The country’s capital city gets water for just three hours a day, as reservoirs run dry.

Last week, residents in Bolivia’s second largest city El Alto briefly held hostage authorities from a local water company to demand an explanation for the shortage.

Two of the main three dam reservoirs feeding the city of La Paz are at eight percent capacity, while the third is in the danger zone with just one percent.

“Jankho Khota is dry,” explained local resident Irlaria Quispe. “The water is drying up, there’s very little, nothing more. And my youngest son wants water. And the water is drying up.”

#Bolivia water crisis is worsening. Today, thousands marched in La Paz demanding a few liters of clean water. Yes, just water! #LaPazSinAgua pic.twitter.com/4emwjYrnHJ

— Pedro Zubieta Funes (@ZubietaFunes) 23 novembre 2016

The drought affects 125,000families. Authorities have rationed the water supply. Schools will close two weeks earlier this year to prevent the spread of disease.

“We have gone more than three weeks without a water supply,” Rocio Lazarte from La Paz’s Niño Jesús national school. “All we’ve had for the children was the water from the hillside.”

One third of people living in La Paz have had two weeks of water restrictions.

The severe drought has prompted protests in major cities.

People accuse the water company of corruption, and the government of lack of foresight.

“We need water, and that’s the reason for this blockade,” explained protester Virginia Lopez. “There was no water on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday. And now all we have to drink is dirty. “

Water rationing extended in #Bolivia as drought worsens https://t.co/qlVgyxjpTf pic.twitter.com/Wn71sisO91

— Sputnik (@SputnikInt) 21 novembre 2016

Feeling the pressure, President Evo Morales pointed the finger of blame at the water management companies.

“Unfortunately, we were never warned, never alerted, by the water control authority and the EPSAS [Public Social Company of Water and Health],” said Morales.

Bolivian water rationing – in pictures https://t.co/uPDQrGlqn1

— Guardian Environment (@guardianeco) 23 novembre 2016

Shrinking glaciers threaten water supply
Bolivian glaciers have shrunk in recent decades. The melted ice is a major water source for millions

Two of the glaciers that supply water to the capital are expected to have completely disappeared by 2030. ( Keith Walker -Euronews)