By Natalia Rueda 
The city of Bogotá is in the midst of a serious water crisis that is escalating at an alarming rate. According to authorities, the Chuza reservoir, one of the city’s main sources of water supply, is rapidly depleting. If citizens do not adjust their consumption habits, they could soon face a serious water shortage. Faced with this situation, the government has taken urgent measures to combat the shortage and protect water reserves.
The new action plan includes a series of strict regulations for water consumption:
- Residents in strata 1 to 4 must now limit their monthly water consumption to 12 m3/s.
- Those in strata 5 and 6 can use a maximum of 9 m3/s.
- In addition, commercial establishments must also adhere to these restrictions which for them has not yet been established but will also face fines if they exceed the limits.
- Increased requirement for providers to apply all measures to comply with the loss reduction goals contained in the indicators that must be submitted periodically to the Superintendency of Public Utilities.
Starting in October, the goal is to save 3 cubic meters of water per second, which will help guarantee the city’s water supply until the drought season begins in January 2025. To enforce these consumption limits, the Water Regulation Commission (CRA) plans to implement a more rigorous system of surcharges for those users who exceed the established limits or use additional water. This means that for each additional cubic meter of water consumed, double the current cost will be charged on the bill.
The announcement of these strict measures has generated concern and debate among city residents. However, it is important to understand that these measures are essential to ensure a constant supply of water for Bogotá’s growing population. To achieve this, it is crucial that every citizen takes these restrictions seriously and makes changes in their water consumption habits.