A growing water crisis is unfolding in Cundinamarca, the region surrounding Bogotá, Colombia. According to the Regional Autonomous Corporation of Cundinamarca (CAR), the agency responsible for managing the area’s natural resources, 35 municipalities under its jurisdiction are currently on water alert.
The corporation’s latest report, dated September 28, shows that the situation has moved beyond simple precaution in many towns. Six municipalities are under the most severe “red alert,” seven are on “orange alert,” and 16 are on “yellow alert”—a tiered system used to signal escalating risk. Some communities have already declared public emergencies, while others have implemented water rationing or are relying on tanker trucks to deliver water to residents whose regular supply has been cut or reduced.
Among the hardest-hit areas is the Sumapaz region, a highland páramo zone south of Bogotá known for its unique ecosystem and role as a natural water source for the capital. The crisis stands in contrast to Bogotá itself, where the Chingaza reservoir system—the city’s main water source—currently sits at more than 94% capacity, easing fears of rationing in the capital.
The gap between Bogotá’s relatively comfortable reserves and the dire situation in surrounding towns highlights uneven access to water resources across the region. To read the full report from El Tiempo, follow the original story.
Source: Alerta por desabastecimiento de agua: 35 municipios de Cundinamarca enfrentan crisis hídrica (eltiempo.com).
Image: Walter, BY 2.0 (via Openverse).