Dry Run

Since Christmas just three rains have fallen on Bogota. But not one drop has touched the city's reservoir, 15 miles away at Regadera (which means "shower bath" in Spanish). Intimidated by the brassy skies, duly alarmed by the nearly empty "shower bath," local authorities last week urged all Bogotanos to get out of town if they possibly could. Some water mains were already dry. Schools were beginning to close down. Washing an automobile was declared a crime.

Partly to blame was the U.S. engineer who designed the water system, not dreaming that the city would grow from 332,000 to half a million in seven years. But Bogota boosters were not in a mood to boast. Only the local temperance leaguers felt like rejoicing: the flow of workingmen's chicha (corn beer) was also drying up.

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