Cundinamarca officials activated a contingency plan with 94 actions to prepare for droughts, forest fires, and water shortages caused by El Niño [1, 2].

The measures are critical because the region provides essential water supplies to Bogotá and faces significant risks to its electrical grid if reservoir levels remain low.

Gobernador de Cundinamarca Jorge Emilio Rey said the administration activated the plan to face possible impacts from water shortages and fires [1]. The strategy comes as meteorological forecasts indicate that the El Niño phenomenon is expected to arrive with strength in September 2026 [3]. This weather pattern could potentially extend through March and April 2027 [3].

Water security remains a primary concern for the region. A representative from the Institute of Hydrology, Meteorology and Environmental Studies (IDEAM) said reservoirs must reach at least 80% of their capacity to avoid devastation from a "Super El Niño" [4].

However, current data suggests a precarious situation for the national energy infrastructure. A spokesperson for XM said levels of the reservoirs in the National Interconnected System have dropped from 80% to 63% in just three months [5]. This 17-percentage-point decline increases the risks for the electrical system [5].

The contingency plan involves coordinated efforts between the regional government and authorities from IDEAM and XM to monitor water levels, and implement fire prevention protocols [1, 2]. Officials are focusing on the reservoirs that supply the capital city to ensure urban stability during the projected dry spell [2].

“"Activamos un plan de contingencia con 94 acciones para enfrentar posibles afectaciones por sequías, incendios forestales y desabastecimiento de agua."”

The gap between the required 80% reservoir capacity and the current 63% level creates a vulnerability window before the expected September 2026 peak of El Niño. If rainfall does not sufficiently replenish these basins in the coming months, Cundinamarca may face a dual crisis of urban water rationing in Bogotá and instability in the national power grid, which relies heavily on hydroelectric generation.