Puerto Rico’s water crisis entered a new phase Friday as rationing started for thousands in the San Juan region, where severe drought has exacerbated an ongoing issue with outages and low water pressure for the past year.
Water will be shut off for more than 180,000 customers of the public utility company Puerto Rico Aqueduct and Sewer Authority for 48 hours, officials said, and rationing would rotate to other areas in coming days.
July was the driest month for San Juan in more than 120 years, and the main water reservoir hit a critical low point.
Government officials say years of deferred maintenance and aged infrastructure have exacerbated the U.S. territory’s water problems. However, a growing rift has formed within Puerto Rico’s governing party, with one faction accusing the other of meddling in the management of the water utility.
The crisis has reached a breaking point, with one community reopening historical wells and building infrastructure to provide drinking water.
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