Puerto Rico will implement water rationing measures in San Juan and other major cities as a severe drought grips the U.S. territory, with officials warning of no immediate relief. Starting Friday, more than 180,000 customers will experience alternating 48-hour water supply cuts.
July marked the driest month on record for San Juan in over 120 years, and the capital also experienced its fourth hottest July. According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, nearly 25% of Puerto Rico is currently facing severe drought conditions, with an additional 36% under moderate drought.
While heavy rains typically arrive by late August, associated with storms forming during the Atlantic hurricane season, this year's pattern remains uncertain. Meteorologists have cautioned that dry conditions are likely to persist until September. Experts have also predicted a milder hurricane season for 2026.
The rationing will affect not only parts of San Juan but also specific neighborhoods in Carolina, Juncos, Gurabo, Trujillo Alto, Canovanas, and Loiza. Governor Jenniffer González attributed the crisis to weather conditions, stating that the situation is beyond the government's immediate control and could worsen.
Luis González Delgado, president of Puerto Rico’s water and sewer system, confirmed that large trucks would be deployed to distribute potable water. Priority will be given to hospitals and residences for the elderly.
For thousands of Puerto Ricans, the drought exacerbates pre-existing water shortages. Community leader Marcia Soler París noted that her neighborhood has already been dealing with severe water scarcity for months, rendering the new rationing measures of little practical difference. She expressed concerns for bedridden and elderly residents who cannot easily transport water.
This situation also highlights long-standing issues with the island's water infrastructure. San Juan Mayor Miguel Romero filed a lawsuit against the Puerto Rico Water and Sewer Authority in late May, citing chronic water shortages unrelated to the current drought. The governor acknowledged that the agency's infrastructure has suffered from decades of underinvestment and neglect.
Puerto Rico has previously implemented water rationing measures in 2015 and 2020. In 2015, approximately 400,000 customers faced water service only every third day.