Medellín reinstates water rationing due to reservoir decline

Water rationing is returning to several sectors of Medellín, Colombia, starting Tuesday, September 22, following a decline in the Piedras Blancas reservoir levels. The reservoir's capacity dropped from 91.8% to 76.8% in just one week, prompting Empresas Públicas de Medellín (EPM) to reinstate scheduled service interruptions.

The rationing will consist of eight-hour nightly cuts between 8:00 p.m. and 4:00 a.m. The schedule will alternate between two groups of neighborhoods to ensure each area experiences three nights of service suspension per week. Affected areas include parts of the Popular, Manrique, Aranjuez, Villa Hermosa, Buenos Aires, and La Candelaria communes.

Mayor Federico Gutiérrez and EPM officials stated that water service will be evaluated weekly based on short-term hydrological forecasts and voluntary water conservation efforts. The decision to use a flexible schedule rather than a long-term plan aims to provide continuous service whenever conditions allow.