Puerto Rico imposes emergency water rationing as drought worsens

Governor Jenniffer González announced emergency water‑rationing measures for six municipalities – San Lorenzo (Jagual ward), Comerío, Río Grande, Canóvanas, Loíza and Cidra – with possible 48‑hour cuts beginning next week and lasting through late July. The decree follows a severe drought that the U.S. Drought Monitor classifies as affecting 14 % of the island with severe conditions and another 59 % with moderate drought, putting roughly 2.3 million residents in water‑shortage zones.

The crisis is compounded by longstanding infrastructure failures, including a major rupture in the Superaqueduct and chronic water loss of about 59 % before reaching consumers. In early June, an outage left nearly 40,000 customers without service, prompting activation of the National Guard to distribute emergency water. Residents are reported hauling five‑gallon jugs and relying on tanker trucks, while legislators and community groups demand accountability and a clear remediation plan.

Authorities warned that El Niño could further suppress rainfall, extending the water shortage into the next dry season. The governor said the administration will continue monitoring weather forecasts and coordinating with relevant agencies to protect the water supply and mitigate the drought’s impact.