Puerto Rico is working with federal agencies to respond to a worsening water crisis that has forced authorities to impose rotating 48-hour shutoffs across parts of the San Juan metropolitan area, Gov. Jenniffer González-Colón said Sunday.
An interagency support plan for municipalities has been activated to coordinate assistance to the island's communities and a drought committee has been established, the governor announced.
"Mayors have a direct liaison inside the government of Puerto Rico," Gonzalez-Colon told reporters at a press conference. "Each head of agency has the responsibility to maintain communication with that mayor, to understand the needs that arise, to channel urgent situations, to support the distribution of water trucks, and to facilitate coordination with the agencies that need to intervene."
This comes after González-Colón declared a state of emergency on July 31.
More than 180,000 households have been affected by a water rationing program, which began Friday as the island deals with an extreme drought, record heat and ongoing issues with its aging water infrastructure.
Under the rationing schedule, affected communities receive water for roughly 48 hours before service is shut off for another 48 hours. The rotating system is intended to conserve remaining supplies while authorities monitor reservoir levels and weather conditions. Officials have also set up portable water tankers to communities in which residents can fill up containers while their water service is cut off.
July was the driest month on record in San Juan in more than 120 years. The capital also experienced exceptionally high temperatures during the month.
The crisis has been intensified by critically low water levels at the Carraízo Reservoir, a major source of water for the San Juan area.
Officials have warned that continued dry conditions could place additional pressure on the island's already strained water system that has struggled for years with aging infrastructure and recurring service disruptions. A congressional letter issued earlier this year cited prolonged outages in several municipalities and questioned the reliability of the Puerto Rico Aqueduct and Sewer Authority's system.
Those longstanding problems have made the island particularly vulnerable as drought conditions worsen. Federal disaster-recovery funding has previously been used for major water-system projects, including efforts to modernize water meters and improve infrastructure.
The Puerto Rico National Guard has also been assisting residents. Guard members have distributed more than 505,000 gallons of water as of July 31, providing emergency supplies to communities affected by the shortages.
For residents, the immediate challenge is securing enough water for drinking, cooking, sanitation and other basic needs while authorities work to stabilize supplies.
Meanwhile, officials are urging residents in affected areas to conserve water and prepare for continued interruptions.