The municipality of Canóvanas remains under an emergency plan due to the lack of potable water service, according to Mayor Lornna Soto Villanueva. The service interruption in Canóvanas and neighboring Loíza is caused by the presence of oil and grease in the Loíza Valley pumping station, where cleaning work was done and water tests are pending to restore service, as reported by the Autoridad de Acueductos y Alcantarillados (AAA).
Mayor Soto Villanueva stated that the municipality is waiting for official confirmation that the water is safe and that the plants can operate again. Canóvanas faces a particularly challenging scenario due to its large population and affected infrastructure, including three hospitals, five shopping centers, pharmaceutical operations, nearly 18,000 residences, 1,643 businesses, and 46 industrial lots.
The municipality has activated its Emergency Operations Center and is coordinating water distribution and attending to priority cases, with initial priority given to hospitals, the police station, critical infrastructure, bedridden individuals, seniors, and communities with greater needs. The demand for assistance has tripled, particularly with the reopening of businesses, medical offices, and industries, increasing the need for water for basic operations.