Puerto Rico initiated a 48-hour water rationing cycle on Friday, affecting more than 180,000 customer accounts across San Juan and six additional municipalities. The measure divides households and businesses into two groups, each experiencing at least 48 hours without running water in alternating cycles. Government officials have not specified an end date, warning that outages could extend to 72 hours per cycle if conditions worsen.
The rationing follows July’s record-breaking dry spell, the driest month in San Juan in over 120 years, with temperatures reaching the second-highest on record. The U.S. Drought Monitor reports that 36% of Puerto Rico faces severe drought, while another 32% is in moderate drought. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) projects below-average rainfall and above-normal heat through October due to a strengthening El Niño pattern, further straining water supplies.
Infrastructure Failures Exacerbate Crisis
The water authority, Puerto Rico Aqueduct and Sewer Authority (PRASA), attributes the rationing to critically low reservoir levels, particularly at the Carraízo reservoir, which has dropped to unsustainable levels. However, residents report that water outages began long before the current drought, signaling deeper systemic issues. PRASA estimates that 65% of produced water is lost or unbilled, primarily through leaks and aging infrastructure. Governor Jenniffer González acknowledged decades of neglect but attributed the immediate crisis to weather conditions.
Local officials warn the emergency could persist for weeks or months, with meteorologist Ada Monzón stating that multiple tropical systems and winter precipitation would be required to alleviate the drought. The tourism sector, coordinated by the Corporation for the Development of Puerto Rico (CTPR), is working with PRASA and the central government to ensure continuity of services, according to Executive Director Willianette Robles Cancel.
Federal Response Remains Absent
Despite Puerto Rico’s status as a U.S. territory with more than 3 million citizens, the Trump administration has issued no public statements regarding the water shortages. The White House has not responded to requests for comment from multiple outlets. Local leaders and residents express frustration over the lack of federal leadership, particularly as the crisis deepens.
The rationing measures come amid broader concerns about Puerto Rico’s aging infrastructure, with reports of 118 days of unreliable service in 2026 alone for some communities. The emergency underscores long-standing debates over federal funding, infrastructure investment, and disaster preparedness in U.S. territories.