Puerto Rico is rationing water, but many residents stopped trusting the tap long before the drought

Since August 7, 2026, over 180,000 customers in San Juan and six nearby municipalities in Puerto Rico have faced 48-hour water rationing.

This means their water supply is cut off for two days, then restored for two days, and the cycle repeats.

The official reason is a severe drought that has depleted the island’s reservoirs, with July 2026 being the driest month in San Juan in over 120 years.

Additionally, the Superaqueduct, an aging pipe system that transports water to the metro area, ruptured in June 2026, further reducing water supplies.

Governor Jenniffer González stated that the situation is beyond the government’s control, but experts note that long-standing infrastructure issues also play a major role.