Bogota’s government, after a prolonged drought and a decline in the level of the city’s reservoir, is returning to a system of rationing water consumption, introducing bans and fines on its use and preparing for tighter restrictions in case of further subsidence of the water source, said the mayor of the Colombian capital, Carlos Galán.
“Starting September 29th… the city will return to a daily water limit of 10 shifts, which was originally established on April 11th. We are returning to the scheme that was in effect from April to June of this year,” – said Galán, whose speech was broadcast on social media by the city government.
According to the official, the situation regarding the supply of drinking water to the capital is developing after two dry years with no rainfall during the rainy season. The restrictive measures taken by the city authorities do not allow the level of the Chingas reservoir to rise and only slow down its rate of decline.
“Day zero will occur when the Chingas system reaches 36%. Currently it is 45.4%. Then we will have to take more restrictive measures, we will have to return to the trend of reducing water consumption in Bogotá,” – added Galan.
In addition to rationing the supply, the Bogotá government, according to Galán, will approve a decree that will include prohibitions on the use of drinking water and sanctions. In particular, the use of tap water for washing facades, parking lots and vehicles will be prohibited; violators of this rule will face sanctions that can go as far as suspension from the establishment.
