The mayor of Bogota, Carlos Fernando Galán, announced highly anticipated news for the citizens of Colombia’s capital: the city’s supply of potable water is guaranteed until the year 2058, thanks to the improvement and optimization work carried out at the Tibitoc treatment plant over the past year.
The statement, delivered during an official visit to the facilities of the Chingaza-Tibitoc system, represents a message of reassurance for a city that, until just a few months ago, lived under the shadow of water uncertainty.
“After very difficult months, we can confidently state that the supply of drinking water is secured for the next three decades, as a result of a historic intervention at the Tibitoc plant, which not only improved its operational capacity, but also prepared it to face the challenges of climate change,” said the mayor.
Bogotá, Colombia, secures water supply until 2058, following last year’s severe drought
The modernization of Tibitoc, one of Bogotá’s two main water supply plants, included a complete overhaul of the intake, treatment, and distribution systems, as well as the implementation of new technologies for real-time water quality monitoring.
The total investment exceeded COP 429 billion (approximately US$105 million) and was carried out by Bogotá’s Water and Sewerage Company (EAAB), in coordination with the Tibitoc Regional Aqueduct and with support from the national government.
Among the most significant upgrades were the construction of a new treatment line capable of processing 5,000 liters per second, the installation of activated carbon filters to improve the quality of treated water, and the automation of flow and pressure control processes, allowing for faster responses to potential emergencies or fluctuations in demand.
“This was not a minor intervention. It was a structural transformation of the system,” stated Tatiana Roa, EAAB’s Deputy Technical Manager. “Thanks to these works, the Tibitoc plant now has a total production capacity close to 10,000 liters per second, allowing us to supply not only Bogotá, but also neighboring municipalities such as Soacha, Mosquera, and Funza if necessary.”
Hoy dimos un paso histórico. Con el alcalde @CarlosFGalan entregamos el séptimo tren de tratamiento y la estación eléctrica de la Planta Tibitoc, una obra que garantiza agua para Bogotá y los municipios que abastece el @AcueductoBogota para los próximos 33 años.
💧 ¡Porque… pic.twitter.com/rpZyU3lnOc— Natasha Avendaño García, Ph.D. (@navendanog) July 29, 2025
Climate change and water planning
In recent years, Colombia’s capital has faced increasing pressure on its water sources due to extreme climate events, including prolonged droughts attributed to the El Niño phenomenon, which was especially severe in 2024.
In this context, the work at Tibitoc not only secures the current water supply, but also forms part of a broader water resilience plan aimed at diversifying supply sources and improving resource efficiency.
Mayor Galán explained that the modernization of Tibitoc will be complemented in the coming years by the expansion of the Bogotá River intake system, the protection of the páramos that feed the Chingaza system, and the promotion of a civic culture focused on water conservation.
“Climate change imposes a new logic for water resource management,” he stated. “We can no longer rely exclusively on traditional reservoirs. We need alternative sources, smart technologies, and citizen commitment to the rational use of water.”
During the execution of the works, which took place between June 2024 and May 2025, citizen participation and technical oversight mechanisms were implemented to monitor progress and ensure the quality of the project.
Communities near the Tibitoc plant took part in environmental consultation roundtables, and local employment programs were launched to hire residents of Tocancipá and surrounding areas.
“It was a participatory and transparent process, as any major public project should be,” the mayor emphasized. “Citizens were not only informed—they played an active role in transforming their water supply system.”
Lessons from a difficult year for Bogotá
The news comes after one of the most challenging episodes in the recent history of the capital’s water supply. Between April 2024 and April 2025, Bogotá faced a severe crisis caused by a dramatic drop in the reservoir levels of the Chingaza system, as a result of a prolonged and intense drought.
This situation forced the city administration to implement a scheduled rationing system that lasted twelve months, affecting more than ten million people.
During that period, households in Bogotá experienced water outages of up to 24 hours every 10 days, according to a rotating calendar by zones. The measure, though unpopular, was considered necessary to avoid a total collapse of the system and to preserve the resource during critical moments.
Now, with the Tibitoc works completed and rainfall patterns returning to normal in recent months, Bogotá is leaving behind a period of uncertainty and preparing for a future with greater water security.
As Mayor Galán said at the end of his speech: “Let this experience remind us not to let our guard down and to understand that water is not a guaranteed resource, but a shared asset we must all take care of.”