Drought Committee warns of expanding extreme conditions
Municipal leaders whose towns rely partially or entirely on the La Plata reservoir met Monday in Bayamón with the executive president of the Puerto Rico Aqueduct and Sewer Authority (ASA), Luis González, to prepare for a potential water‑rationing order.
The La Plata water reservoir remains under official observation after registering 46.29 meters, dropping nine centimeters in 24 hours amid persistent dry conditions.
According to the document, the mayors said the meeting aimed to establish “a strategic plan and logistics in case a rationing is determined for the citizens who are served by that reservoir,” reflecting growing concern over sustained declines in water reserves.
The coordination effort among municipalities comes as the Government’s Drought Committee anticipates a significant expansion of extreme drought (D3) classifications across the eastern and metropolitan regions. During the committee’s weekly briefing at La Fortaleza, meteorologist Ernesto Rodríguez said he will recommend adding sectors of Gurabo, San Lorenzo, Las Piedras, San Juan, Carolina and Trujillo Alto to the D3 category this week.
Rodríguez noted that the eastern third of Puerto Rico is experiencing a rainfall deficit of 12 to 16 inches, with tributary rivers feeding Carraízo “well below their normal levels.” Although 2.5 inches of rain fell over part of the Carraízo basin last Tuesday, he cautioned that the next two weeks are expected to remain mostly dry, with tropical waves unlikely to deliver meaningful precipitation. Conditions linked to El Niño are expected to prolong the dry spell until at least late August or September.
ASA executive president Luis Reinaldo González Delgado reported that Carraízo stood at 37.48 meters, with its daily rate of decline slowing from nine centimeters to roughly four or five. La Plata remains under observation, while other reservoirs such as Cidra and Río Blanco also show stressed levels.
ASA crews continue working to stabilize service in areas affected by programmed interruptions, particularly higher‑elevation sectors where tank levels and pressure must rise before pumping stations can operate. Governor Jenniffer González Colón acknowledged that some customers have not regained service within the announced timeframes, saying, “One of the things that has affected people, with good reason, is that water has not been received in the times that were told.”
The Government also announced expanded financial support for businesses affected by water shortages. The Department of Economic Development and Commerce increased incentives for small and medium‑sized enterprises from $5,000 to $10,000, bringing total funding to $6 million. Eligible businesses may use the funds for potable water purchases, tanker truck rentals, storage systems, inventory loss, cleaning, disinfection and other emergency expenses.
Separately, the Puerto Rico Tourism Company allocated $2 million to its Mano Amiga program, offering up to $10,000 for tourism‑related businesses—including agrotourism operators, inns, paradores, restaurants and nautical tourism providers—affected by the lack of water.
