Bogota, Colombia, is going to introduce water rationing to be applied to its more than ten million residents as a response to the drought enhanced by the El Niño climate pattern. This step is being taken in particular when the levels of water have reached an all-time low in three decades with the Chuza reservoir, the main water supply for the city, currently at 17% only, the lowest in the last 40 years.
The city is divided into nine districts where the water supply is interrupted for 24 hours in each district according to a fixed schedule. Governments only give exemptions for hospitals and schools, showing how serious this matter is. Mayor Carlos Fernando Galán stressed that water saving be done and told the residents to use small amount of water so that the water rationing can be lifted soon.
According to President Gustavo Petro, it’s vital for the safety of water resources to implement crucial changes over the next three decades by directing attention to the dangers of urbanization without regulations and industrial exploitation of natural aquifers.
The dwellers are already adjusting through washing their vehicles less, by reducing their shower time to four minutes or even not doing any unnecessary laundry at all. The more general circumstances of this crisis involve climate change, rapid urbanization, and infrastructure deficiency, factors that make already occurring droughts more severe.
This event highlights the immediate need for mitigation measures since we are faced with rising temperatures, and this may lead to severe water scarcity and global environmental challenges. It reminds us that the governments and individuals have the most important role in the fight against climate change by eliminating emissions and upgrading the traditional practices to sustainable ones.
