Once beset by power outages, Puerto Ricans also hit with severe water shortages

Thousands of Puerto Ricans are facing severe water shortages, prompting the governor to activate the National Guard. The shortages are affecting major cities, including San Juan, where residents are forced to buy water and carry heavy buckets to meet basic needs. The elderly and disabled are particularly vulnerable, with some requiring hospitalization. The island’s water infrastructure has suffered from decades of neglect, leading to widespread outages. Mayor Miguel Romero has sued the Water and Sewer Authority, and the government is deploying water trucks to alleviate the crisis. Despite these efforts, many residents, like Jeannette Mercado Rodríguez, endure long periods without water, exacerbated by the summer heat. The situation highlights the urgent need for infrastructure investment and maintenance to ensure reliable water access for Puerto Rico’s 3.2 million residents. QUESTION: How might the ongoing water shortages in Puerto Rico impact the island’s economy and quality of life in the long term?