Darío Soto-Abril, executive secretary at the Global Water Partnership: “It often takes a crisis to get people’s attention. With Santiago now facing water rationing, people may wonder when ‘Day Zero’—the day when the tap runs dry—will come, as was the case in Cape Town, South Africa in 2018. Cape Town put off ‘Day Zero’ after water restrictions were imposed and the rains finally came again. We often know months, if not years in advance that water shortages are coming because we can measure rainfall as well as dam and groundwater levels. The impact of droughts can be severe. At their worst, they cost lives. Because industry and agriculture depend on water, it will be no surprise if Chile’s economy is harmed. Long-term solutions include investing in early warning and prediction systems. These anticipate risk and potential impact, which can then inform drought policies with mitigating actions clearly spelled out. Stakeholder participation, educational programs and public awareness are critical to…”