Hundreds of thousands of people are going without running water for two days at a time in Puerto Rico, as authorities in the US territory take drastic measures to combat a severe drought.
Residents across the island are divided into two groups. Each group receives water for 48 hours before the supply is cut for the next 48 hours, creating a continuous cycle of shutdowns.
San Juan’s water taps were turned off on Friday, sparking an outcry from residents who have no clear timetable for when services will resume.
The island’s water authority estimates that about 65 % of the water it produces is lost or goes unbilled, largely due to leaks in aging pipes.
Governor Jenniffer González blamed the drought and the depleted Carraízo reservoir for the rationing, saying the decision was made “after carefully evaluating the current conditions of the Carraízo reservoir in conjunction with weather forecasts.” She assured residents the situation was “beyond our control” and a result of weather patterns foreseen weeks earlier.
Puerto Rico experienced its driest July on record, with 68 % of the island currently facing drought conditions. Laborers and locals have begun lining up in front of water distribution trucks to fill large containers.
Officials warn that the measure could continue until the reservoir is refilled, possibly when conditions allow rainfall or when a smoothed-out Saharan dust cloud moves away.
Past attempts at water rationing in 2015 and 2020 saw as many as 400 000 households get water only every third day, but the current strategy is more severe given the crisis’ scale.
While the US federal government has pledged assistance, details remain sparse, and residents remain uncertain about when and which households will be affected next.
