Gov’t keeps water rationing unchanged

Engineer Carlos Pesquera Morales, fourth from left, stressed that “[f]or the public, the important thing is that there are no changes in the operational adjustment patterns, both at La Plata and Sergio Cuevas.” (Facebook via Jenniffer González Colón)

By THE STAR STAFF

The central government will keep current water‑rationing schedules in place for customers served by the Carraízo reservoir and maintain existing operational adjustments at La Plata, despite weekend rains that brought modest relief to parts of the island.

Officials cautioned that drought conditions persist and that any future changes will depend on rainfall over the coming weeks.

Gov. Jenniffer González Colón said there are no plans to expand rationing to additional reservoirs, noting that the government continues to focus on stabilizing service for communities supplied by Carraízo. She estimated that 10% to 13% of the population remains affected by interruptions linked to the prolonged lack of rain. The administration is evaluating alternatives to increase water availability in the San Juan metropolitan area, including activating wells that are currently offline.

Following the weekly meeting of the Drought Committee, engineer Carlos Pesquera Morales confirmed that the existing interruption pattern for customers served by the Sergio Cuevas plant will remain unchanged, and that La Plata will continue operating under nighttime flow reductions. Recent repairs to one of La Plata’s pumps required operational adjustments to help the system recover.

“For the public, the important thing is that there are no changes in the operational adjustment patterns, both at La Plata and Sergio Cuevas,” Pesquera said.

Puerto Rico Aqueduct and Sewer Authority (PRASA) Executive President Luis R. González Delgado echoed that message, stating that the utility does not foresee increasing scheduled interruptions. He noted that Carraízo continues receiving runoff and rising in level, and that the agency will wait for that process to stabilize before determining how much storage the reservoir gained from the rains.

Meteorologist Ernesto Rodríguez of the National Weather Service reported that one to three inches of rain fell across southern and interior municipalities over the weekend, providing relief to nearly all areas under extreme drought -- except Cabo Rojo. La Plata’s basin received one to two inches, while Carraízo saw up to 1.5 inches. The rainfall helped but did not significantly change conditions in the metropolitan reservoirs, he noted.

Rodríguez said residual moisture could bring additional showers early in the week, with another tropical wave expected over the weekend. He added that aquifers in the south may benefit from the rainfall, though recharge is a slower process.

Pesquera noted improvements in eastern systems that rely on the Blanco and Fajardo rivers, and said reservoirs in Vieques and Culebra also saw some relief. PRASA aims to maintain service continuity in those areas, González Delgado said.

The governor said conditions may improve as Puerto Rico enters September and October, months that typically bring more frequent rainfall and stationary troughs capable of producing heavier precipitation.

The administration is also pursuing short‑, medium‑ and long‑term infrastructure investments to strengthen supply to the metropolitan region.

“We continue identifying, monitoring, and seeking additional alternatives to bring water to the metro area,” González Colón said.

Secretary of State Rosachely Rivera Santana confirmed that the government continues using the emergency fund authorized for the drought response, and that the Financial Oversight and Management Board granted a 21‑day extension for its use. She said sufficient funds remain available.

Regarding a potential federal drought emergency declaration, Pesquera said the government is prioritizing state resources and noted that the Federal Emergency Management Agency typically responds differently to droughts than to other disasters. Rivera Santana added that the matter remains under evaluation and pointed out that an emergency declaration already exists for agricultural assistance.

Officials urged residents to continue conserving water to help stabilize the system while authorities assess the full impact of recent rainfall.

“The system is much more stable when people cooperate,” Pesquera said. “We know they’re cooperating, but we need even more