Cuba faces severe water shortages due to infrastructure and energy crisis

Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel has acknowledged a grave and complex water supply crisis affecting more than 2.6 million people across the island. The shortage is driven by a combination of aging infrastructure, a lack of necessary investment, and a severe energy crisis that prevents water pumping.

According to the National Institute of Hydraulic Resources, approximately 66 percent of service interruptions are caused by electrical issues, while 25 percent stem from broken pumping equipment. The most affected areas include Havana, Santiago de Cuba, Holguín, Matanzas, Artemisa, and Pinar del Río. In Havana, the state company Aguas de La Habana announced emergency shutdowns due to electrical surges in main conduits, affecting multiple municipalities.

Díaz-Canel attributed the crisis to structural problems and the economic blockade imposed by the United States, which limits the import of equipment and fuel. He also criticized institutional negligence and a lack of coordination among authorities. To address the situation, the government is focusing on three pillars: recovering water sources, transitioning to renewable energy, and improving institutional management. In Santiago de Cuba, efforts are underway to install solar panels at 55 pumping stations to reduce dependence on the national power grid.