Concerns over water scarcity in Colombia are escalating as reservoir levels continue to decline. According to recent data from XM, the usable level of reservoirs reached a worrying 29.4% this Tuesday, just two percentage points above the minimum required to maintain their operation.
This critical situation has prompted authorities to implement water-saving measures, including fines for those who waste water or exceed the established average consumption. The situation is particularly severe in departments like Santander, where the Topocoro reservoir shows historically low levels, with a current capacity of 16.06%.
In Boyacá, the La Copa reservoir has a level of 26.4%, severely affecting the agricultural and livestock sectors that depend on the its water. Other regions like Santa Marta are also facing difficulties, with significant deficits in the rivers that supply the city and emergency measures to distribute water to the population.
While forecasts of rain generate some hope, the Institute of Hydrology, Meteorology and Environmental Studies (Ideam) warns that the recovery of the reservoirs will not be immediate. The current situation requires a joint effort in water conservation and management to mitigate the effects of the drought in the country.