Puerto Rico Implements 48-Hour Water Rationing Amid Worsening Drought

On Thursday, the Puerto Rico Water and Sewer Authority announced 48-hour water-rationing periods beginning Friday for thousands of residents in the island’s northeast, specifically in the municipalities of Canóvanas and Río Grande. Executive president Luis González said the cuts are necessary because “There’s just not enough water,” and warned that the program could expand to additional areas if conditions persist.

Associated Press

The U.S. Drought Monitor classifies 14 % of the territory under a severe drought and another 59 % under a moderate drought, up from 18 % in late June. Roughly 2.3 million of Puerto Rico’s 3.2 million inhabitants now live in drought-affected zones. In late May, almost 40 000 customers lost water service for a month-long outage unrelated to the current drought, prompting the activation of the National Guard. Historical precedent shows that in 2016, about 400 000 utility customers received water only every third day. The island’s poverty rate hovers near 40 %, intensifying the impact of water scarcity.

Associated Press

Luis González, the authority’s executive president, emphasized the immediate need for rationing, adding that the lack of rain is the primary driver. Governor Jenniffer González acknowledged that the water system has suffered decades of under-investment and inadequate maintenance. The agency’s spokesperson has not responded to media inquiries.

Associated Press

Rep. Domingo J. Torres challenged the authority’s handling of the crisis, stating, “What’s happening with the Puerto Rico Water and Sewer Authority cannot be attributed solely to the drought,” and further warning, “What we’re seeing is a management that improvises, that reacts only when the crisis is already upon us, and that has failed to present a clear plan to guarantee access to drinking water.” Torres filed a formal request for detailed information on the agency’s drought-response strategy, and legislators convened a public hearing to examine the financial toll of water shortages on a population already facing high poverty.

Associated Press

Officials admit that severe water shortages began months before the current drought, and the precise causes remain unidentified. The lack of a clear, long-term water-security plan leaves both residents and policymakers uncertain about how and when rationing might be lifted.

Associated Press