Puerto Rico Implements Water Rationing in San Juan Amid Drought

Puerto Rico is implementing water rationing measures in San Juan and other major cities due to a severe drought. Starting Friday, over 180,000 customers will experience 48-hour water cutoffs on an alternating schedule. Governor Jenniffer González stated that the situation is serious and attributed the crisis to weather conditions. July was recorded as the driest month in over 120 years for San Juan, with nearly 25 percent of Puerto Rico experiencing severe drought and 36 percent under moderate drought. Meteorologist María Novoa García indicated that rainfall is expected to be at least 50 percent below average in the coming weeks, linked to a strengthening El Niño. The rationing will also affect neighborhoods in Carolina, Juncos, Gurabo, Trujillo Alto, Canovanas, and Loiza. To alleviate the impact, large trucks will distribute potable water, prioritizing hospitals and elderly residents. Community leaders have expressed frustration over ongoing water shortages, which have persisted for many residents even before the current drought. San Juan Mayor Miguel Romero has initiated legal action against the Water and Sewer Authority due to infrastructure issues, and Representative Domingo J. Torres García has threatened further legal action if satisfactory responses are not provided regarding the water crisis.