Most of the lithium in this region is found underneath the famous salt flats of these countries. It takes 2000 tons of water to produce one ton of lithium. The rivers and lakes are disappearing as a result of this egregious use of local water resources. Then, there's the impact on wildlife. For instance, the salt water lakes in this area are prime habitats for certain species of flamingos. Their food sources are affected and the flamingo population has dropped by 11% in the past decade.