Denouncing 13‑day water outage, Loíza mayor says residents are ‘fed up’

Loíza Mayor Julia Nazario Fuentes

By THE STAR STAFF

Several communities in Loíza had been without running water for 13 consecutive days as of Monday, prompting Mayor Julia Nazario Fuentes to publicly criticize the Puerto Rico Aqueduct and Sewer Authority (PRASA) and warn that the municipality may join San Juan and Bayamón in legal action over the prolonged service failures.

The affected sectors -- Torrecilla, Piñones, El Indio and Terraplén -- have relied on limited emergency support while waiting for PRASA to restore service. Although some municipalities have received assistance from the Puerto Rico National Guard, Nazario said Loíza continues to face severe shortages that have pushed residents to the brink.

“People are tired -- truly tired -- of paying for a vital service they’re not receiving,” Nazario said.

The mayor questioned reports that a court case involving San Juan and Bayamón had paused due to a potential agreement with PRASA.

“You can’t sign agreements that leave out other municipalities that are also affected,” she said. “What is the agreement? That you’ll give water on certain days? And where does that leave us?”

Nazario added that while she sees “a lot of action” in San Juan and Bayamón, Loíza’s needs are being overlooked.

“Loíza exists, and many families have been impacted,” she said.

The mayor also criticized PRASA’s regional leadership, noting that the director for the San Juan area is reportedly on vacation amid the crisis. She called for a coordinated meeting where all affected municipalities are represented to ensure equitable planning and distribution of resources.

PRASA Executive President Luis González Delgado acknowledged the service gaps and said the agency is working to stabilize supply in Piñones, Torrecilla Alta and other impacted areas. He attributed the outages to insufficient water availability in the San Juan system.

“They are at the tail end of the system,” González Delgado said. “They are the first to lose water and the last to receive it. We know they’re on the map, and we’re working continuously -- not only making the necessary adjustments so our people in Piñones have water, but also providing resources through tanker trucks in the meantime.”

The water crisis has intensified public frustration across the metropolitan region, with some lawmakers and mayors demanding structural reforms and long‑term investment to prevent recurring shortages.