San Juan allocates $1 million to install cisterns in homes affected by the water crisis

Up to 400 families will benefit from potable water storage systems that help ensure access to water during extended service outages.

By THE STAR STAFF

The mayor of San Juan, Miguel A. Romero Lugo, announced the start of the program Capital Response , an initiative through which the Municipality will invest $1 million from the Municipal Emergency Fund to acquire and install residential cisterns in homes affected by the recent water crisis. 

The program will benefit up to 400 families with potable water storage systems that will allow them to more reliably face future prolonged service interruptions.

As part of the first phase, the Municipality delivered certificates to the first families qualified to receive the benefit.

“During this emergency, we have witnessed the suffering and uncertainty faced by thousands of families. We knew we couldn’t limit ourselves to simply distributing water; we had to offer alternatives that would help our residents be better prepared. That’s why we activated the Municipal Emergency Fund to create Capital Response and bring permanent solutions to affected households,” said Romero Lugo.

Participants were identified from cases handled by the Municipal Office for Emergency Management during the water emergency, particularly residents who relied on municipal distribution and did not have adequate storage systems in their homes.

The program seeks to strengthen the resilience of families, reduce their vulnerability to prolonged service interruptions, and provide a permanent solution to address future emergencies related to water supply.

As part of the validation process, the Municipality evaluated hundreds of cases to ensure that resources reached the families with the greatest need. As of June 18, 172 families had been identified as qualified to participate in the initiative, 160 of whom were invited to the initial certificate distribution held at the University College of San Juan. The evaluation will continue over the next few weeks until the maximum number of beneficiaries allowed under the program is reached.

For her part, the director of the Department for Community Social Development, Francine Sánchez Marcano, highlighted the work done to implement the initiative in record time.

“This program arose from listening directly to the communities and understanding the reality they have faced during this emergency. Our team has worked on a case-by-case basis to ensure that this aid reaches those who truly need it. Each water tanker represents a concrete tool to help families be better prepared for future service interruptions,” he stated.

The municipality completed a competitive bidding process for the acquisition and installation of the water tanks through a call for proposals directed at potential suppliers. As a result, four companies with the capacity to carry out simultaneous installations were selected, which will expedite the delivery of the systems.

“When we created the Municipal Emergency Fund, we did so thinking about moments like this. Today, we are transforming emergency aid into a lasting solution that will provide greater peace of mind and security to hundreds of families in San Juan,” Romero Lugo concluded.