Bogotá's Water Rationing to Continue Through March 2025
Despite recent rainfall, Bogotá is continuing to grapple with water supply challenges due to critically low reservoir levels. The Empresa de Acueducto y Alcantarillado de Bogotá (EAAB), the city's water and sewage company, is maintaining water rationing measures to ensure efficient water use and secure its availability for all residents. According to Noticias Caracol (2024), the rationing plan, implemented since last year, involves 24-hour water cuts in different neighborhoods, organized into shifts affecting various zones.
The State of the Embalses
Data provided by the EAAB indicates that the Chingaza system reservoirs are currently at 39.90% of their capacity, necessitating continued restrictions on water service. While rainfall has exceeded historical averages, it hasn't been sufficient to reverse the critical situation. Hope remains that the arrival of the rainy season in April will improve water levels, prompting a possible reduction or elimination of rationing measures.
Rationing Schedule: March 24-30, 2025
The EAAB has announced the following rationing schedule for the week of March 24-30, 2025:
- Monday, March 24: Turn 9
- Tuesday, March 25: Turn 1
- Wednesday, March 26: Turn 2
- Thursday, March 27: Turn 3
- Friday, March 28: Turn 4
- Saturday, March 29: Turn 5
- Sunday, March 30: Turn 6
Each shift involves a 24-hour water cut, from 8:00 a.m. on the designated day to 8:00 a.m. the following day. Residents are advised to stock up adequately and use available water responsibly during these periods.
When Will Rationing End?
Alfred Ballesteros, director of the Corporación Autónoma Regional de Cundinamarca (CAR), has cautioned against setting a premature deadline for lifting the rationing measures. He emphasized that reservoirs haven't yet reached a significant recovery level that guarantees sufficient water supply. According to Ballesteros, while recent rains have slightly increased reservoir levels, discharges in the upper basin of the Bogotá River remain at 7.5 cubic meters per second, indicating that several reservoirs are still low and declining (Noticias Caracol, 2024). This suggests a cautious approach is needed.
The CAR further noted that some reservoirs, like Tominé, are at concerning levels and could take up to three years to fully replenish. Ballesteros stated that the decision to lift water rationing should only be considered when reservoirs reach at least 50% of their capacity. Therefore, the end of rationing is heavily dependent on sustained rainfall and responsible water management.
Affected Zones by Turn
The EAAB's rationing plan, which began in 2024, implements 24-hour cuts in various city neighborhoods, organized by turns. Here's a breakdown of the turns and corresponding areas:
- Turn 1: Antonio Nariño, Barrios Unidos, Chapinero, Los Mártires, Puente Aranda, Rafael Uribe Uribe, Santa Fe, Teusaquillo, Tunjuelito, and Usaquén.
- Turn 2: Fontibón, Engativá, and the industrial zone of Cota (Cundinamarca).
- Turn 3: Barrios Unidos, Suba, and Usaquén.
- Turn 4: Bosa, Ciudad Bolívar, Kennedy, Puente Aranda, Tunjuelito, and Soacha – Cazucá.
- Turn 5: La Candelaria, Ciudad Bolívar, Rafael Uribe Uribe, San Cristóbal, Santa Fe, and Tunjuelito.
- Turn 6: Suba, Ciudad Bolívar, and Soacha (Cazucá, Ciudad Verde, Compartir, La Despensa, San Humberto, San Mateo, Soacha Central).
- Turn 7: Fontibón, Kennedy, and supply points in Funza, Madrid, and Mosquera.
- Turn 8: Antonio Nariño, Bosa, La Candelaria, Chapinero, Kennedy, Los Mártires, Rafael Uribe Uribe, San Cristóbal, Santa Fe, Usaquén, La Calera, and Arboretto.
- Turn 9: Suba, Usaquén, and supply points in Chía, Cajicá, Cojardín, Sopó, and Tocancipá.
Recommendations for Residents
The EAAB recommends the following measures to mitigate the impact of rationing:
- Stock up moderately before each rationing turn.
- Avoid using reserve tanks during restrictions.
- Limit high water consumption after rationing to facilitate service normalization.
- Repair leaks in faucets, showers, and pipes to prevent waste.
- Report damage or leaks in the water network to the EAAB hotline at 116.
Consulting Specific Turns
Users can check their assigned turns via the interactive map on the EAAB website. By entering their address, they can find the exact dates of water cuts in their area. Alternatively, residents can contact 'Chatico,' the EAAB's virtual assistant, via WhatsApp at (+57) 3160231524 for personalized rationing information. According to Danna Sofía Suárez Galeano (2024), social communicator and journalist of Noticias Caracol, the population could consult the EAAB website to stay abreast of the updates on the rationing.
Impact of La Niña
The La Niña phenomenon, with a 59% probability of occurrence, has influenced rainfall in the region. Despite expectations of increased rainfall, it hasn't been sufficient to raise reservoir levels to optimal figures. This raises concerns that rationing measures may be extended if necessary water levels aren't reached in the coming months.
