Gov’t to launch first phase of water rationing Friday
- The San Juan Daily Star
- 3 days ago
- 3 min read
By THE STAR STAFF
Facing rapidly declining water levels at the Carraízo reservoir in Trujillo Alto, Gov. Jenniffer González Colón announced on Wednesday the activation of the first phase of Puerto Rico’s Scheduled Interruption Plan, a sweeping measure that will rotate water service across seven municipalities beginning Friday at 6 a.m.
The plan introduces alternating 48‑hour service cycles for communities served by the Carraízo system and the Sergio Cuevas Filtration Plant. Residents in San Juan, Carolina, Juncos, Gurabo, Trujillo Alto, Canóvanas and Loíza will be divided into two zones: Zone 1 will begin with service, while Zone 2 will start with a two‑day interruption. The zones will then switch every 48 hours.
“This is a measure we take with responsibility, after carefully evaluating the current conditions at the Carraízo reservoir along with weather forecasts,” González Colón said, noting that the drought conditions had been anticipated for weeks. “This situation is not in our hands. … We have been preparing to respond responsibly.”
Puerto Rico Aqueduct and Sewer Authority (PRASA) Executive President Luis R. González Delgado said that the agency was forced to accelerate the plan due to a sharp reduction in extractable water. The system requires at least 80 million gallons per day to maintain stable tank levels, but current extraction hovers near 70 million -- a daily deficit of 10 million gallons.
“This deficit has limited our ability to recover tank levels and maintain stable distribution,” González Delgado said. “Alternating service will allow us to distribute the available water equitably and offer defined service periods to communities.”
Some sectors served by the Cupey Water System have already experienced interruptions due to insufficient storage recovery.
The announcement came during a meeting of the Drought Committee, which included representatives from PRASA, the National Weather Service, numerous government agencies, the Puerto Rico National Guard and several mayors. The government is coordinating with municipalities to deploy water tanker trucks, prioritizing hospitals, elder‑care facilities, and other essential services.
González Colón also instructed the Department of Consumer Affairs, DACO, to monitor and penalize any abusive practices related to the sale of water or essential goods.
PRASA urged residents to store only the water they need during service periods and to boil water for at least three minutes once service is restored, due to possible turbidity.
The agency also called for strict conservation: avoiding car washing, filling pools, watering gardens or any other nonessential use.
“Every effort counts,” González Delgado emphasized. “Responsible use is fundamental to protecting the available supply.”
González Colón appealed to collective responsibility.
“What Puerto Rico needs is unity, cooperation and a sense of responsibility,” she said. “If each citizen does their part, we can minimize the impact of this drought.”
Zone 1 -- which begins with service Friday -- includes extensive sectors of Carolina, Canóvanas, Trujillo Alto, San Juan, Loíza, Gurabo and Juncos. Zone 2 -- which begins without service -- covers additional communities across the same municipalities, including parts of Carolina’s Metrópolis sector, Río Piedras, Villa Kennedy, Ciudad Jardín, and neighborhoods in Trujillo Alto and Gurabo.
PRASA will continue daily monitoring of reservoir levels, extraction rates and system behavior. The government urged residents to stay informed through official platforms of the Government of Puerto Rico and PRASA.
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