A water crisis has hit one South American contry particularly hard and its citizens has had to resort to some extreme measures.
In the Colombian capital of Bogotá, authorities are urging couples to conserve water by showering together due to ongoing water rationing efforts.
Major neighborhoods experienced water cutoffs to help preserve the critically low water levels in reservoirs that have been starved of rain by the weather phenomenon known as El Niño.
In addition to suggesting that couples shower together to conserve water, Bogotá's mayor, Carlos Fernando Galán, also asked residents to consider reducing their daily hygiene practices entirely given the reservoirs were at "historic lows."
"If you are not going to leave your house on Sunday or any other day of the week, take advantage of it and do not take a bath," Galán pleaded prior to the water shutoffs.
El Niño, known for causing decreased rainfall in South America, has resulted in record-breaking droughts and high temperatures this year, prompting governments across the region to implement emergency measures, according to The Guardian.
Unusually long hot and dry spells have caused wildfires in the forests around the capital, filling some neighborhoods with smoke. Now, the reservoirs that serve about 10 million people are at "critical" levels.
Supplies at the Chingaza reservoir, which supplies 70% of the capital's water, are at 16%, the lowest on record.
Bogotá's public water utility estimates there could be about 54 days' worth of water left.
To prevent a disaster, local officials have split Bogotá into nine zones, each of which will experience a 24-hour water cut-off in rotation.
The mayor did not specify how long the measures would last but asked residents to cut water use so the restrictions could be lifted sooner.
"Let's not waste a drop of water in Bogotá at this time," Galán told reporters this week.
Bogotá isn't the only one dealing with drought. Mexico City has also been rationing water, and Guatemala declared an emergency on Wednesday because of wildfires.
