PRASA begins Superaqueduct recovery after repairing Bayamón breakdown

Puerto Rico Aqueduct and Sewer Authority Executive President Luis González Delgado, second from right, is flanked at the Superaqueduct repair site in Bayamón by Gov. Jenniffer González Colón and Puerto Rico Secretary of State Rosachely Rivera Santana.

By THE STAR STAFF

The Puerto Rico Aqueduct and Sewer Authority (PRASA) began the gradual recovery of the Superaqueduct on Tuesday, following the completion of repairs late Monday night to a breakdown in the 72-inch transmission line in Bayamón.

PRASA Executive President Luis González Delgado reported that the system was brought back online in a controlled manner during the early morning hours to prevent sudden pressure changes that could trigger further breakdowns.

“After several days of continuous work, we have completed a complex repair and have already begun the system recovery process,” González Delgado stated in a written release.

The public corporation estimated that some 50% of affected subscribers -- equating to about 60,000 customers -- would regain service within 24 hours following the start of the recovery process.

“Our focus now is ensuring that every family affected by this event regains potable water service quickly, safely, and reliably,” the PRASA chief said.

As part of the final stages of the work, crews poured concrete mixed with an accelerator into the repair site and waited overnight for the material to cure, ensuring the repair’s stability.

González Delgado said recovery will proceed gradually until the system is fully stabilized.

“We recognize the importance of this resource to our people and are committed to restoring it to every household as soon as possible,” he noted.

The official added that, as recovery progresses, PRASA is maintaining its mitigation plans and continuing to distribute potable water to communities that remain impacted. The public corporation is coordinating those efforts with municipalities, the National Guard; the Tourism Company; the Agriculture, Family and Housing departments; the Metropolitan Bus Authority; and other government agencies.

González Delgado expressed his gratitude to PRASA personnel who worked for days on end to repair the breakdown.

“For five days, they worked tirelessly, facing complex conditions and performing extraordinary work to complete this repair,” he said. “Thanks to their sense of responsibility toward our people, today we can begin the process of restoring service.”

The PRASA chief also announced that, starting in July, he will spearhead maintenance and inspection work on critical components of the metropolitan region’s drinking water infrastructure. He will also conduct specialized studies of the Superaqueduct to identify improvements and bolster the system’s resilience.

“The events of recent days reaffirm the need to continue strengthening our infrastructure and to act with a sense of urgency to address the challenges and the backlog accumulated over decades,” González Delgado said.

The official said the maintenance agenda aims to improve service stability during the summer.

“… [S]tarting in July, we will be driving an aggressive agenda of maintenance, inspection, and improvements for our drinking water systems,” he said.