Canóvanas, Loíza could face scheduled water interruptions amid declining river levels

Canóvanas Mayor Lornna Soto Villanueva, in foreground, said the municipality will activate its drought plan and coordinate with critical sectors, including hospitals, schools, businesses, industrial zones, farmers, ranchers and care centers.

By THE STAR STAFF

Gov. Jenniffer González Colón said Wednesday that the municipalities of Canóvanas and Loíza may enter a schedule of planned water service interruptions as early as this weekend due to declining river flows that supply the Canóvanas filtration plant.

“Today we discussed that Loíza and Canóvanas are the first municipalities on the verge of a programmed service interruption,” the governor said during a press conference. “There is no estimated date yet. It could be between Friday and Monday of next week, and it would involve a reduction in daily service hours.”

The Puerto Rico Aqueduct and Sewer Authority (PRASA) will coordinate the specific service‑reduction schedule with the mayors of both towns.

González Colón noted that the initial proposal was to alternate service by municipality, but officials ultimately favored reducing daily hours in both towns to allow families to plan ahead.

“The important thing is to be proactive and prepare for the worst so it doesn’t catch us off guard,” she said.

PRASA Executive President Luis González Delgado emphasized that the goal is to protect the resource amid forecasts of limited rainfall.

“The purpose is never to leave people without water,” he said. “But we must defend the water supply, especially given the projections we are seeing.”

PRASA estimates that the plan could affect roughly 8,200 customers in Canóvanas and more than 5,500 in Loíza. Because the agency measures service according to active water meters, the number of people impacted could be significantly higher.

González Delgado noted that the situation differs from managing a reservoir because river flows can change dramatically from one day to the next.

“We’ve arrived at rivers that are practically overflowing one day, and the next day the overflow is gone,” he said. “That’s how drastic the changes can be.”

The Canóvanas plant typically requires about 7 million gallons of water per day. According to PRASA, extractions between 6.5 and 6.8 million gallons can sustain service, though not at optimal levels.

“Below 5 million gallons, we begin to see greater service fluctuations,” González Delgado added.

State meteorologist Ernesto Rodríguez reported that 49% of Puerto Rico is currently experiencing abnormally dry conditions, while 5% to 6% is under moderate drought. Over the past 30 days, much of the island has received only 10% to 25% of normal rainfall.

Rodríguez noted that passing showers will not be enough unless they remain over land for at least an hour to generate meaningful runoff.

“Those downpours need to last long enough to replenish rivers and reservoirs,” he said.

Canóvanas Mayor Lornna Soto Villanueva said the municipality will activate its drought plan and coordinate with critical sectors, including hospitals, schools, businesses, industrial zones, farmers, ranchers and care centers. She supported the decision to reduce service by schedule rather than full‑day cuts.

“While longer interruption periods were being evaluated, we managed to limit the proposed schedule to approximately 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.,” Soto Villanueva said. “This allows families to have service during the hours of greatest need at home.”

“Residents will still have the opportunity to come home and have water, but they should not abuse it,” she noted.

Loíza Mayor Julia Nazario Fuentes said her administration requested equitable treatment in any reduction plan. She stressed the importance of clear communication after the town recently went without water from Thursday through Monday. “People need to know when they will have water and when they won’t,” she said. “The uncertainty is what causes desperation.”

The governor also announced that Puerto Rico’s drought committee has been activated to monitor other water sources across the island.

The National Weather Service has identified Cabo Rojo, Guánica, Lajas, Santa Isabel and Guayama as being in severe drought, while Gurabo, Trujillo Alto, San Lorenzo and Juncos are under moderate drought. González Colón clarified that those classifications do not imply immediate service interruptions but do require close monitoring of the water bodies that supply the affected municipalities.