House measure calls for review of provisional water pumping stations in Arecibo.

The legislative action arises from a growing concern about the permanence of systems that, although they were installed as temporary solutions after the passage of Hurricane Maria in 2017, today continue to operate without a permanent solution, posing constant risks for the population.

By THE STAR STAFF

District 14 (Arecibo and Hatillo) Rep. Edgar Robles Rivera, who chairs the Consumer Affairs Committee in the island House of Representatives, filed a measure on Tuesday to order an investigation into the state of the Puerto Rico Aqueduct and Sewer Authority’s provisional pumping stations in the sectors of La Puntilla and El Fuerte in Arecibo.

The legislative action stems from a growing concern about the permanence of systems that, although they were installed as temporary solutions after the passage of Hurricane Maria in 2017, today continue to operate without a permanent solution, generating constant risks for the population.

In La Puntilla, recognized as the gastronomic heart of Arecibo, the impact is even more delicate because it is a coastal area of high historical, tourist and commercial value, visited by residents and tourists throughout the year.

Any failure in its infrastructure not only represents a health problem, but also a direct threat to economic development and the image of one of the northern coastal municipality’s most emblematic spaces.

Overflows during rain events have already had consequences on public health, the environment and commercial activity, impacting both merchants and visitors.

The situation has worsened, meanwhile, due to the possibility of a new atmospheric event, the lawmaker noted.

A failure at the facilities during an emergency could result in sewage spills, prolonged service interruptions, and an immediate crisis for residents, businesses and visitors, Robles Rivera said.

Added to this is the continuous operation of an electric generator that uses diesel, whose emissions negatively affect air quality and represent an additional concern for the health of those who live and work in the area.

In the El Fuerte sector, the reality is no different, the legislator said. There the pumping station suffers recurring failures, leaving it out of service during rains or power outages, which Robles Rivera said directly impacts communities that depend on the system for essential services.