Colombia\u2019s capital, Bogot\u00e1, will begin rationing water this week as several of its reservoirs face unprecedented lows amid a drought made worse by the El Ni\u00f1o climate pattern. <\/p>\n
Speaking to the media on Monday, Bogot\u00e1 Mayor Carlos Fernando Gal\u00e1n said reservoirs had reached \u201chistorically low\u201d levels and been worsened by El Ni\u00f1o, which causes high temperatures and impedes precipitation. <\/p>\n
Starting Thursday morning, restrictions or rationing measures will be put in place for Bogot\u00e1 residents and dozens of towns and municipalities surrounding the capital, according to a handout on the city\u2019s official website. The measures will affect around 9 million people. <\/p>\n
The country and region have experienced long periods without rain since June 2023 due to El Ni\u00f1o, the city wrote on its official website. <\/p>\n
Colombian President Gustavo Petro issued a natural disaster decree in January, allowing the government to access more resources to combat El Ni\u00f1o\u2019s devastating effects, including wildfires and water stress. <\/p>\n
The plan will see nine different zones take turns rationing water services. Each zone\u2019s water restrictions will begin at 8 a.m. local time and last 24 hours before shifting to the next zone in line. <\/p>\n
Hospitals and schools will have contingency plans, Gal\u00e1n said on X, ensuring they won\u2019t lack water. <\/p>\n
\u201cThe critical levels of the reservoirs from which we draw drinking water for Bogot\u00e1 lead us to take measures aimed at saving water and reducing consumption from 17 cubic meters per second to 15,\u201d Gal\u00e1n\u2019s post read. <\/p>\n
\u201cThis must be the beginning of a behavioral change that is sustainable over time and guarantees that water is enough for everyone,\u201d he continued. <\/p>\n
Colombia joins Mexico, whose own capital, Mexico City, has also been experiencing a severe water crisis due to years of abnormally low rainfall, longer dry periods and high temperatures. <\/p>\n<\/p>\n
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