Colombia faces regional water supply challenges and rationing

Various regions in Colombia are facing water supply challenges due to the El Niño phenomenon and infrastructure issues. In Medellín, Mayor Federico Gutiérrez announced a temporary suspension of scheduled nighttime water rationing following recent rainfall that helped recover levels in the Piedras Blancas reservoir. However, authorities warned that rationing could resume if consumption increases significantly or weather conditions change.

In the rural area of La Buitrera near Cali, the El Niño phenomenon has drastically reduced the flow of the Lili River. This has forced the local utility, Acuabuitrera, to implement rationing that can last up to five days, affecting approximately 14,000 people.

In Bogotá, a sudden pipe failure in a main distribution network near Avenida Ciudad de Cali caused water service suspensions in several neighborhoods within the Suba locality. The water company, EAAB, is working on repairs and providing water via tanker trucks to priority areas like health centers.

Meanwhile, in Ipiales, the Nariño Departmental Assembly approved 22.228 billion pesos to fund the construction of new water catchment and supply infrastructure to address long-standing service crises in the municipality.