Considered to be the mining capital of Chile, Calama is located in the Atacama Desert, in the Antofagasta Region, and it is one of the driest cities in the world. However, its location by the banks of Loa River turns it into a small oasis in the middle of the desert landscape. Calama is a bedroom and services city whose activity is related to the copper deposits around it. The lack of quality urban facilities and public spaces in the city gave rise to constant popular demonstrations, and Calama PLUS (sustainable urban plan) was launched in 2012 to address the demands of citizens. With both public and private financing, the plan seeks to redress the negative effects of mining activity on the environment. The plan proposes, on the one hand, to improve the quality of city life through the construction of 23 projects including urban parks, schools, areas for sports, and cultural facilities; and on the other hand it proposes methods to use the scarce water resources in a more efficient and democratic manner, with specific interventions such as an aqueduct crossing the urban fabric to create an irrigation system so that trees can be planted in the public spaces.