Post by livinginmedellin on Sept 3, 2016 16:19:51 GMT -5
The current state of the Peñol-Guatapé reservoir is 46.51 percent, as of 2 September, according to official records. This is a level that does not register any alarm for Empresas Publicas de Medellin (EPM), but the state of the waters, despite the recent rains in different parts of Antioquia, affects the majestic landscape and thus the economy of Guatape, whose tourism revenues account for between 70 and 80 percent of the local economy.
Daniel Flores Cardona has spent 20 years as a boatman. He laments that "Tourists are discouraged because this is one of the attractions of the town. And it does not look as beautiful as when it is at its maximum”.
And the reservoir on August 31 was at a level of 46 percent, according to data released by EPM. Carlos Alberto Solano Bonnett, vice president of EPM power generation, said it is a level that is usually recorded at this time of year. "In August 2013 this date, it was on the same level," he said.
One reason, according to the statement by the Vice President of Power Generation, is that "we used significantly the Central Guatapé for power generation and this has led to the reservoir dropping in recent months".
EPM executive said that after registering the phenomenon of El Niño hydrology has not been standardized: not only the Nare River, which supplies the dam of the Peñol, but other streams that supply other reservoirs EPM. "This situation has meant that we have had to use significantly the Central Guatapé generation."
Expert accounts are optimistic, based on the prospect of future the phenomenon of La Niña develops calculations. "We hope hydrology has been in deficit gradually settles down and towards the end of the year, beginning of next, we have a hydrology equal to the historical average or slightly above."
With this projection "we hope that in the coming days the reservoir steps down and, conversely, begin to rise gradually and by the end of November, early December we are at a level of about 65 percent. Is an approximate figure, it is difficult to know exactly, "stressed the official.
Less beauty, low income
The splendid and imposing landscape translates into income for those that are members of the chain and have lived for decades thanks to its majesty. "The losses are close to 60 percent," said Daniel Flores Cardona.
Guatapé boaters union members in various associations are on alert for the decrease in the number of visitors attributed to them due to the low level of the reservoir.
Fabio de Jesus Rojas, who has ten years of boatman said that tourists are no longer attracted by the reservoir that does not show its splendor as in the past.
See for more (in Spanish): www.elcolombiano.com/antioquia/embalse-bajo-por-la-generacion-a-tope-en-guatape-XX4909257
One of my neighbors went to Guatapé last week and he said the water levels were the lowest he has ever seen.
Daniel Flores Cardona has spent 20 years as a boatman. He laments that "Tourists are discouraged because this is one of the attractions of the town. And it does not look as beautiful as when it is at its maximum”.
And the reservoir on August 31 was at a level of 46 percent, according to data released by EPM. Carlos Alberto Solano Bonnett, vice president of EPM power generation, said it is a level that is usually recorded at this time of year. "In August 2013 this date, it was on the same level," he said.
One reason, according to the statement by the Vice President of Power Generation, is that "we used significantly the Central Guatapé for power generation and this has led to the reservoir dropping in recent months".
EPM executive said that after registering the phenomenon of El Niño hydrology has not been standardized: not only the Nare River, which supplies the dam of the Peñol, but other streams that supply other reservoirs EPM. "This situation has meant that we have had to use significantly the Central Guatapé generation."
Expert accounts are optimistic, based on the prospect of future the phenomenon of La Niña develops calculations. "We hope hydrology has been in deficit gradually settles down and towards the end of the year, beginning of next, we have a hydrology equal to the historical average or slightly above."
With this projection "we hope that in the coming days the reservoir steps down and, conversely, begin to rise gradually and by the end of November, early December we are at a level of about 65 percent. Is an approximate figure, it is difficult to know exactly, "stressed the official.
Less beauty, low income
The splendid and imposing landscape translates into income for those that are members of the chain and have lived for decades thanks to its majesty. "The losses are close to 60 percent," said Daniel Flores Cardona.
Guatapé boaters union members in various associations are on alert for the decrease in the number of visitors attributed to them due to the low level of the reservoir.
Fabio de Jesus Rojas, who has ten years of boatman said that tourists are no longer attracted by the reservoir that does not show its splendor as in the past.
See for more (in Spanish): www.elcolombiano.com/antioquia/embalse-bajo-por-la-generacion-a-tope-en-guatape-XX4909257
One of my neighbors went to Guatapé last week and he said the water levels were the lowest he has ever seen.