The mayor of Colombia's capital has introduced new measures to address the water crisis affecting the city of eight million people. The region is currently experiencing a drought linked to the El Niño weather pattern, leading to water rationing and calls for reduced consumption.
Mayor Carlos Fernando Galán revealed that households using over 22 cubic meters of water per month will face additional charges. He also warned of fines up to $300 for activities like washing cars on the streets that are considered wasteful.
As part of the conservation efforts, the frequency of washing city buses has been reduced from daily to weekly, with interior cleaning still maintained daily for public health reasons.
Despite these measures, Galán emphasized that more significant reductions in water usage are necessary to meet conservation targets.
The water scarcity situation in Bogotá is unusual for a city located in a typically humid region surrounded by lush greenery. However, prolonged dry conditions due to El Niño have severely impacted the city's reservoirs, with the Chingaza Reservoir System currently at a record low of 15% capacity.
Concerns have been raised by experts that without significant rainfall, the reservoirs could run dry within two months. In response, a water rationing system has been implemented, dividing the city into nine zones with each zone experiencing a 24-hour water supply cutoff on a rotating basis.
Since the rationing system was initiated, there has been a slight decrease in water consumption, but further reductions are needed to allow the reservoirs to recover. Residents have been urged to limit showers to five minutes, turn off taps while brushing teeth, and consider showering less frequently to conserve water.
Mayor Galán stressed the importance of not only implementing rationing but also changing behavior to achieve sustainable water usage in the city.
