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FM AMEMBASSY CARACAS
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0469
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RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHINGTON DC
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHINGTON DC
RUEHCV/AMEMBASSY CARACAS

C O N F I D E N T I A L CARACAS 000191 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 2020/02/12 
TAGS: ECON ENRG VE EINV
SUBJECT: Water - Yet Another Venezuelan Shortage 
 
REF: 09 CARACAS 1367 
 
CLASSIFIED BY: Steuart, Darnall, Economic Counselor, DOS, ECON; 
REASON: 1.4(B), (D) 
 
¶1.  (C) SUMMARY:  Despite Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez's claims 
that low water levels are due to the El NiC1o weather phenomenon, a 
lack of investment in water infrastructure by the Government of the 
Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (GBRV) has intensified water 
shortages.  Due to the low water levels at the reservoirs that 
supply Caracas, a water rationing program was implemented in 
November 2009.  Water levels, however, remain low and are reaching 
increasingly critical levels.  High water usage in Venezuela and a 
lack of viable water source alternatives for Caracas exacerbate the 
shortage as does dilapidated infrastructure.  The working class 
sector is the most affected by the rationing which may yet worsen 
in 2010 - not an ideal situation for a government facing September 
elections.  End Summary. 
 
 
 
Low Water Levels at Caracas' Reservoirs 
 
¶2. (SBU) Water levels at the three main reservoirs supplying 
Caracas are at historically low levels and rationing has been in 
place since November 2009.  The largest reservoir, Camatagua, 
supplies around 50% of Caracas' water supply.  Statistics from the 
Ministry of the Environment show that, of the reservoir's1.5 
billion cubic meter useable capacity, water levels are currently 
hovering at 650 million cubic meters - less than half its norm (and 
half its 5-year average).  Historically, the spring is marked by a 
steep decline in water levels that lasts until August when 
reservoirs are replenished during the rainy season.  However, 
Camatagua's water levels have been declining over the last four 
years.  Alejandro Hitcher, the newly named Minister of the 
Environment, has publicly acknowledged that water from the 
Lagartijo Reservoir, a second smaller reservoir that also supplies 
Caracas, cannot be pumped because of low water levels.  This 
eliminates 13% of Caracas' water supply.  Taguaza, the third 
reservoir supplying Caracas, is also experiencing low water levels, 
but its level has not yet sunk to a level considered to be 
abnormal. 
 
 
 
Out-dated Infrastructure and Maintenance Failures Increasingly 
Complicate Water Supply 
 
¶3.  (C) Caracas' water distribution system is complex due to its 
distance from its water sources and the elevation of the city. 
According to Hidrocapital, the company in charge of water 
distribution for the Caracas metropolitan area, the Camatagua 
reservoir is located 100 kilometers from the capital so distance 
alone is a challenge.  Due to Caracas' higher altitude, water from 
Camatagua must be elevated 650 meters to reach the capital. (NOTE: 
Caracas is located 900 meters above sea level and Camatagua is 
situated 250 meters above sea level. End Note) The city's water 
distribution system thus includes 146 pump stations which require 
around 500 megawatts of electricity, a further challenge in light 
of the current electricity crisis. 
 
 
 
¶4. (C) The 3,000 kilometers of water pipeline in the Caracas 
distribution system have not been sufficiently maintained which 
results in substantial water loss.  Press reports claim that 30-40% 
of water is lost in extensive leakages throughout the system. 
Professor Mario Dubois of the University of Central Venezuela has 
publicly asserted that each year the country should be renovating 
2% of its water pipelines to ensure a complete overhaul every 50 
years, but that the country is far from meeting this goal. 
 
 
 
¶5.  (C) Investment in water infrastructure has moreover declined 
significantly in the last ten years in spite of a growing 
population.  According to World Bank data, Venezuela has a 
population of 28 million people and a growth rate of 1.6% (2008). 
The construction of Caracas' Cuira reservoir and its system, which 
was planned by previous administrations, was started in 1999 and is 
still incomplete.  No large reservoirs have been built since 1999. 
 
 
 
Subsidized Prices Lead to Wasteful Usage 
 
¶6. (SBU) Venezuela has a high rate of water consumption fueled by 
artificially low prices.  GBRV subsidies keep rates at around USD 
0.10 (at official exchange rate USD:4.3 bolivares) per cubic meter 
 
of water consumed.  (NOTE:  The U.S. Environmental Protection 
Agency estimated the average water tariff in the United States in 
2000 at $0.72 per cubic meter. End Note) 
 
 
 
Rationing Effects on Disproportionately Affects Working Class 
 
¶7.  (SBU) When water rationing was first implemented in Caracas in 
November 2009 - a program that consists of shutting off water for 
two days a week in each neighborhood (reftel) -  the local press 
was filled with human interest stories of the hardship many working 
class people face in obtaining water.     Such stories have 
continued and on January 21, 2010, daily El Nacional pointed to the 
inconsistency of the water rationing with some neighborhoods in 
lower altitudes having less rationing while others are faced with 
up to four consecutive days of rationing.  More affluent residents 
of Caracas tend not to feel the rationing since many apartment 
buildings in middle class and upscale areas have large cisterns 
that are used on rationing days. 
 
 
 
¶8.  (C) COMMENT:  Following historic trends, the water levels in 
the Camatagua and Lagartijo reservoirs will probably continue to 
decline until late summer while the Taguaza reservoir will begin to 
decline in March.  This may lead to further water rationing and 
would make life more difficult for the working class.  Water 
rationing will also further accelerate deterioration in the 
pipelines, which are designed for constant water pressure.  The 
wild card in the supply of water is the potential impact of lengthy 
blackouts on pumping stations if water levels at the Guri 
hydroelectric complex fall below critical levels. Water shortages 
have so far disproportionately affected the lower, traditionally 
more pro-Chavez, economic strata of the population.  End Comment 
DUDDY