The Municipality of San Juan has secured a court-approved stipulation that grants it direct access to the Puerto Rico Aqueduct and Sewer Authority’s (PRASA) operational systems, data platforms, and decision‑making processes for the metropolitan water network—an unprecedented shift in governance prompted by months of service instability affecting the capital’s residential and commercial sectors. The stipulation, […]
The Municipality of San Juan has secured a court-approved stipulation that grants it direct access to the Puerto Rico Aqueduct and Sewer Authority’s (PRASA) operational systems, data platforms, and decision‑making processes for the metropolitan water network—an unprecedented shift in governance prompted by months of service instability affecting the capital’s residential and commercial sectors.
The stipulation, approved by the court as part of litigation initiated by the municipality, formalizes a new operational framework in which San Juan becomes an active participant in evaluating system performance, identifying failures, and shaping corrective actions. The ruling compels PRASA to open its internal monitoring tools and technical processes to municipal oversight, a move that could reshape how Puerto Rico’s largest urban water system is managed.
Mayor Miguel Romero Lugo framed the agreement as a structural response to a crisis that has disrupted households, businesses, and critical services across the metropolitan area. “Our objective was always to gain access to the information and systems necessary to understand what was happening inside the network,” Romero said. “Sanjuaneros deserve transparency and clear answers about a service that is fundamental to economic activity and quality of life.”
At the center of the agreement is the creation of the Committee for the Stabilization and Restoration of Water Service, a joint technical body composed of PRASA and municipal engineers. San Juan’s representative will be Roberto W. Martínez Toledo, a former director of PRASA’s metropolitan operations with extensive experience in system management. The committee will have authority to evaluate system behavior, recommend operational adjustments, and oversee stabilization efforts in affected communities.
The stipulation grants San Juan access to PRASA’s GIS, SCADA, and PRASA Metro platforms—systems that provide real‑time visibility into water flows, tank levels, pumping operations, and distribution behavior. The municipality will also receive operational reports, valve logs dating back to June 2025, and immediate notification of any valve changes, including personnel and timing. This level of access positions San Juan to conduct independent analyses and verify PRASA’s operational decisions.
Municipal engineers will participate in inspections of critical infrastructure, including filtration plants, dams, and major assets such as Carraízo, La Plata, Los Filtros, and the Superaqueduct. The committee will also have authority to recommend manual valve adjustments when necessary, with PRASA obligated to implement them under the terms of the agreement.
The ruling establishes permanent communication channels between the two entities and requires PRASA to continue providing tanker‑truck service to affected communities until the joint committee certifies system stabilization. It also initiates the reimbursement process for the municipality’s extraordinary emergency expenses, which currently exceed $621,000.
The court will retain jurisdiction to enforce compliance, underscoring the agreement’s binding nature and the expectation of measurable operational improvements.
Romero described the stipulation as “an important first step” toward long‑term system reliability. The newly formed committee will hold its first meeting on Tuesday at the Municipal Office of Emergency Management, marking the formal start of joint technical work between San Juan and PRASA.
