Puerto Rico confronts severe drought and water shortage amid health and energy concerns

Experts say the long‑standing belief that Puerto Rico has ample water is false. Former consumer representative Juan Rosario warned that most of the island’s water use comes from imported sources and that the western utility Authority of Aqueducts and Sewers (AAA) is lowering raw‑water extraction from the Carraízo reservoir as levels dip to operational adjustments. The eastern region is experiencing the driest conditions, with rain scarce and temperatures breaking records.

Climatology professor Rafael Méndez Tejeda and meteorologist Ernesto Morales linked the drought to recent energy problems, noting that thousands of customers lost power and that many water‑pumping stations depend on electricity. Record heat and humidity are driving higher water consumption, accelerating evaporation and stressing groundwater. The experts warned that prolonged shortages could trigger public‑health crises, affect hospitals, restaurants, tourism, and increase risks of leptospirosis and forest fires.