Puerto Rico Declares State of Emergency and Imposes 48‑Hour Water Rationing Amid Drought

Governor Jenniffer González declared a state of emergency in Puerto Rico as a severe drought intensified. The Puerto Rico Water and Sewer Authority began 48‑hour water‑rationing periods for thousands of residents in the northeastern municipalities of Canóvanas and Rio Grande, with the possibility of expanding to other areas.

The U.S. Drought Monitor reports 14% of the island under severe drought and another 59% under moderate conditions, affecting roughly 2.3 million of the 3.2 million inhabitants. Officials attribute the shortage to prolonged low rainfall and long‑standing underinvestment in water infrastructure, which has caused frequent outages and prompted the activation of the National Guard. Past droughts led to similar restrictions, such as the 2016 program that limited some customers to water every third day. Community protests and legislative hearings are now focusing on the management of the water authority and the need for a clear plan to guarantee drinking‑water access.