Health Dept. issues temporary water‑hauling rules amid drought

Former Gov. Ricardo Rosselló Nevares

By THE STAR STAFF

The Puerto Rico Department of Health has implemented new temporary measures to prevent the spread of infectious diseases as water hauling increases during the ongoing drought, Health Secretary Víctor Ramos Otero announced Tuesday.

Ramos said the agency issued a temporary order requiring private and internal water‑hauling trucks to obtain Health Department certification every three months. Trucks operated by the central government and municipalities involved in rationing will not need to undergo the same process, though they will continue to be subject to routine monitoring to ensure the water being delivered is potable.

The Health Department also granted a temporary exemption letter to the municipalities of Guaynabo and Bayamón, which have been affected by operational issues at the La Plata reservoir. Ramos noted that the situation at La Plata “appears to be on track for a prompt correction,” but the exemption was issued in case the disruption extended further.

Ramos emphasized that oversight will remain strict despite the exemptions.

“That does not mean monitoring will stop at the water oases or internal trucks,” he said. “We must ensure that no infectious disease spreads through the water hauling being done during this situation.”

Ramos addresses Culebra CDT provider change

Separately, Ramos addressed concerns regarding the CDT in Culebra, clarifying that the current situation is not related to delayed payments to the Menonita health system.

“We have paid Menonita everything owed for the services provided this year,” Ramos said. “They wanted to nearly double the amount they were being paid for the same service. We did not accept that.”

The Health Department will instead contract a new provider that will expand services for Culebra residents. Ramos said the new provider will begin operations on Sept. 1, offering all existing services -- general medicine, laboratory, pharmacy and OPD -- along with additional specialists who had never before offered regular care on the island. An obstetrician will continue visiting weekly.

“We are bringing more services, not fewer,” Ramos said. “This change will strengthen healthcare access for the people of Culebra.”