The Colombian capital, Bogotá, located about 2,600 meters (8,500 feet) high in the Andes, is facing a water crisis that has not occurred in generations, The Guardian reported.
The calcination of El Niño has caused unprecedented droughts, causing the current reservoir to be at 16%, the driest ever recorded.
Faced with this water shortage, Mayor Carlos Fernando Galán has issued rationing regulations, which include the bifurcation of sections of the city and 24-hour water supply cuts. “But let's not waste water,” Galan emphasized and stated that people should reduce water use.
“Shower as a couple,” said Galán. “This is an educational exercise on saving water, nothing more. Those kinds of things are going to help us a lot. “Those behavioral changes are key.”
Some experts say Bogotá's water supply could last only 54 days, according to Bogotá's water supply service to the city's residents.
Revealing a dilemma between the importance of hygiene for Colombians versus the degree to which these practices will be followed, Bogotá resident Mariana García Achury also has her doubts about this agenda.
Bogotá, like other metropolitan areas in South America, faces the consequences of the outbreak of drought. In terms of water rationing, Mexico City was forced to initiate this plan last month, while Guatemala recently announced a forest fire emergency.
The future remains uncertain. Will the measures remain in force for a long time? Is the population prepared for the worst possible drought scenario in Bogotá? Will they be able to plan accordingly to avoid disaster?
Only time will tell, but one thing is clear: Bogotá is, without a doubt, a city that is fighting for its life at every drop.
