La Fortaleza rules out extending rationing to 72 hours or including La Plata for now

Public Affairs Secretary Jean Peña Payano said Thursday that the government is not currently considering extending drought-related service interruptions to 72 hours or implementing a rationing plan for customers dependent on the La Plata reservoir.

By THE STAR STAFF

Public Affairs Secretary Jean Peña Payano said Thursday that the island government is not currently considering extending drought-related service interruptions to 72 hours or implementing a rationing plan for customers dependent on the La Plata reservoir, although he noted that conditions are being evaluated daily.

“At the moment, increasing it to 72 hours is not being considered, nor are there plans to extend scheduled interruptions to other reservoirs or to citizens served by other reservoirs,” Peña Payano stated at a press conference.

The official noted that recent rains allowed for a slight increase in levels at the Carraízo reservoir, but he insisted that evaporation, precipitation and the daily behavior of the reservoirs would determine future decisions.

Regarding La Plata, Peña Payano gave assurances that there is no immediate recommendation to begin service interruptions there.

“At this moment, the categorical answer is that it is not being contemplated for the immediate future; however, we are monitoring each of the reservoirs -- not just La Plata and Carraízo, but also Cidra and others across Puerto Rico,” he said.

La Fortaleza also acknowledged that there are still areas where water service takes longer than announced to return under the Carraízo interruption program, although Peña Payano maintained that complaints had decreased following the issues recorded during the first cycle.

“Certainly, you will recall that during that first cycle there were far more complaints because the system was empty,” the official said. “The system had to stabilize before water distribution could take place.”

He added that service recovery has “still been prolonged” for some citizens, though he assured that current complaints are fewer in number.

In another matter concerning the Puerto Rico Aqueduct and Sewer Authority (PRASA), Peña Payano said the government is awaiting the outcome of a meeting scheduled for Friday between the public corporation’s management and representatives of the Independent Authentic Union (UIA by its initials in Spanish) regarding wage demands and changes to the classification and compensation plan.

“The governor is willing to listen,” he said. “That is why the meeting with the directors and the [PRASA] team is taking place on Friday.”

The UIA ended a work stoppage Wednesday afternoon before the scheduled 24 hours had passed after agreeing to talks with the administration, where the union will present its proposals to the PRASA board.

Peña Payano noted that any economic proposal would have to be evaluated within budgetary constraints and subsequently considered by the Financial Oversight and Management Board.

PRASA said its facilities and commercial offices operated normally thanks to management personnel and union workers -- more than 1,300 employees in all -- who didn’t participate in the strike.

The public affairs secretary also confirmed that the Department of Natural and Environmental Resources is continuing enforcement actions against illegal wells, particularly in areas where aquifers are under stress due to the drought.

He noted that according to the information he has, the interventions are not generally targeted at springs used by citizens for water supplies during the emergency, but rather at specific wells operating illegally.