Lack of Rain in Chile Forces Change in Plant Life

Lack of Rain in Chile Forces Change in Plant Life

In Chile's capital, Santiago, plants like grass are becoming rare after 13 years of extremely little rainfall.

The drought¹ has forced the city of six million people to limit water use. It has also caused local officials and landscapers to replace plants that need a lot of water with desert plants.

"Santiago's landscaping is from years ago, designed for a Mediterranean² climate. Now we are in a semi-desert climate," Valentina Vega of the Providencia neighborhood, told Reuters. "We can't waste all that water anymore."

Recently, Chile announced a plan to ration³ water in the capital. It is the first such measure in the city's nearly 500-year history. It involves a four-level system that includes restrictions⁴ on water pressure and cutting off water to parts of the city for periods of time.

In Providencia, the local government plans to change planted areas along roads into areas with plants that need little water. A special watering system is also planned.

"This saves almost 90% of water compared to traditional landscaping," Vega added.

The city is also divided. Rich areas have more areas with trees and plants which are little seen in poorer areas. But everyone is making changes, using native plants and modernized⁵ watering systems to avoid waste.

Economics⁶ student Aracely Rodriguez, 26, lives in Pudahuel, an area in the northwest of Santiago.

"Where I live there are no parks or green areas nearby, there is not much to water," Rodriguez said, adding: "We try to take care of the water. We have a conscience⁷."

Reducing water

Rodrigo Fuster is an expert in water management from the University of Chile. He said people need to change the way they use water. He said Santiago now receives less rainfall and snow from the nearby Andes Mountains. This has reduced river water available to the city.

In Santiago's main city park, waterways that carry water from the Maipo and Mopocho rivers to the park are 80 percent lower than normal. Park officials have updated the water systems and added trees that can live in the climate.

"The drought hits us all," said Eduardo Villalobos, who helps supervise⁸ the park. He added that people need to change what they do each day to save water.

In the park and others across Santiago, a combined five hectares of grass area has already been replaced, he said. This saves 300,000 liters⁹ of water during each watering period.

Local people have been divided about the changes. Some said the new landscaping in places just looked like rocks. Others said change would take time and could also be beautiful.

Dina Robles pointed¹⁰ to a sustainable garden in front of her house full of different plants, colorful flowers, and grasses. The smell of plants often used in cooking, mint¹¹ and rosemary, was carried by the wind.

"A neighbor told me she regretted the change, that they had been promised flowers and there were only stones," Robles said with a laugh. She added that it took three months for the plants near her house to flower.

"Then it all exploded in shades of violet¹² and blue. It's very beautiful," she said.

Words in This Story

drought – n. a long period of time during which there is very little or no rain

landscape – v. to make changes to improve the appearance of (an area of land)

ration – v. to control the amount of (something, such as gasoline¹³ or food) that people are allowed to have especially when there is not enough of it

sustainable – adj. involving methods that do not completely use up or destroy natural resources

conscience – n. the part of the mind that makes you aware of your actions as being either morally right or wrong

park – n. a piece of public land in or near a city that is kept free of houses and other buildings and can be used for pleasure and exercise

regret –v. to feel sorry or sad about something you did or did not do

1 drought   

n.旱灾，干旱，久旱

参考例句：

• The plants are growing in again,despite the drought.尽管干旱，植物又长出来了。
• The ground is as hard as stone after the drought.长期干旱后土地硬得就像石头一样。

2 Mediterranean   

adj.地中海的；地中海沿岸的

参考例句：

• The houses are Mediterranean in character.这些房子都属地中海风格。
• Gibraltar is the key to the Mediterranean.直布罗陀是地中海的要冲。

3 ration   

n.定量(pl.)给养，口粮；vt.定量供应

参考例句：

• The country cut the bread ration last year.那个国家去年削减面包配给量。
• We have to ration the water.我们必须限量用水。

4 restrictions   

约束( restriction的名词复数 )； 管制； 制约因素； 带限制性的条件（或规则）

参考例句：

• I found the restrictions irksome. 我对那些限制感到很烦。
• a snaggle of restrictions 杂乱无章的种种限制

5 modernized   

使现代化，使适应现代需要( modernize的过去式和过去分词 )； 现代化，使用现代方法

参考例句：

• By 1985 the entire railway network will have been modernized. 等到1985年整个铁路网就实现现代化了。
• He set about rebuilding France, and made it into a brilliant-looking modernized imperialism. 他试图重建法国，使它成为一项表面华丽的现代化帝业。

6 economics   

n.经济学，经济情况

参考例句：

• He is studying economics,which subject is very important.他正在学习经济学，该学科是很重要的。
• One can't separate politics from economics.不能把政治与经济割裂开来。

7 conscience   

n.良心，道德心

参考例句：

• Guilt had been eating into his conscience for some months. 几个月来内疚一直折磨着他的良心。
• He was pricked by his conscience. 他受到良心的谴责。

8 supervise   

v.监督，管理，指导

参考例句：

• We must supervise and speed up the fulfilment of assigned tasks.已经布置了的工作，应当认真督促检查。
• Tomorrow he will supervise all the pupils taking the English examination.明天全体学生考英语，他将担任监考。

9 liters   

n.升( liter的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• In the metric system, measurements are made in metres and liters. 在公制中，用米和升作计量单位。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• This can holds five liters of water. 这个容器可装五升水。 来自《简明英汉词典》

10 pointed   

adj.尖的，直截了当的

参考例句：

• He gave me a very sharp pointed pencil.他给我一支削得非常尖的铅笔。
• She wished to show Mrs.John Dashwood by this pointed invitation to her brother.她想通过对达茨伍德夫人提出直截了当的邀请向她的哥哥表示出来。

11 mint   

n.薄荷，铸币厂；vt.铸造（硬币），创造（词）等

参考例句：

• The mint makes coins.铸币厂制造硬币。
• This candy tastes of mint.这糖果有薄荷味。

12 violet   

adj.紫色的；n.紫罗兰

参考例句：

• She likes to wear violet dresses.他喜欢穿紫色的衣服。
• Violet is the color of wisdom,peace and strength.紫色是智慧的，和平的和力量的颜色。

13 gasoline   

n.(美)汽油

参考例句：

• This car runs 5 miles on a gallon of gasoline.这部汽车一加仑汽油可以行驶五英里。
• There is still some gasoline left in the tank.油箱里还剩下一些汽油。