Water shortages reported in Vélez and Saltillo

Water shortages are affecting multiple regions in Colombia and Mexico due to infrastructure and utility failures.

In Vélez, Santander, a damaged pipe at Pozo Verde has left various sectors without water for up to 25 days. The municipality has been declared in a state of public calamity. While authorities have deployed water trucks and community tanks, residents continue to face significant challenges, with local commerce seeing a 300 percent increase in bottled water sales.

In Saltillo, Mexico, water service is gradually returning following electrical failures at the Captación Sur wells. The outage, which affected both homes and water pumping infrastructure, prompted criticism from local officials regarding the response time of the Comisión Federal de Electricidad (CFE). Residents reported having to pay for private water tankers to meet basic needs during the disruption.