Shower together to save water, Bogotá tells couples

COUPLES in Bogotá have been asked to shower together to save water amid a historic drought aggravated by the El Nino climate phenomenon.

Neighbourhoods across the Colombian capital were cut off from the water grid on Thursday to save what little water remains in nearby reservoirs.

Carlos Fernando Galán, the city’s mayor, pleaded with residents to consider forgoing daily hygiene measures because of “historic lows” in water reserves. He said: “If you are not going to leave your house on Sunday or any other day of the week, take advantage of it and do not take a bath.”

He also urged those in relationships to shower in tandem: “Couples, shower together. This is just a teaching exercise, about saving water. That’s all it is.”

El Nino, a climate pattern that describes the unusual warming of surface waters in the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean, usually causes lower rainfall in South America. But this year the situation has spiralled out of control, with record-breaking temperatures and droughts, forcing the introduction of emergency measures.

Despite usually receiving twice the amount of annual rainfall as London, Bogotá has been surrounded by wildfires. About 10million people rely on the nearby reservoirs, which are now at a critical level.

Some 70 per cent of the capital’s water comes from the Chingaza reservoir, but supplies are down to 16 per cent. It is thought that just 54 days of water supplies remain.

Restrictions will impose 24-hour water cuts every 10 days by sector, leaving residents facing fewer showers, minimal laundry loads and dirty cars. The mayor has not said how long they would last, but urged residents to reduce consumption as much as possible. Susana Muhamad, the environment minister, said significant rains were only expected at the end of April or early May.

In the mountainous suburb La Calera, residents have been suffering occasional water cuts since February and tanker trucks now deliver drinking water.

“There are things we can no longer do, like washing the car,” Clara Escobar, told AFP. “We shower less” and “wash the clothes (only) when necessary”.