Bogotá, Colombia is grappling with an intense water shortage, prompting local authorities to implement a rationing system and urging citizens to conserve water due to a prolonged drought and the effects of an El Niño weather pattern.
Bogotá, Colombia is experiencing a severe water crisis due to a prolonged drought amplified by an El Niño weather pattern. Around 10 million residents are forced to ration their water as the city’s reservoirs, specifically the Chuza and Chingaza, have dwindled to critically low levels, with Chuza recording less than 17% capacity, the lowest in approximately 40 years.
In response to the crisis, the city has arranged a water rationing system, dividing the city into nine zones. Each zone undergoes a 24-hour water shut-off in rotation to manage the scarce resource. Essential services like hospitals and schools are exempt from these water cuts.
Mayor Carlos Fernando Galán has urged residents to implement water conservation measures, including taking shorter showers and, notably, encouraging couples to shower together as a means of saving water. Additionally, residents are advised against daily car washing and other water-intensive activities.
The El Niño phenomenon, causing warmer and drier weather across the region, has significantly strained Bogotá’s water supply. The Colombian government, under President Gustavo Petro, is formulating long-term strategies to protect water resources for the next 30 years, emphasizing the need for sustainable practices to tackle climate change impacts.
This situation highlights the broader issues of climate change, rapid urbanization, and infrastructure challenges that contribute to the gravity of the water shortages faced by the city.
