Genera seeks approval of water facility to protect power plants

The water‑treatment facility requested by Genera PR would be built either at the San Juan Power Plant or the Palo Seco Power Plant (pictured).

By THE STAR STAFF

Genera PR, the private operator of Puerto Rico’s legacy power plants, has asked the Puerto Rico Energy Bureau (PREB) to approve a major water‑treatment project aimed at protecting the island’s electrical system during ongoing droughts.

The request was filed on Aug. 6 as part of the review process required before any Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)‑funded project can move forward.

The filing came shortly after Gov. Jenniffer González Colón declared a state of emergency due to severe drought conditions and low reservoir levels, and implemented water rationing across the island. Her executive order warns that the lack of water threatens essential services, including electricity generation, and calls on government agencies to take urgent action to protect public health and safety.

Genera is seeking permission to submit a proposal to FEMA for a new reverse‑osmosis water‑treatment facility that would produce at least seven million gallons of treated water per day. The facility would be built either at the San Juan Power Plant or the Palo Seco Power Plant. According to the filing, the project would restore systems damaged during Hurricane Maria and create a more resilient, independent water supply for critical generation units.

The company explains that the existing water‑treatment systems at both plants were weakened by the 2017 hurricane and have continued to deteriorate. They are vulnerable to storms, drought, electrical outages and failures in the Puerto Rico Aqueduct and Sewer Authority’s (PRASA) network. Because the plants are among PRASA’s largest industrial water users, Genera argues that building an independent treatment facility would reduce pressure on the public water system and help keep electricity production stable during emergencies.

The proposed project includes restoring damaged equipment, building a modern reverse‑osmosis system, adding flood and wind protection, installing backup power, and creating redundant pumping and control systems. The facility would support essential plant operations such as boilers, cooling systems, emissions controls and emergency water reserves. The estimated cost ranges from $95 million to $165 million, depending on the final design and location.

Under a 2021 PREB order, PREPA and Genera must submit any FEMA‑funded project to the energy regulator at least 30 days before sending it to the Central Office for Recovery, Reconstruction and Resiliency or FEMA. Genera is asking for expedited review because of the drought emergency declared by the governor. If the PREB approves the proposal, it will move to FEMA for evaluation under the agency’s Public Assistance program, which combines disaster restoration with hazard‑mitigation funding.