Puerto Rico water crisis fuels calls for AAA chief's resignation

Repeated interruptions to the water supply have left up to 200,000 residents of Puerto Rico without essential service. The Senate held a special commission to examine the failures of the Autoridad de Acueductos y Alcantarillados (AAA) and legislators openly demanded that AAA President Luis Reinaldo González Delgado step down, citing mismanagement and decades of deferred maintenance.

The Colegio de Ingenieros y Agrimensores de Puerto Rico (CIAPR) warned that a 2022 infrastructure bill aimed at preventing such crises was never signed by Governor Pedro Pierluisi. CIAPR called for a comprehensive technical review of the aging water system, highlighting the need for sustained investment, improved maintenance programs, and modernized monitoring and automation to ensure reliable service.

Both bodies emphasized that reliable water is vital for health, economic productivity, and emergency response, urging immediate corrective action and long‑term planning to prevent future disruptions.