Puerto Rico Governor Coordinates With Federal Agencies on Water Crisis
Gov. Jenniffer Gonzalez-Colon said authorities activated an interagency support plan after declaring a state of emergency on July 31 due to severe drought affecting over 180,000 households with rotating 48-hour water shutoffs.
The short version
- ABC7 Bay Area reported that more than 180,000 households face 48-hour water cut-offs and rationing in San Juan and nearby cities including Carolina and Loiza
- Ntd.com stated the governor declared a state of emergency on July 31 and that a drought committee has been established
- Both outlets reported an interagency support plan for municipalities has been activated with mayors assigned direct liaisons inside the government
- ABC7 Bay Area reported the Public Housing Administration is installing community cisterns and portable water is being distributed with Fire Department support
Emergency Response Activated
Puerto Rico Gov. Jenniffer Gonzalez-Colon said on Sunday that authorities are working closely with federal agencies on the water crisis. ABC7 Bay Area reported that rotating 48-hour water shut-offs began on Friday in parts of San Juan as well as in Carolina, Juncos, Gurabo, Trujillo Alto, Canovanas and Loiza.
The governor declared a state of emergency on July 31. An interagency support plan for municipalities has been activated to coordinate assistance, according to both ABC7 Bay Area and NTD News. A drought committee has also been established, NTD News reported.
What the sources posted
Posts and statements below are the sources' own words, quoted as published. They are not independently verified.
Mayors have a direct liaison inside the government of Puerto Rico.
The source's own statement, as quoted by ABC7 Bay Area. Not verified by PuertoRico.com.
Support for Municipalities and Residents
Gonzalez-Colon told reporters that mayors have a direct liaison inside the government of Puerto Rico. Each agency head must maintain communication with that mayor to understand needs, channel urgent situations, support water truck distribution and coordinate with relevant agencies, both outlets reported. The governor's words were quoted by ABC7 Bay Area and NTD News.
The Public Housing Administration has begun installing community cisterns in public housing complexes while the Fire Department supports portable water distribution, ABC7 Bay Area reported. The Puerto Rico National Guard has distributed more than 505,000 gallons of water as of July 31, according to NTD News.
Where the sources differ
Both ABC7 Bay Area and NTD News agree on the governor's Sunday press conference, the July 31 state of emergency declaration, the start of rotating 48-hour shutoffs on Friday affecting more than 180,000 households, the activation of an interagency support plan, and the assignment of mayoral liaisons. ABC7 Bay Area lists specific affected municipalities and mentions Public Housing Administration cisterns and Fire Department water distribution. NTD News adds details on the drought committee, July as the driest month on record in San Juan in over 120 years, the role of the Carraízo Reservoir, National Guard distribution of over 505,000 gallons as of July 31, and references to aging infrastructure and a prior congressional letter.
What the reports do not say
The reports do not specify the exact number of people or households currently without water on any given day under the rotating schedule, current reservoir levels, whether federal agencies have provided specific new resources or funding, the expected duration of the emergency measures, or any projected rainfall that could ease the drought.
Sources
Every link below was opened and checked when this story was published. Official means a government body, agency or the organization itself; Reporting means a news outlet.
- Reporting Puerto Rico working with federal agencies on water crisis, governor says
- Reporting Puerto Rico Coordinates With Federal Agencies as Water Crisis Deepens
How we checked this
ABC7 Bay Area and NTD News both covered the governor's statements on federal coordination and municipal support plans. Details on National Guard water distribution, the Carraízo Reservoir and historical weather records rest solely on NTD News while the installation of community cisterns was reported only by ABC7 Bay Area.
Compiled by the PuertoRico.com News Desk from the reports and statements listed above, and checked against them before publishing. It does not include original interviews. Spot an error? Email support@puertorico.com with a link to this story.