Puerto Rico is implementing drastic measures to manage its water supply, with hundreds of thousands of people facing intermittent service due to a severe drought.
The U.S. territory has resorted to shutting off water to households on a rotating 48-hour basis. Residents in the capital, San Juan, reported disruptions to their water service on Friday, with officials providing no timeline for the end of the rationing.
The island is experiencing moderate to severe drought conditions, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. This situation is exacerbated by ongoing issues with Puerto Rico's aging water infrastructure. The Puerto Rico Aqueduct and Sewer Authority reports that approximately 65% of its produced water is lost or unbilled, largely due to leaks and deteriorating pipes. IMAGE2
Governor Jenniffer González acknowledged these infrastructural challenges but stated that the current rationing is a direct response to weather patterns, which have severely depleted the Carraízo reservoir, a vital water source. Puerto Rico recorded its driest July on record, with 68% of the island now under drought conditions.
Seven regions typically supplied by the Carraízo reservoir are affected by the rationing, impacting 180,000 properties. Governor González indicated that the decision to ration was made after a thorough assessment of the reservoir's conditions and meteorological forecasts, describing the situation as "beyond our control" and a result of anticipated weather conditions. IMAGE7