Millions in Colombia’s capital forced to ration water as reservoirs hit critically low levels

Millions of residents of Bogotá, the Colombian capital, began ration drinking water Thursday as the city’s reservoirs reached critically low levels. The rations were announced a day after the city’s mayor released aerial images of two main reservoirs surrounded by dried-out embankments.

The images released by Mayor Carlos Galán show the San Rafael and Chuza reservoirs, which make up the Chingaza water system. Galán said the system supplies the capital with 70% of its drinking water.

“Please let’s save water,” Galán posted on X, the former Twitter platform, alongside the video.

The Bogotá Waterworks and Sewerage Company said that Bogotá and municipalities that receive water from the company “will have alternating suspensions or rationing of drinking water due to low reservoir levels.” These restrictions began Thursday morning and are being enforced in shifts, with only certain neighborhoods required to ration for 24 hours.

According to the mayor’s office, the region’s drinking water supply system is made up of three systems with eight reservoirs in total, all of which supply the water company. This system supplies water to more than 10 million people.

The low reservoir levels come as Colombia continues to suffer “long weeks without rain due to the impact of the El Niño phenomenon,” the mayor’s office said. Many other cities and countries face a similar problem, including Mexico City, one of the most populated cities in the world. Reservoirs rely on precipitation to fill.

The Chingaza system depicted in Galán’s video has “the most critical state of water levels,” his office said. As of April 7, water storage in this system was less than 17% of capacity. The northern reservoir system, which includes the Tominé and Neusa reservoirs and provides 25% of Bogotá’s water supply, has barely reached 54.23% of its capacity. The southern system, which accounts for 5% of the water supply, is at less than 45% of its capacity.

Along with rations, the office also advises people to reuse rainwater, reduce shower time, minimize washing clothes and cars, and reduce garden irrigation.

“The call is to take care of every drop of water,” the mayor’s office said.