Cartagena mayor says water company 'lies' about rationing end, claims court order forced action

A dispute has erupted in Cartagena over the restoration of water supply, with the city's mayor directly contradicting the water company's explanation for ending rationing.

Mayor Dumek Turbay stated that the suspension of water cuts, which had affected various parts of the city for weeks, was not a voluntary action by Aguas de Cartagena (Acuacar). Instead, he asserted it was a direct consequence of an order from the Administrative Court of Bolívar. This statement came shortly after Acuacar announced the resumption of scheduled cuts, attributing the restoration to technical and operational improvements facilitated by Veolia specialists.

Turbay publicly labeled Acuacar's explanation as "false" via his X account. He insisted that the company was compelled to lift the rationing to comply with a precautionary measure issued by the Administrative Court of Bolívar. This measure was part of a popular action lawsuit filed by the Mayor's office. The court mandated the suspension of planned cuts pending Acuacar's submission of a comprehensive plan to ensure service continuity and address the root causes of the crisis.

The lawsuit, initiated by the District, aimed to halt the sectorized rationing while structural solutions were sought to stabilize the water system's operation. The legal action argued that the repeated interruptions in water supply violated fundamental rights related to public health, sanitation, and continuous access to an essential service. Mayor Turbay reiterated that the company must now present an action plan, an investment program, and a contingency scheme to manage future emergencies.