Puerto Rico has announced water rationing measures affecting more than 180,000 residents across San Juan and other major municipalities, beginning Friday. Under the rotating schedule, affected residents will experience water service interruptions lasting 48 hours at a time. Governor Jenniffer Gonzalez acknowledged the crisis during a statement, stating that weather conditions are driving the decision and that the duration of rationing measures remains uncertain.
Meteorological conditions have contributed significantly to the crisis. July was the driest month on record for San Juan in over 120 years, while also ranking as the second-hottest July on record for the capital. National Weather Service meteorologists have projected that dry conditions will likely continue through September, with rainfall in the coming two to three weeks expected to fall at least 50 percent below average. Approximately 25 percent of Puerto Rico currently faces severe drought conditions, while another 36 percent is experiencing moderate drought according to the US Drought Monitor. Scientists have attributed the persistent dry conditions to strengthening El Niño patterns.
The rationing measure encompasses neighborhoods in several municipalities beyond San Juan, including Carolina, Juncos, Gurabo, Trujillo Alto, Canovanas and Loiza. Water distribution authorities plan to deploy large trucks to deliver potable water, prioritizing hospitals and residential facilities for elderly residents. Some community members have expressed concern about implementation, noting that certain neighborhoods have already experienced water shortages for extended periods prior to the announcement of formal rationing.
Water infrastructure challenges have compounded the crisis. San Juan’s mayor filed legal action against the island’s Water and Sewer Authority in late May, with officials acknowledging that the agency’s infrastructure systems have suffered from insufficient investment and maintenance across multiple decades. Puerto Rico previously implemented similar rationing measures in 2015, when approximately 400,000 utility customers received water only every third day, and again in 2020.
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