Ahead of World Water Day, analyst José David Name Cardozo highlights Colombia's huge debt to water resources, amid droughts, floods and poor management. This quarter's rains signal ecosystem imbalance rather than abundance, with Ideam warning of possible El Niño in late 2026.
On March 21, 2026, La República published 'En deuda con el agua,' an analysis by José David Name Cardozo critiquing Colombia's water management amid intense climate events. It notes time is now measured by prolonged droughts and torrential rains, with floods hitting half the country in Q1 2026. These rains reflect ecosystem imbalance, not plenty, per the author, citing the Instituto de Hidrología, Meteorología y Estudios Ambientales (Ideam)'s recent warning of possible El Niño in H2 2026, risking further shortages. Colombia builds debt by wasting and polluting water, Name Cardozo states. Vulnerable areas like La Guajira endure systemic humanitarian crises from scarcity, worsening extreme poverty, food insecurity and health issues. The United Nations reports 884 million people worldwide lack safe drinking water, while 5 million in Colombia—mostly rural and vulnerable—await access despite it being a universal right. Though among the nine countries richest in water, shortages loom. Name Cardozo urges: «La Nación y sus regiones tienen una deuda enorme con el agua. Necesitamos políticas de mitigación que se sientan en el territorio, no solo en los papeles, junto con una pedagogía que nos enseñe a todos a proteger y cuidar nuestras fuentes hídricas».
