Major  water pipe break in Puerto Rico hits over 165,000 customers

10/23/2025

A major water main rupture in Puerto Rico disrupted service to more than 165,000 customers across 15 municipalities on Oct. 21, forcing over 270 public schools to modify class schedules, according to the Associated Press.

The 6-foot-diameter line failed on Oct. 19, prompting San Juan’s mayor to declare an emergency as more than 100 water trucks were sent to affected areas.

Repairs began Oct. 20, and officials warned shortages could continue for at least two days. The incident follows another major outage in July that left tens of thousands without water due to maintenance lapses and management changes, as reported by AP.