each day to save water. 14In the park and others across Santiago, a combined five hectares of grass area has already been replaced, he said. This saves 300,000 liters of water during each watering period. 15Local people have been divided about the changes. Some said the new landscaping in places just looked like rocks. Others said change would take time and could also be beautiful. 16Dina Robles pointed to a sustainable garden in front of her house full of different plants, colorful flowers, and grasses. The smell of plants often used in cooking, mint and rosemary, was carried by the wind. 17"A neighbor told me she regretted the change, that they had been promised flowers and there were only stones," Robles said with a laugh. She added that it took three months for the plants near her house to flower. 18"Then it all exploded in shades of violet and blue. It's very beautiful," she said. 19I'm Gregory Stachel. 20Natalia A. Ramos Miranda reported this story for Reuters. Gregory Stachel adapted it for VOA Learning English. 21____________________________________________________________________ 22Words in This Story 23drought - n. a long period of time during which there is very little or no rain 24landscape - v. to make changes to improve the appearance of (an area of land) 25ration - v. to control the amount of (something, such as gasoline or food) that people are allowed to have especially when there is not enough of it 26sustainable - adj. involving methods that do not completely use up or destroy natural resources 27conscience - n. the part of the mind that makes you aware of your actions as being either morally right or wrong 28park - n. a piece of public land in or near a city that is kept free of houses and other buildings and can be used for pleasure and exercise 29regret -v. to feel sorry or sad about something you did or did not do 30We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page.