- Title: Water crisis prompts local restaurants to practice water recycling
- Date: 25th November 2016
- Summary: LA PAZ, BOLIVIA (NOVEMBER 24, 2016) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF BRAZILIAN RESTAURANT AFFECTED BY THE DROUGHT CLOSE OF SIGN THAT READS, "KITCHEN" VARIOUS OF CHEFS PREPARING FOOD VARIOUS OF CHEF, DAVID DICKLER, SHOWING JUGS, AND RECEPTACLES HE USES TO COLLECT WATER (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) BOLIVIAN CHEF, DAVID DICKLER, SAYING: "It's only for cleaning, and at the end we finish up using mineral water to cook, because it's the only water that guarantees quality and the hygiene we need to prepare food." VARIOUS OF DICKLER PREPARING FOOD ON GRILL VARIOUS OF CHEF SHOWING WATER USED FOR CLEANING VARIOUS EXTERIORS OF AREA RESTAURANTS VARIOUS OF CUSTOMERS ATTEMPTING TO GO TO THE BATHROOM, WHICH ARE CLOSED FOR LACK OF WATER CLOSE OF SIGN THAT READS, "DEAR CLIENT, THE BATHROOM IS CLOSED FOR LACK OF WATER" GENERAL VIEW OF GARDEN FOR RED MONKEY RESTAURANT VARIOUS OF RED MONKEY OWNER, PABLO SANTA CRUZ, REUSING WATER TO WATER PLANTS USED FOR HIS RESTAURANTS SANTA CRUZ WITH GALLONS OF WATER PAN OF GARDEN GENERAL VIEW OF WORKER LOOKING AT COMPOST PILE WORKER MOVING COMPOST WITH SHOVEL SOUP DISH INSIDE PEOPLE'S RESTAURANT VARIOUS OF DINERS AT A PEOPLE'S RESTAURANT VARIOUS OF YOUNG GIRL PREPARING DRINKS (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) CHEF AT PEOPLE'S RESTAURANT, ROSARIO MAMANI, SAYING: "They're coming for lunch precisely because of the water shortage, and there are many people who come to buy food with pots for the whole family. This is because of how hard it is." SIGN THAT READS, "OUT OF SERVICE" VARIOUS OF SOLDIER WATCHING OVER DISTRIBUTION OF FOOD/WATER DISTRIBUTION GENERAL VIEW OF TANK VARIOUS OF LOCAL RESIDENTS RECEIVING WATER FROM TANK VARIOUS OF EMERGENCY COMMAND POST EXTERIOR SOLDIERS MEETING TO COORDINATE DISTRIBUTION OF TANKS (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) BOLIVIAN EDUCATION MINISTER, ROBERTO AGUILAR, SAYING: "The system being put together, even though it's going to be delayed ten to 15 days to set up piping of 3.5 kilometres in distance, so that the (water from the) larger lake is transferred to the Hamptaturi dam will give 80 litres a second, though what is needed is really 700 litres. But that along with what is projected, and whatever rain there is, and over the medium term, and the transfer of water to other bodies of water that are closeby for what is possible, is what will fill again the Hampaturi dam, as well as the second high dam at Hampaturi, and from that, enter into a regular cycle. But that will obviously take a few months." VARIOUS OF SOLDIERS REVIEWING AREAS THAT NEED WATER WITH MAP VARIOUS OF RAIN IN CITY WITH PEOPLE CARRYING UMBRELLAS
- Embargoed: 10th December 2016 17:04
- Keywords: water crisis water shortage water recycling
- Location: LA PAZ, BOLIVIA
- City: LA PAZ, BOLIVIA
- Country: Bolivia
- Topics: Droughts,Disaster/Accidents
- Reuters ID: LVA00159Y1F0J
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:Local restaurants in La Paz are making adjustments quickly as a water shortage continues to hamper the city.
In one Brazilian cafe, chef David Dickler is recycling water for washing and carefully using the small bit of mineral water he has for cooking.
"It's only for cleaning, and at the end we finish up using mineral water to cook, because it's the only water that guarantees quality and the hygiene we need to prepare food," he said.
He added that he is investing in a water tank with two other restaurant owners, anticipating that the water crisis will drag on.
Pablo Santa Cruz, the owner of the Red Monkey restaurant, finds himself grappling with a similar issue. Each day he finds himself reusing water to hydrate the garden which is the source of his food.
Most eateries have closed their bathroom facilities to the public due to the water shortage. But the drought hasn't been hurting business.
"They're coming for lunch precisely because of the water shortage, and there are many people who come to buy food with pots for the whole family. This is because of how hard it is," said Rosario Mamani, the chef at the People's restaurant.
Bolivia's government declared a state of emergency on Monday (November 21) due to water shortages in large swaths of the country amid the worst drought in 25 years, making funds available to alleviate a crisis that has affected families and the agricultural sector.
Bolivia's Vice Ministry of Civil Defense estimated that the drought has affected 125,000 families and threatened 290,000 hectares (716,605 acres) of agricultural land and 360,000 heads of cattle.
President Evo Morales called on local governments to devote funds and workers to drill wells and transport water to cities in vehicles, with the support of the armed forces, from nearby bodies of water.
Bolivian Education Minister Roberto Aguilar said such a plan is in the works, but it will take months to make it operational.
"The system being put together, even though it's going to be delayed ten to 15 days to set up piping of 3.5 kilometres in distance, so that the (water from the) larger lake is transferred to the Hamptaturi dam will give 80 litres a second, though what is needed is really 700 litres. But that along with what is projected, and whatever rain there is, and over the medium term, and the transfer of water to other bodies of water that are closeby for what is possible, is what will fill again the Hampaturi dam, as well as the second high dam at Hampaturi, and from that, enter into a regular cycle. But that will obviously take a few months," he said.
The national state of emergency comes after 172 of the country's 339 municipalities declared their own emergencies related to the drought. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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