Puerto Rico Drought: Water Rationing Begins

Puerto Rico has initiated water rationing measures affecting over 180,000 residents in San Juan and other significant urban centers. This decision comes as a severe drought continues to grip the United States territory with no immediate end in sight.

Starting Friday, impacted residents will face water cutoffs for 48-hour periods on a rotating schedule. Governor Jenniffer Gonzalez cited weather conditions, expressing uncertainty about the duration of these measures, with meteorologists forecasting persistent dry conditions until September. San Juan recorded its driest July in over 120 years, contributing to the escalating crisis.

Approximately 25 percent of Puerto Rico is currently experiencing a severe drought, with an additional 36 percent under moderate drought conditions. Experts attribute the worsening situation partly to the strengthening El Nino cycle. This drought exacerbates pre-existing water shortages faced by thousands of residents for up to a year.

The rationing will extend to specific neighborhoods in Carolina, Juncos, Gurabo, Trujillo Alto, Canovanas, and Loiza. Potable water will be distributed via large trucks, prioritizing hospitals and residences for the elderly. This situation echoes previous rationing events in 2015 and 2020.