The initiative that will benefit more than 100 families began to take shape in 2021 under the objectives of the development plan generated by the community through which they identified the most important needs for this town located in the Salar de Atacama.
The drinking water plant will benefit more than 100 families
With a traditional ceremony known as Convido , the residents of the Camar community commemorated a significant milestone: the inauguration of their first drinking water treatment plant. This initiative, supported by SQM, will benefit more than 100 families and directly contributes to improving the quality of life and strengthening the community's connection to their land.
The idea began to take shape in 2021, following the development plan prepared by the community itself, where they identified the most urgent needs for this town located in the Atacama Salt Flat.
A dream driven by the community
“It’s a great achievement. Seeing all the effort made by us and our ancestors come to fruition makes me happy and excited, because wow! it was hard for us, as an organization, to unite and think about the same goals,” said Manuel Tejerina, a community member from Camar, recalling the beginning of this project whose work began in 2021.
Having access to drinking water will allow families to participate in new development opportunities such as entrepreneurship, tourism, agriculture and productive development, generating sustainable growth and becoming a benchmark for other communities in the Atacama Salt Flat.
The drinking water plant is part of Camar's development plan
This project is part of the portfolio of initiatives included in the community development plan, a participatory process where the most important needs for the town were agreed upon.
Regarding the realization of this milestone, Héctor Cruz, president of the community, highlighted:
“We must thank God, because a project that was part of our development plan has been realized once again. Although we had drinking water through tanker trucks, we longed to have a plant that could supply the entire community, and today it is a reality.”
Recognition of the Lickanantay people
The positive impact of this achievement was also recognized by Manuel Salvatierra, president of the Council of Atacameño Peoples, who noted:
“The Lickanantay people have lived in this territory for over 11 years, and this historical presence is also due to the water resource, which has been an integral part of the territorial management that Indigenous communities maintain today. I want to commend the people of Camar, who are committed to development while upholding the dignity of their communities. I believe that through their own efforts and with the support of the company, they will be able to build a water treatment plant that will meet all their needs.”
A joint effort spanning more than 5 years
This milestone is the result of joint work between SQM and the community, formalized in a collaboration agreement aimed at implementing Camar's development plan.
Gonzalo Guerrero, Chairman of the Board of SQM, stated: “Today we meet again in Camar after a year since we inaugurated, together with the community, the photovoltaic plant that provided continuous energy to the community, and now we are facing a new milestone that also aims at the sustainable development of Camar.”
The executive added: “This initiative, which fills us with pride, is part of the company’s Sustainability Plan, which is associated with various environmental goals and commitments, placing special emphasis on the creation of shared social value and the sustainable development of the surrounding communities with which we are linked.”
Progress for the commune of San Pedro de Atacama
The plant's inauguration aims to reduce arsenic and other minerals to meet Chilean drinking water standards. Regarding this progress, the mayor of San Pedro de Atacama, Justo Zuleta, highlighted:
“This is a tremendous project for Camar and the San Pedro de Atacama municipality. Our goal is to work towards achieving sanitation standards in each of the towns, and to do that, they must first have access to potable water. This collaborative work with the community and SQM also allows us to focus our efforts on other communities to achieve the same. It is truly significant for us, and we congratulate them on this achievement of working together for the benefit of the residents themselves.”
Characteristics of the drinking water plant
The new treatment plant has a capacity of 108 m³/day (100 l/m) and its main function is to reduce arsenic levels, lowering its concentration from 0,5 PPM (raw water) to <0,005 PPM after treatment. Chilean regulations require that arsenic levels be below 0,01 PPM.
The system includes two main stages:
- Flocculation: It reduces 98% of arsenic and other minerals through decantation with flocculants and coagulants.
- Filtration, adsorption and chlorination: It eliminates remaining particles, removes remaining arsenic, and finally incorporates chlorine to ensure water quality.
More Information
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