[REVISION HISTORY]

Cuba waste, water, and sewage infrastructure crisis

Updated 5 times since CLSTR started tracking revisions of this situation.

What changed

2026-08-16 03:43 UTC → 2026-08-16 03:50 UTC · added ~~removed~~

The waste and water crisis in Cuba has expanded into a broader infrastructure and sanitation failure affecting multiple provinces. In Havana, sanitation efforts have become a “carrera de resistencia” (race of resistance), as trash reappears in districts like Old Havana mere hours after cleaning operations. The capital’s capacity remains severely limited; Havana generates up to 30,000 cubic meters of solid waste daily, but only 44 of 106 available garbage trucks are operational, and the city holds only about 10,000 containers—far below the required 20,000 to 30,000. In Matanzas, heavy rainfall continues to wash accumulated street waste into drainage systems and rivers, transporting urban litter into marine environments and threatening local ecosystems. The crisis has also intensified in Camagüey and Holguín. In Camagüey, failing sewage systems have caused frequent flooding in neighborhoods such as Prieto, La Marina, and Saratoga. Residents report contaminated drinking water marked by foul odors and opacity, noting that only 27.2% of the population is connected to formal sewage systems. Frequent power outages further exacerbate these issues by halting water pumps, increasing the risk of wastewater contaminating the drinking supply. Meanwhile, in Holguín, uncontrolled accumulations of plastic, cardboard, and organic waste have obstructed streets, ~~such as~~ including Manuel Dositeo Aguilera, and encroached upon residential areas near the Vladimir Ilich Lenin General University Hospital. Public spaces, including children’s parks, have reportedly been converted into unofficial dumping grounds as municipal services decline.

Versions

Only revisions since CLSTR began indexing content versions appear here. Select a version to see what changed compared to the one before it.