Santander faces severe water rationing amid drought and forest fires

Santander, Colombia, is grappling with a severe water crisis, with 11 municipalities under strict rationing and two facing red alerts due to escalating forest fires. The situation is compounded by critically low water levels in the region's main rivers.

Recent weeks have seen 15 forest fires burn through more than 210 hectares, primarily in the Guanentina and Soto Norte provinces. Authorities are implementing prevention campaigns against waste burning and campfires, which have shown some success. However, the fires, some lasting up to 24 hours, continue to strain resources.

Pedro Conde, coordinator of the Crisis Room for risk management in Santander, reported that municipalities like Málaga, El Socorro, Vélez, and Aratoca are experiencing daily water rationing of 8 to 10 hours. Efforts are underway to supply water via tanker trucks, but the low levels in rivers and streams, coupled with maintenance issues in water distribution networks, persist.

The drought is further intensified by the El Niño phenomenon. The Magdalena River is flowing at a mere 1.40 meters, significantly below its normal level. Other key rivers like Opón, Carare, and Suárez are operating at less than 50% capacity, forcing the activation of contingency plans to manage the widespread water deficit.