Medellín increases water savings in response to El Niño, but remains far short of its target

Medellín's water consumption showed a slight improvement on Friday, Sept. 4, but the city remains well short of the savings needed to withstand the effects of El Niño. Three of the five designated days have passed, and Empresas Públicas de Medellín, or EPM, says residents have not yet met its targets.

The strongest effort came in the system supplied by the Piedras Blancas reservoir, which serves communities in northeastern and central-eastern Medellín. Homes and businesses there reduced daily consumption by an average of 27 liters, still far below the 92-liter target set to stabilize reserves.

Other areas are further from their goals. The La Fe system, which supplies central and southern Medellín as well as Caldas, La Estrella, Itagüí, Sabaneta and Envigado, recorded savings of only 15 liters per home against a 70-liter target.

The situation is especially difficult in the Riogrande system, which supplies western and northwestern Medellín and the municipalities of Bello, Copacabana and Girardota. Daily consumption fell by just 6 liters per user, compared with the target of 70 liters.

EPM and the Medellín mayor's office have intensified their warnings and called for tougher conservation measures, particularly on weekends, when household water use traditionally increases. They say continued restraint at the tap is essential to prevent rationing and planned interruptions from becoming a reality.