Water scarcity affects Dominican Republic and Colombia due to drought

Several regions in the Caribbean and South America are facing water supply challenges driven by drought and the El Niño phenomenon.

In the Dominican Republic, the Corporación del Acueducto y Alcantarillado de Santo Domingo (CAASD) reports that water production in Greater Santo Domingo has dropped to between 30% and 35% of usual capacity. Director Fellito Suberví noted that river basins have seen a significant lack of rainfall for over five months. To mitigate the shortage, CAASD is implementing contingency plans, including water transfers and distribution via tanker trucks.

In Colombia, Medellín's Empresas Públicas de Medellín (EPM) has announced scheduled nighttime water service interruptions starting August 31 for various sectors. This measure follows a deficit in the Piedras Blancas reservoir and increased consumption. Meanwhile, in Barranquilla and surrounding municipalities, Triple A will suspend service on September 1 to perform infrastructure maintenance and strengthen the supply system.

In Bogotá, the Empresa de Acueducto y Alcantarillado de Bogotá (EAAB) has successfully recovered over 12.9 billion pesos by combating illegal water connections and fluid fraud. Additionally, officials at EAAB have emphasized the importance of water security strategies to prepare for climate change impacts.