One of the world’s highest cities starts rationing water for 9 million people

Authorities in Bogotá, Colombia’s capital, announced on April 8th that residents would have to ration water as drought, fueled by El Niño, pushes reservoirs toward record lows. As global warming makes extreme weather such as heatwaves and drought more common and more severe, experts warn that the stress on cities’ water systems will only increase.

The rationing came into effect Thursday morning. Bogotá and dozens of surrounding towns have been divided into nine different zones with domestic running water cut off for 24 hours in each zone on a rotation that will reset every 10 days. The measures will affect approximately 9 million people.

The Chuza and San Rafael (pictured above) reservoirs, part of the Chingaza System that provides 70% of the city’s drinking water, are at particularly critical positions, according to local authorities.

It’s not unusual for cities in Latin America to face water crises. Bogotá joins Mexico City to its northwest, which could also be on the brink of running out of water, as the combination of climate change, El Niño, geography and rapid urban development put immense strain on its water resources. But this marks the first time in recent history that Bogotá has been forced to implement water rationing measures.

The industry needs to be part of the solution to mitigate the effects of water scarcity, globally. Drupps stands ready to help the industry improve water efficiency by recycling airborne wastewater, along with liquid wastewater. What is the value of water, in the face of forced water cuts?

Read the CNN article in its entirety: https://cnn.it/3W2Xtsv