Hundreds of thousands of people in Puerto Rico wake up with no running water as rationing begins: "It's brutal"

Key Points:

• Hundreds of thousands of residents in San Juan and surrounding municipalities in Puerto Rico are facing severe water rationing due to a combination of a historic drought and longstanding infrastructure problems.
• The rationing affects over 180,000 households and businesses, with water service alternating off for at least 48 hours, and government officials warning outages could extend to 72 hours.
• July marked the driest month in more than 120 years for San Juan, with about 36% of the island in severe drought and 32% in moderate drought, exacerbating the strain on an already aging and leaky water system.
• The water authority reports that approximately 65% of produced water is lost or unbilled due to leaks and deteriorating pipes, while residents, especially low-income and elderly, are struggling to access sufficient water.
• Puerto Rico has experienced frequent water outages prior to rationing, with similar rationing measures previously implemented in 2015 and 2020 amidst ongoing challenges in maintaining reliable water service.