Climate Change and Overuse: Water Resource Challenges during Economic Growth in Coquimbo, Chile

Abstract

The arid Coquimbo region of Chile has experienced a significant economic growth in recent decades, fueled in large part by water-intensive activities such as mining and agriculture. Under this context, a monthly and annual trend analysis of precipitation, streamflow, and piezometric levels was carried out. Thus, 43 pluviometric stations, 11 fluviometric stations, and 11 wells were selected. These stations were evaluated for their temporal trends using the Mann–Kendall test. Results revealed a significant decrease in river flows, with negative and significant trends concentrated in the mean and maximum flows, both at annual and monthly levels. Likewise, positive trends were found in the depth to water table on wells, with significant trends in 81.8% of the monthly cases, and in 72.7% of the annual cases. While also decreasing over the same period, rainfall trends exhibit high variability and lacked significance. Although the amounts of precipitation have decreased, this does not seem to be the main factor responsible for the scarcity of water in the region, but rather an excessive consumption of this resource. This is endorsed by the increase in GDP (Gross Domestic Product), which is explained by activities that consume water (mining and agriculture). Similarly, an increase in the granting of underground water rights was verified, which speaks of the high demands for the resource. However, future modeling is advised to better understand the regional hydrology of the area and quantify the anthropic effects on water resources more precisely.

Scoping Review (SR) via Text Data Mining on Water Scarcity and Climate Change

“…Therefore, a scientific approach is recommended to decrease ecology, sustainability, and environment impacts as also stated by Zy Harifidy et al [65]. In addition, according to Pizarro et al [66], human actions and overuse are also quickly exhausting water resources, in addition to changing the climate and affecting precipitations. Encouraging sustainable water management (SWM) practices seems crucial in order to safeguard water sustainability by pushing policymakers to reformulate strategies and policies to combat water scarcity [67].…”

Cuidados De Enfermería a Comunidades “Atrapadas Climáticas”: Un Desafío en Contexto De Crisis Ambiental Global

“…a la aparición de la señal de cambio climático de origen antropogénico (3) y en el caso de la macrozona norte, en particular la Región de Coquimbo, se adiciona el uso excesivo de los recursos hídricos. Así, la producción agrícola y minera en la cuarta región de Chile son actividades que demandan enormes cantidades de agua, situación que en la actualidad no es sostenible (4) . La sequía es uno de los más importantes desastres socio-naturales que afecta a las comunidades y al medioambiente a nivel global (3) .…”