Puerto Rico begins water rationing amid aging infrastructure crisis
(UI) — Puerto Rico has begun rotating water rationing across parts of the San Juan metropolitan area as aging water infrastructure, recent pipeline failures and prolonged drought continue to strain the island's water system.
Beginning Aug. 8, the Puerto Rico Aqueduct and Sewer Authority (PRASA) will implement 48-hour rotating water shutoffs affecting portions of San Juan and surrounding communities after weeks of service disruptions. The restrictions follow a major pipeline rupture in June that affected tens of thousands of customers and highlighted the vulnerability of the island's aging water network.
Water experts say decades of underinvestment and deferred maintenance have left Puerto Rico's distribution system increasingly unreliable. According to Félix Aponte Ortiz, a water management expert quoted by The New York Times, as much as 60% of the water entering the system is lost before reaching customers, underscoring the need for greater investment in pipeline replacement and distribution system upgrades.
The infrastructure challenges have been compounded by severe drought conditions, with more than half of Puerto Rico experiencing moderate to extreme drought. Gov. Jenniffer González-Colón has declared an island-wide emergency, while the National Guard continues distributing emergency water and officials encourage conservation as utilities work to stabilize service.
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