Jonathan Collazo, owner of two restaurants in San Juan, has been forced to spend up to $600 daily on water to keep his businesses running. A rupture in the 72-inch Superaqueduct pipeline in Bayamón in June 2024 triggered widespread outages that have left many Puerto Ricans without reliable water for weeks.
Businesses Struggle to Stay Open
Collazo relies on two cisterns, including a 1,000-gallon tank that requires refilling every two days at a cost of about $300 per fill. On a single Thursday, he spent $600 to maintain water service for customers at both Lela’s Eatery and Fefis. When logistics become too complicated, he has had to close some restaurant bathrooms. “We were without water for more than 50 days here on Calle Loíza,” he said, referring to a popular street known for its restaurants and bars.
The water problems began in May and have continued with only brief periods of reliable service. “Customers are confused. It’s not just me, it’s all the businesses next door,” Collazo added. “If it were one week or two weeks, fine. But this is as if a hurricane had passed.”
Residents Face Daily Hardships
Kali Solack, co-owner of Café Regina and Hilda Deli, said she is “battling two businesses with no water.” Her coffee shop kept a running tally on its front window marking the days without reliable service. Solack estimated the businesses are spending about $300 per day on water, plus increased costs for disposable items. “I feel like there really hasn’t been much communication about why our area has been without water for so long,” she said.
Marta Acevedo, 75, has lived in the same San Juan apartment complex for 44 years. She said this is the “longest amount of time” she has gone without reliable running water, even surpassing the disruption caused by Hurricane María in 2017, which killed an estimated 4,645 people. Her building has two cisterns that are consistently refilled, but she must schedule her day around limited windows when the water is turned on.
Government Response and Ongoing Issues
Governor Jenniffer González-Colón activated the national guard to distribute drinking water across the US territory. Water distribution stations have been set up in densely populated areas, but many residents say they have reached breaking point after weeks of scrambling for water for bathing, flushing toilets, and drinking. Those unable to travel can request deliveries through their municipal office of emergency management.
San Juan Mayor Miguel Romero sued Puerto Rico’s Water and Sewer Authority in late May over the outages. The water shortages extend beyond San Juan, affecting sectors in Loíza, Guaynabo, Bayamón, and other municipalities. The government has not publicly pointed to the cause of the outage’s severity.
Economic and Environmental Context
Puerto Rico’s water utility extracts water from rivers, reservoirs, and underground aquifers that have provided sufficient supply in the past. However, ageing infrastructure and years of inadequate maintenance have led to intermittent service. The burden is especially heavy for households without cisterns, a costly investment out of reach for many on the island of 3.2 million people, where more than 40% of residents live below the poverty line.
The water shortages are unfolding as parts of the archipelago face drought conditions linked to prolonged rainfall deficits, adding strain as Puerto Rico enters hurricane season from June to November.
