Puerto Rico is implementing water rationing across San Juan and several other major cities as an unprecedented drought continues to affect the island territory. Beginning Friday, more than 180,000 residents will experience rotating 48-hour periods without access to water as officials respond to worsening conditions and extreme heat.
Governor Jenniffer Gonzalez attributed the crisis to weather patterns beyond government control, expressing uncertainty about when the restrictions might end. Meteorologists predict dry conditions will likely persist through September, with July marking San Juan’s driest month in over 120 years. Currently, approximately 25 percent of Puerto Rico faces severe drought conditions, while another 36 percent experiences moderate drought according to monitoring data.
The rationing will affect neighborhoods in six municipalities including Carolina, Juncos, and Loiza. Water distribution trucks will prioritize hospitals and senior residences, though community leaders worry about vulnerable populations unable to transport heavy water containers. Some residents have already endured water shortages unrelated to the drought, creating additional hardship as rationing measures take effect.
This marks the third major rationing implementation in recent years, following similar actions in 2020 and 2015. Infrastructure maintenance issues have compounded the crisis, prompting San Juan’s mayor to pursue legal action against the local Water and Sewer Authority in May.
Originally reported by Aljazeera →
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