Latin America has exceptional water wealth, hosting 45% of the world’s renewable freshwater reserves. Within this heritage, the Guarani Aquifer System (GAS)a geological formation shared by four countries in the region, including Argentina, that stores nearly 30,000 km³ of vital liquid. This structure represents the third largest underground reserve on the planet and constitutes a strategic asset in the face of climate change.
The quality of the resource in the SAG stands out for its low salinitya fact that facilitates urban, agricultural and industrial supply in the nations of the Southern Cone. Institutions such as the WHO and FAO emphasize the importance of these systems to guarantee access to resources in highly vulnerable areas. The sustainable management of this treasure under the ground is crucial, since its distribution is increasingly unequal in the current scenario.
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The four Latin American countries with the most water resources
These nations are fundamental both regionally and globally.
- Brazil: with the largest volume of water in the region, due to the Amazon River basin.
- Argentina: It has a significant portion that supplies both urban and rural areas, and has significant river systems such as the Paraná River.
- Paraguay: although with less quantity, it depends largely on this underground system, in addition to having rivers that contribute to its water wealth.
- Uruguay: Although its aquifer extension is smaller, the country takes advantage of the reserves for human consumption and irrigation.
The Brazilian nation leads the top water reserves in the Latin American region and globally. Photo: CDN
What is the top five largest water reserves in the world?
Brazil tops the global list. This river system, together with its tributaries, provides about 12% of the planet’s total renewable freshwater, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). Russia It secures the second position through Lake Baikal, the deepest and most voluminous lake mass on Earth.
For its part, Canada It stands out for the abundance of deposits in North America, in third place, where the Great Lakes stand out. Finally, China and the US They complete this select group of water powers due to the magnitude of watersheds such as the Yangtze River, according to the report from the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF).
Other privileged areas
Apart from the countries mentioned, there are other places with vast reserves of fresh water.
- India: with the Ganges River and the Indo-Gangetic aquifer, which supplies millions of people.
- Indonesia: Thanks to its numerous river basins and a high rate of annual rainfall.
- Venezuela: The Orinoco River and its tributaries contribute a notable amount of fresh water.
- Congo (Democratic Republic of the Congo): The Congo River, along with its tributaries, is another great water resource for the region.
- Australia: Although it faces challenges due to drought, it has important underground reserves in the Artesia aquifer region.
Which South American country would run out of water in 2040?
Chile could face a severe water shortage crisis in fourteen years, according to projections from the World Resources Institute (WRI). This organization places the nation in 24th place among the territories with the highest risk of water stress, within a global scenario where several regions of the United States and China will also face similar problems.
The outlook responds to factors such as climate change, rainfall variability and overexploitation of natural sources, which is already evident in prolonged droughts. Reports indicate that this nation has suffered a “megadrought” for more than a decade, affecting human consumption, agriculture and industry.