Experts consulted by El Nuevo Día emphasized that desalination should only be considered as an option in extreme situations or particular contexts in Puerto Rico, due to the high costs associated with the technology. Puerto Rico has an abundance of freshwater sources, which, if well-managed, can meet the island’s needs without requiring large-scale desalination plants.
Engineer José Ortiz, former executive president of the Autoridad de Acueductos y Alcantarillados (AAA), noted that the problem with desalination is its high cost, which would increase the price of water per cubic meter. He suggested that the island’s water system needs to be better managed. Engineer Carl Soderberg, a member of the Comité de Expertos y Asesores de Cambio Climático, cited examples of desalination plants in San Diego, California, and Tijuana, Mexico, with estimated construction costs of $1 billion and $900 million, respectively. The cost of construction represents approximately $20 per gallon of water produced daily.