Governor anticipates water service interruption plan with several days’ notice if drought continues

Gov. Jenniffer González Colón said the government is readying a plan for water rationing if necessary in the coming days. She said the intention is to notify residents several days in advance and to coordinate service distribution by sector in collaboration with municipalities.

By THE STAR STAFF

Gov. Jenniffer González Colón announced on Monday that the government is preparing to implement a plan for scheduled water service interruptions if drought conditions persist over the coming days.

She gave assurances, however, that the intention is to notify residents several days in advance and to coordinate service distribution by sector in collaboration with municipalities.

“We have to prepare for the worst,” the governor said, noting that she does not expect interruptions to begin this week but warned that “from next week onwards, if it doesn’t rain,” it will be necessary to activate the plan to extend the lifespan of the Carraízo reservoir.

“I hope we all join in prayer and ask God for rain,” she said. “But if the situation doesn’t improve, there will obviously be an interruption plan.”

González Colón noted that the government aims to avoid leaving an entire municipality without service simultaneously; instead, it plans to divide supply zones to stagger the interruptions. She added that mayors would participate in the planning process to coordinate water delivery via tanker trucks to homes for the elderly, condominiums and other critical facilities.

“I think the most important thing is for people to know: ‘I won’t have water from this time to that time, but it will come back on at this time,’” the governor said. “People can plan accordingly.”

The governor said meetings with mayors would be held this week to define the sectors that could be affected and to ensure the public receives information at least three or four days in advance.

“We want there to be -- not just one or two, but at least three or four days of advance notice,” she said. “That way, people can be at ease rather than scrambling at the last minute.”

Regarding mitigation measures, the governor noted that the emergency executive order has already activated the National Guard and allows for expedited contracting to acquire water tanker trucks and evaluate portable desalination plants to serve vulnerable areas.

The governor also ruled out, for the time being, imposing fines for excessive water use, reasoning that Aqueduct and Sewer Authority (PRASA) personnel need to focus on maintaining service and repairing leaks.

“I am not contemplating the use of fines,” she said. “I appeal to -- and trust in -- the people of Puerto Rico to be prudent in their water usage.”

González Colón pointed out that Carraízo reservoir’s behavior remains unpredictable -- with levels dropping six centimeters on some days and up to 11 on others -- leading the government to plan based on the worst-case scenario.

She added that measures already implemented include dredging the Carraízo reservoir, repairing pumps, and launching an initiative to reduce leaks, initiatives that, she said, have made it possible to extend the reservoir’s operational capacity while the drought continues.

San Juan to enter water rationing, mayor says

As the central government sets about preparing its plan for staggered service interruptions, San Juan’s long‑running water crisis entered a new and more volatile stage this week, with Mayor Miguel Romero Lugo warning that the island capital is now confronting the possibility of an official rationing plan on top of months of chronic service interruptions that have already left many communities without reliable access to potable water.

Romero said the city has effectively been living under “de facto rationing” for nearly a year, with neighborhoods experiencing prolonged outages and low pressure since last summer. The mayor argued that the situation has deteriorated to the point of affecting daily life, economic activity, hotels, and tourism, and urged the central government and PRASA to present a clear plan for supporting municipal response efforts.

The mayor also reiterated his criticism of PRASA’s leadership, noting that San Juan is currently pursuing legal action over what he described as repeated failures to comply with court‑mandated stipulations. A hearing is scheduled for this Friday after the municipality filed a motion alleging noncompliance.

“The clearest statement is the one made in court,” Romero said, adding that the judge determined the allegations were sufficient to move forward with a full evidentiary hearing.

Romero emphasized that the legal process is separate from the operational emergency now unfolding, but said both issues stem from the same pattern of mismanagement. He warned that formal rationing requires precise scheduling and guaranteed service during non‑rationed hours -- conditions he believes PRASA has not demonstrated it can meet.

“People are supposed to prepare for rationing, but if you don’t have water, how do you prepare?” he said.

As of Monday, the municipality had not received an official timetable for the proposed rationing plan. Romero said he expects the topic to dominate upcoming interagency discussions, stressing that San Juan needs clarity and coordination to protect residents as drought conditions in Puerto Rico intensify and infrastructure failures persist.

The mayor added that the city will continue deploying emergency measures, but insisted that long‑term stability depends on PRASA fulfilling its obligations and restoring reliable service across the capital.