In response to a severe drought linked to the El Niño weather pattern, the mayor of Bogotá, Colombia, has introduced new measures to curb water consumption in the city of eight million residents.
The mayor announced that households exceeding 22 cubic meters of water per month will face additional charges, while fines of up to $300 will be imposed on individuals engaging in activities deemed wasteful, such as washing cars on the streets.
Furthermore, the city has reduced the frequency of washing public buses from daily to once a week, with the interiors still requiring daily cleaning for public health reasons.
Despite being situated in a typically humid region surrounded by lush greenery, Bogotá has been grappling with months of dry weather, resulting in depleted reservoirs and forest fires.
The Chingaza Reservoir System, the city's primary water source, is currently at a record low of 15% capacity, prompting concerns that it could run dry within two months if rainfall does not replenish it.
To address the water scarcity, Bogotá has implemented a water rationing system dividing the city into nine zones, each experiencing a 24-hour water supply cutoff on a rotating basis.
Since the rationing began, the city has seen a reduction in water consumption from 17.84 to 16.01 cubic meters per second. However, authorities emphasize the need to further decrease consumption to 15 cubic meters per second to aid reservoir recovery.
In addition to rationing, residents have been urged to limit showers to five minutes, turn off taps while brushing teeth, and reconsider daily showering habits to conserve water.
Mayor Galán emphasized the importance of not only implementing rationing but also fostering behavioral changes to achieve sustainable water usage in the city.
As Bogotá navigates this water crisis, officials continue to monitor the situation closely and encourage residents to actively participate in conservation efforts.
