Drinking water reserves in natural and artificial reservoirs in the eight-million-strong capital of Colombia are dwindling, authorities warn, announcing water rationing. In response to the worsening drought situation, they have also banned washing cars and watering gardens.
Colombia is experiencing its worst long-term drought in many years, already being called the “drought of the century.” The country's capital city authorities announced in a statement that in April, water reserves in the large artificial reservoirs supplying the city fell below 50 percent of their capacity for the first time, forcing the capital city administration to “strictly ration water and introduce limits on its use per family.”
At the same time, in Bogota, home to almost eight million people, a ban was announced on filling swimming pools, washing sidewalks, roads and cars, and watering lawns and gardens.
Authorities announced that further restrictions are possible.
“The record will be broken”
– In 2024, the record from 1995, which was probably one of the driest years on record in Latin America, will probably be broken, said Carlos Fernandez Galan, the mayor of the Colombian capital, on Friday.
Neighboring Ecuador is also struggling with a severe drought. Authorities say the situation is the worst in 61 years. On Sunday, electricity was suspended for nine hours in 12 of the country's 24 provinces because of low water levels in hydroelectric power plants.
Main image source: ENEX