Drought in South America

Months of diminished rains have amplified fires, parched crops, disrupted transportation networks, and interrupted hydroelectric power generation in parts of Brazil, Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela. Drought impacts have been far-reaching. News reports indicate that the drought has strained power supplies in Brazil, Columbia and Ecuador as hydroelectric power stations generate less electricity. “The map below shows shallow groundwater storage for the week of October 7, 2024, as measured by the Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment Follow-On (GRACE-FO) satellites. The colors depict the wetness percentile, or how the amount of shallow groundwater compares to long-term records (1948-2010). Blue areas have more water than usual, and orange and red areas have less.” NASA

At the end of September 2024 Bogotá Columbia reinstated water rationing as water levels in the Chingaza reservoir system, the Colombian capital’s main water source, continued to fall due to a prolonged drought. Citing record-low rainfall and the urgent need to conserve water the Mayor announced that every resident will have to spend 24 hours without running water every nine days. The City is also banning the use of tap water to wash cars and water lawns.

The city began rationing water in the spring, but loosened restrictions during the rainy season (May to August) in hopes of the reservoir system reaching 70% capacity. However, the weather remained dry and by the end of October the reservoirs system had only reached around 50% capacity. The Chingaza water system has had it’s driest year-EVER.

Compounding the problem is that Columbia usually gets two thirds of its electricity from hydroelectric power. To conserve water, the energy regulator called on the fossil fuel-powered electrical generation plants to boost output.  

In October, 40% of power generated came from coal (one third) and natural gas (two thirds). Unlike neighboring Ecuador which has had daily blackouts to conserve water, the thermal plants that burn fossil fuels have been able to keep the lights on in Bogotá. Though, Columbia’s President Gustavo Petro aspires to reduce Columbia’s reliance on fossil fuels and has refused to allow new drilling for natural gas.

Colombia’s natural gas production has declined by 8.1% since 2023. Natural gas in Colombia is used for national transport system compression stations, residential heating and cooking, refineries, and electricity generation. Colombia relies on five natural gas fields which provide 80% of demand but have been declining since 2019.  Gas reserves have declined 58%.

Climate change vulnerability expands beyond water to electricity and to more developed countries.