Bayamón mayor donates equipment to PRASA to ease water shortages in rural areas

Bayamón Mayor Ramón Luis Rivera Cruz

By The Star Staff

Bayamón Mayor Ramón Luis Rivera Cruz on Wednesday gave 13 generators with automatic transfer systems to Puerto Rico Aqueduct and Sewer Authority (PRASA) Executive President Luis González Delgado. The generators, which have been installed and are fully operational, will ensure the continuity of drinking water service during power outages in the southern rural areas of the municipality.

During a brief ceremony for the handover, Rivera noted that the initiative was prompted by the emergency created by Hurricane Maria and the frequent interruptions in water service due to power outages. To address the issue, he decided to implement a project to install automatic transfer generators at the 13 pumping stations that supply water to residents in southern Bayamón.

The generators, with capacities ranging from 20 kilowatts (kW) to 800 kW, were purchased and installed at a total cost of $2.2 million. They will benefit some 17,000 PRASA subscribers in rural Bayamón who previously struggled with access to drinking water during emergencies or whenever there was a blackout or a scheduled interruption by LUMA Energy, the private operator of the power grid.

“Today, we have finally completed this important project that brings peace of mind to the residents of the Bayamón countryside,” Rivera said.

He also emphasized that the operation and maintenance of the systems have been entrusted to PRASA, ensuring the continuity of service for its customers, even in emergency situations.

Rivera noted that the installation of the automatic transfer generators also required the construction of concrete platforms and the necessary infrastructure for proper operation.

“This project is part of the resilience initiatives we have adopted for the well-being and quality of life of our fellow citizens,” the mayor said.

The generators were installed at the following PRASA pumping stations:

1. Tio Pepe Pumping Station – Buena Vista, 2. Padre Rufo Station – Minillas, 3. Buena Vista I Station – Buena Vista, 4. Buena Vista II Station – Bo. Buena Vista, 5. Cerro Gordo I Station – Bo. Cerro Gordo, 6. Cerro Gordo II Station – Bo. Cerro Gordo, 7. Montañez Sector Station – Bo. Minillas, 8. Los Barros Station – Bo. Santa Olaya, 9. Las Toronjas Station – Bo. Guaraguao, 10. La Peña I Station – Bo. Guaraguao, 11. La Peña II Station – Bo. Guaraguao, 12. La Peña III Station – Bo. Guaraguao, 13. Dajaos Station – Bo. Dajaos.

The PRASA chief said the donation of the generators “is an extraordinary gesture of solidarity that will have a direct and immediate impact on the continued availability of drinking water for thousands of families.”

“This equipment will enable us to keep our pumping stations and treatment plants operational during power outages, ensuring that this vital water resource can reach homes and businesses in the municipality without interruption,” González Delgado said.