As water levels continue to drop in the reservoirs supplying Bogotá and its neighboring municipalities, Mayor Carlos Fernando Galán has announced stringent measures to combat excessive water consumption. Starting April 11, restrictions were enforced to manage the dwindling water supplies, a decision spurred by persistently low reservoir levels affecting the Empresa de Acueducto y Alcantarillado de Bogotá (EAAB).
Despite initial water rationing efforts that have successfully reduced daily consumption, the reservoirs’ water levels remain critically low, prompting the city government to take further action. “After the weekend, consumption remained below the city’s average. On April 14th, it was 16.01 cubic meters per second, whereas our goal is 15. We need to use less water,” Mayor Galán stated.
The new measures include mandatory restrictions on non-essential water use, such as limiting showers to 3 minutes, prohibiting the washing of cars, windows, and exteriors, and avoiding the accumulation of excess water. The mayor emphasized the urgency of reaching a reservoir capacity of 20% by the end of April, from the current 15.76%.
To enforce these measures, the city will impose heavy fines on those exceeding twice the basic water consumption limit of 11 cubic meters. Penalties will range from 700,000 to 1,200,000 Colombian pesos for repeat offenders. Moreover, Mayor Galán announced the launch of an online portal for residents to report any behavior that misuses water, warning that violators could face additional sanctions, including economic activity suspension or educational interventions.