Atacama emerges as a key water investment hub in Chile

The Atacama region in Chile is emerging as a significant hub for water investment, specifically in desalination and wastewater reuse projects. While the Antofagasta region currently holds the highest installed capacity for water infrastructure, Atacama is positioned for substantial expansion.

According to data from the Chilean Association of Desalination and Reuse (ACADES) and the Capital Goods Corporation (CBC), Chile has 65 projects involving desalination, seawater transport, and wastewater reuse in various stages of engineering or construction. These projects represent an estimated investment of US$25.783 billion and aim to add over 47,000 liters per second of new water capacity.

Atacama currently operates five desalination plants and a Seawater Pumping System (SIAM), making it the second region in Chile with the most operational plants. The region projects more than 7,000 liters per second in desalination capacity. Beyond mining, these resources support urban supplies, with the towns of Caldera and Chañaral relying entirely on desalinated water, and Copiapó and Tierra Amarilla receiving approximately 15% of their urban supply from these sources.