Colombians endure water rationing as reservoirs dry up

Record ID: 1819386

  • Title: Colombians endure water rationing as reservoirs dry up
  • Date: 18th April 2024
  • Summary: BOGOTA, COLOMBIA (APRIL 16, 2024) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) ENGINEERING PROFESSOR AT JAVERIANA UNIVERSITY, JORGE ESCOBAR, SAYING: “Throughout this year it hasn’t rained in the mountains. The water that falls on mountains is the water cities use and generate energy. As there hasn’t been enough rain, the reservoirs have diminished until something must be done as the amount of water in the reservoirs is not enough to fulfil the cities’ demand.” VARIOUS OF CARWASH WORKER WASHING VEHICLE WITH HOSE DRAIN ON CARWASH FLOOR (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) CARWASH MANAGER, EDGAR SANCHEZ, SAYING: “We are the first enduring the water rationing. The work is the same with pumps and closed tanks and pools, to avoid wasting water and the water is recovered to keep using it until the machine guarantees we will not run out of water.” VARIOUS OF WATER FILLING TANK BEFORE BEING TREATED TO REUSE IT VARIOUS OF SANCHEZ CLOSING VALVES OF WATER TANKS
  • Embargoed: 2nd May 2024 17:22
  • Keywords: Climate Change Climate Crisis Colombia Drought El Nino Environment Rain Rationing Reservoir Water
  • Location: VARIOUS LOCATIONS, COLOMBIA
  • City: VARIOUS LOCATIONS, COLOMBIA
  • Country: Colombia
  • Topics: Environment,South America / Central America,Precipitation
  • Reuters ID: LVA006624418042024RP1
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: People across Colombia grapple with water rationing as the country's reservoirs dry up.
    In the capital city of Bogota, a carwash recycled water in order to remain open, despite water rationing being imposted on April 11.
    Meanwhile in the Caribbean city of Santa Marta, a water truck brought water to residents, who formed long queues to fill their tanks.
    Colombia's reservoirs have fallen to 28.75% of their capacity, the manager of the National Interconnected System XM said on X on Thursday (April 18).
    Local media reported Wednesday (April 17) that this represented 3.06% less than the lowest level recorded for April over the previous 20 years.
    The El Nino phenomenon arrived in Colombia at the end of 2023, causing high temperatures and droughts that led to forest fires throughout the Andean country and pushed reservoirs to their lowest levels in decades.
    (Production: Herbert Villarraga, Camilo Cohecha, Anna Portella)
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2024. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
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