Puerto Rico Imposes Water Restrictions: 48-Hour Shutoffs
Governor Jennifer González admits the situation is out of control. Around 180,000 properties are affected, and critical conditions also prevail in several European countries.
Governor Jennifer González admits the situation is out of control. Around 180,000 properties are affected, and critical conditions also prevail in several European countries.
Authorities in Puerto Rico have taken drastic water restriction measures due to a severe drought affecting the island. Hundreds of thousands of people have been left without water, with many households divided into two groups that alternate 48-hour water supply shutoffs, according to the BBC.
Governor Jennifer González of the U.S. territory admitted that the decision was made "after careful assessment of the current state of the Carraízo reservoir in relation to weather forecasts." In her statement, she emphasized that the situation is beyond their control and is a consequence of weather conditions that experts had warned about weeks earlier.
Residents of the capital, San Juan, where tap water supply was suspended on Friday, sharply criticized the restriction measures. Officials have not yet announced when they might be lifted. According to the U.S. drought monitoring system, most of Puerto Rico is facing moderate to severe drought.
The problem is further exacerbated by a long-standing infrastructure crisis. The Puerto Rico Aqueduct and Sewer Authority reported that about 65 percent of produced water is either lost or unbilled, with a large portion of losses due to leaks and aging pipes. The government confirmed that seven regions typically supplied from the aforementioned reservoir are affected, with up to 180,000 properties covered by the restriction measures.
While Puerto Rico grapples with shortages, similar alarming signs are emerging across Europe. According to the European Commission, water stress affects 30 percent of Europeans and 20 percent of the continent's land annually. In southern Europe, 30 percent of the population faces permanent water stress, and during summer months, this share rises to as high as 70 percent.
This year's heatwaves have led to 38 percent of the continent's land being affected by drought by mid-July, a significant jump from the 15 percent recorded in January. In France, 67 departments are in a crisis state with water restrictions, while 20 are on high alert.
The Danube River has fallen to its lowest level since 1996, affecting agriculture, transport, and energy production in Central and Eastern Europe, including Hungary and Romania. The Netherlands declared a water shortage as early as July, leaving houseboats stranded on dried-up rivers. Seven Greek islands in the Aegean Sea have also declared a state of emergency due to drought.
In 2025, the European Union launched the Water Resilience Strategy, which includes more than 50 concrete actions to build a water-smart economy and protect the water cycle. However, losses remain significant: Europe loses 23 percent of treated water due to infrastructure leaks.
