The Empresa de Acueducto y Alcantarillado de Bogotá (EAAB) has ruled out water rationing despite the early arrival of the El Niño phenomenon.

This announcement provides stability for a city that previously faced a historic water crisis. Ensuring a steady supply is critical as the region prepares for the climatic shifts expected in the latter half of the year.

General Manager Natasha Avendaño said the city is prepared for the current rainy season and does not foresee the need for rationing. This confidence stems from the current state of the Chingaza reservoirs, which hold more than 21 million cubic meters of water [1].

Officials said that the arrival of El Niño is expected in the second semester of 2026 [2]. Despite this anticipation, the EAAB maintains that the city is better positioned than it was during the crisis of 2024 [3].

"Actualmente la ciudad cuenta con mejores condiciones de almacenamiento de agua, operatividad y tratamiento de agua en sus plantas que en 2024, año en el que se vivió un racionamiento histórico," Avendaño said [1].

The water authority highlighted that improved operational and treatment conditions at its plants, combined with ongoing rains in several localities, have created a buffer against drought. A spokesperson for the Bogotá Aqueduct said it will not be necessary to implement rationing despite the early arrival of the weather phenomenon [4].

While some analysts have suggested that rationing remains a complex possibility if severe droughts impact the reservoirs, the EAAB continues to discard the need for such measures during this season [4]. Avendaño said on May 26 that the city is prepared and rationing is not predicted [5].

“The city is prepared and no water rationing is foreseen.”

The EAAB's assertion suggests that Bogotá has successfully increased its infrastructure resilience and storage capacity since the 2024 water crisis. By leveraging higher reservoir levels and improved plant operations, the city aims to decouple its water security from the immediate volatility of the El Niño cycle, though the contradiction between official statements and independent analysis indicates that reservoir levels remain the primary vulnerability.