Colombian capital begins water rationing after reservoirs reach historically low levels

Bogotá, Colombia — Luis Soler takes care of water as if it were the most expensive ingredient in his restaurant in the Colombian capital.

For the first time in 40 years, a severe drought led the city to begin rationing tap water. At the Soler restaurant in Bogotá, nothing flowed through the pipes on Friday. The city’s warnings allowed him to prepare for the change, buying bottled water for cooking and storing tap water for washing dishes, and since his entire neighborhood faced the same inconveniences as the restaurant, he said he expected sales to rise, and did not decrease. .

“I don’t think the impact will be much. On the contrary, we hope that sales will improve a little because there is no water in the neighborhood and many people will not cook,” said Soler.

Authorities in Bogotá began rationing water after reservoirs reached historically low levels due to the combination of high temperatures and lack of rain caused by the El Niño weather phenomenon.

Rationing began on Thursday. It will affect neighborhoods in 24-hour periods, three times a month. Local authorities will review the measure every 15 days to decide whether it should be eliminated, maintained or increased.

Bogotá residents have not experienced water rationing since 1997, when a technical failure in the system forced authorities to restrict water service. The last rationing caused by drought was in 1984.

Authorities have recommended that people only store the amount of water they actually need, not wash cars and implement water-saving measures at home, even when taking a shower.

“Take a shower with your partner,” suggested Bogotá mayor Carlos Fernando Galán. “It’s a pedagogical exercise in saving water.”

Given the recommendation not to wash cars frequently, companies that provide this service may be affected.

“Less people are coming in. I imagine it’s because people think it’s not open, but it’s also really good that we take care of the water,” said John Guerrero, owner of a car wash.

Bogotá consumes an average of 18 cubic meters of water per second and, under the rationing system, authorities aim to cut 2 cubic meters per second. Authorities hope to fill the reservoirs by more than 70% by the end of the year.