Bolívar Governor Requests Return of Water Management Control

Bolívar Governor Yamil Arana has asked President Gustavo Petro to return the management of the El Carmen de Bolívar aqueduct to local authorities.

This request follows a systemic failure in the delivery of potable water across the north and center of the Bolívar department. The crisis has left thousands of residents without a continuous water supply, creating a public health risk and sparking civil unrest in the region.

The governor made the formal request on June 12, 2024 ^[2]. The move comes as local leaders argue that national management of the utility has failed to address the needs of the municipality. The water shortage has been exacerbated by social instability and infrastructure failures.

Concurrent with the management dispute, the region has faced significant logistical disruptions. The Troncal de Occidente, a critical transport artery, suffered a blockage that lasted nine days ^[1]. This blockade hindered the movement of goods and services, further complicating the effort to stabilize the region's utility services.

Local authorities have linked the lack of reliable water to the current administrative structure. By requesting the return of the aqueduct, the governor said he aims to shift the responsibility of maintenance and operation back to the local level to ensure faster response times and better oversight.

President Petro and national authorities have not yet announced a decision regarding the transfer of the utility. For now, residents in the north and center of Bolívar continue to experience intermittent or nonexistent access to potable water.