Bogota, Colombia, is grappling with a severe water scarcity crisis, prompting the implementation of water ration measures across the capital starting Thursday, April 11.

Various sectors of the city will experience water cuts for up to 24 hours, a response to critically low reservoir levels worsened by the El Niño phenomenon and a six-month-long drought that has drastically affected the city’s water supply.

Mayor Carlos Galan announced the urgent need to decrease the city’s water consumption. The Chigaza reservoir, a crucial water source for Bogota, is currently below 17% capacity. This alarming level has compelled the city to enforce rationing as a bid to reduce overall consumption.

Sector-Wise Rationing Schedule

To efficiently manage this crisis, Bogota has been divided into nine sectors, with each facing a water shutoff for 24 hours every ten days starting at 8 AM. This measure, designed around the city’s aqueduct network divisions, also affects several adjacent municipalities included in the rationing plan.

The rationing aims to conserve 2,000 liters of water per second, crucial for replenishing the Chingaza reservoir, which accounts for 70% of Bogota’s water supply.

Mayor Galan emphasizes the long-term strategy of reaching 75% reservoir capacity by year-end, ensuring water availability for the following year. Usme, a town within Bogota, will not face restrictions due to its independent water source, separate from the Chigaza reservoir.

Impact of El Niño and Future Preparations

Despite the onset of the rainy season in late March, the expected rainfall has been minimal, underscoring the severe impact of El Niño and a general lack of preparedness. The reservoirs are at their lowest levels in forty years, a situation worsened by the city’s doubling population without corresponding updates to the water infrastructure.

Urgent Call for Water Conservation

The mayor’s office urges citizens to adopt conservative water use habits to prevent further depletion of reserves. The drastic measures highlight the critical need for collective action in addressing the water crisis and securing Bogota’s water future.

📌 Important Reminders for Residents:

9 turns in the rationing schedule
Water suspension every 10 days
Cut-off time at 8:00 AM
Duration of each suspension: 24 hours

Every drop counts as Bogota, Colombia navigates through unprecedented water ration measures amid ongoing drought conditions and insufficient rainfall, calling for immediate adjustments in water usage habits among its residents.

Image Source: empleo.sanpedroconsultores.cl