"Water is in danger due to poorly signed contracts," said Salle.

By Brittany Solano

If you live in Uruguay, you know that water is not a minor issue: it is the basis of your daily life and also of the economy. Deputy Gustavo Salle once again put the issue at the center of Parliament, ensuring that it is an issue vital geostrategic that politics ignored for more than half a century.

Salle was categorical: while the population depends on the water of the Santa Lucía River, the source is compromised by contamination and poorly designed projects such as Neptune and Casupá, both questioned by environmental organizations and social sectors.

Criticism of the Neptuno and Casupá projects

The legislator pointed out that neither the current government nor the previous ones knew how to respond to the water crisis. In his speech, he denounced that:

• He Neptune contract It was “badly signed” and opens the door to international lawsuits against the State.

• The project Kasupá It does not solve the underlying problems and continues to depend on a contaminated source.

• The public investment It targeted works with no real impact on water, such as the Antel Arena, instead of prioritizing water infrastructure.

According to Salle, it is short-term political decisions that leave aside the security of a vital resource.

The role of corporations and the threat of UPM

One of the harshest complaints targeted large corporations. For Salle, multinationals covet Uruguayan water and, in some cases, already generate concrete risks. He mentioned that the UPM train crosses the Santa Lucía carrying dangerous materials, which could lead to an environmental disaster if a spill occurred.

In this way, he linked the water issue with national sovereignty, warning that privatization or foreign control of water would leave the country in a situation of extreme vulnerability.

Criticism of the Broad Front and the multicolor coalition

The speech did not leave out any political sector. Salle recalled that during the three Broad Front governments no progress was made in key works to ensure drinking water, despite the available resources.

On the side of the multicolor coalition, he pointed out against the current management by lack of transparency, stating that the minister talked a lot but did not answer crucial questions about the future of water.

For the deputy, the problem is not with a party, but with a political class that treats the issue with politicking and revenge.

The Santa Lucía: a river in emergency

One of the strongest axes of the speech was the critical state of the Santa Lucía river, the main source of water for Montevideo and a good part of the country.

Salle recalled that in 2014 he filed a criminal complaint against OSE for the poor management of the toxic sludge that was dumped into the basin. Ten years later, the situation not only has not improved, but got worse, putting national water security in check.

Salle's call: a state policy

The deputy demanded that Uruguay develop a long-term state policy in matters of water. For him, it is not about being an engineer or a specialist: common sense is enough to understand that if we continue to depend on a contaminated source, the country will be on the brink of an irreversible crisis.

The key, according to Salle, is in look for alternative sources, invest seriously and cut out opaque contracts that mortgage the future.