National water shortage

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Home water supply at risk in some areas

Lake Alajuela, which supplies the Chilibre water treatment plant.

Posted 29/04/2023

While so far Panama has not exceeded its historical heat record with the highest temperature reported this year on April 14 at 38 degrees Celsius in Santiago (Veraguas) the effects of the dry season and high temperatures are being felt in various activities in the country such as the Panama Canal and the distribution of water by the Institute of National Aqueducts and Sewers (Idaan).

The Panama Canal lowered the draft level of Neopanamax ships. While the Idaan warned that the high and remote points of the districts of Panama and San Miguelito will be affected in the water supply, by the low level of Lake Alajuela, which supplies the Chilibre water treatment plant.

In some sectors of West Panama and the east of the province of Panama, their water treatment plants also do not have enough water to supply the demand.

It was announced that Panama is entering the transition from the dry to the rainy season, although there is a warning for the arrival of the El Niño phenomenon in the coming months.

https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/home-water-supply-at-risk-in-some-areas

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National water emergency looms  - IDAAN

Posted 11/05/2023

Given the water crisis due to the lack of rain, the Institute of National Aqueducts and Sewers (IDAAN) could declare a national emergency says Iván Cano from the institution's operations center.

Cano pointed out that if the downward trend in the rivers and lakes where the water is collected to supply the different water treatment plants in the country continues, Idaan would need to take a series of measures to guarantee the supply at the national level. Among these measures, it is not ruled out rationalizing and modifying the water pressure.

Despite the fact that the first rains have already been recorded in recent weeks, the institution stressed that the rivers and lakes would take at least two months to recover. In this sense, Cano appeals to the will of users.

“The fact that the rainy season begins does not imply that all the tributaries will recover expeditiously, that will take time and to the extent that this happens, we [Idaan] will recover production in the water service."

In these times of scarcity, Cano said that it is of the utmost importance that the population become aware of and limit the use of water recreationally and that they also adopt measures to save the liquid in domestic activities such as watering the plants, washing the car, washing dishes, bathing, brushing teeth, among others.

https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/national-water-emergency-looms-idaan

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Water authority contemplates rationing

The extension of the dry season is affecting the levels of Lake Alajuela, which supplies water to the treatment plant that supplies most of Panama City.

Posted 12/05/2023

https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/water-authority-contemplates-rationing

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DROUGHT: Cabinet mulls declaring state of emergency

Posted 20/05/2023

Panama’s Cabinet will decide on Tuesday, May 23 whether to announce a state of emergency due to the drought that the country is experiencing due to a lack of rain. The effect of climate change on the dry season has caused various lakes nationwide to remain at a critical level and even some rivers are already dry, a situation that worries the authorities.

Multiple actions have been taken to counteract the effects. However, some people are unaware of the situation in the country and misuse drinking water, unaware that they could be penalized for their actions.

Executive Decree 436 establishes sanctions for those people who do not make rational use of water during the dry season. According to the Institute of National Aqueducts and Sewers (Idaan), these are the activities that may be sanctioned:

Sweep or wash structures such as garages, sidewalks, streets, walls, walls, roofs, among others.

Water streets or unpaved paths and gardens.

Wash automotive equipment or bathe animals with hoses that do not have a control device (pistol).

Open hydrants without the prior authorization of the drinking water service provider

IDAAN called on the population to become aware and make better use of the resource

The period from 2023 to 2027, is forecast to be the hottest ever recorded in the country’s history.

https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/drought-cabinet-mulls-declaring-state-of-emergency

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Reduced use of culecos recommended  during Carnival

Posted 05/01/2024

Meteorologists recommend limiting the hours of the culecos (water used to spray revelers) for Carnival, mainly in the Azuero region, due to the effects of the El Nino Phenomenon.

Currently the El Niño phenomenon is in its strong phase and there is a high probability that it will last until March or April.

But from April to June, it is predicted that the El Niño phenomenon may enter a neutral phase. These probabilities are around 60%.

There is a 100% probability that the El Niño phenomenon will be in the country until the month of April, which would represent little rain and a few dry months.

The director of the Institute of Meteorology and Hydrology (Imhpa), Luz Graciela de Calzadilla made recommendations to the population to save water on culecos days.

“Where there are the greatest number of (carnival) celebrations is in the Arco Seco, which has been dry since December. There are rivers with reduced flows to use them for culecos, therefore, we must be aware and a recommendation would be to limit the hours of these celebrations ,” he stated.

The levels of the rivers in the provinces of the Dry Arc registered significant decreases, that is, 35% less rain.

The Dry Arc of Panama includes the territories of the eastern coastal plains and hills of the provinces of Los Santos and Herrera, as well as the southern coast of the province of Coclé.

 

https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/reduced-use-of-culecos-recommended-during-carnival