Colombian water and sewage systems are not ready for this year’s rainy season, warned the country’s Superintendent of Public Utilities (SPU) Tuesday.
642 municipalities do not have waterwork contingency plans in place, said the watchdog, despite damage by last year’s heavy rains causng $385 million of damage to such systems.
Last year’s rainy season affected 900 municipalities but only 433 have plans in place for this year’s rains, which have already started.
The SPU urged mayors to develop these contingency plans as soon as possible. Under Decree 093, it is the direct responsiblity of mayors to develop these plans and those that fail to do so adequately could face charges by the Inspector General.
The departments with the greatest percentage of contingency plans are Antioquia, Valle del Cauca, Boyaca, Cundinamarca, Santander and Norte de Santander.
Last week the country’s Comptroller General warned regional leaders had failed to get ready for the upcoming rains, putting $4.5 million of contingency funds at risk.
Last year’s Colombian rains were particularly harsh, causing natural disasters that killed 117 and affected more than 430 thousand.