Governor Jenniffer González Colón announced Tuesday afternoon, via social media alongside Secretary of State Rosachely Rivera Santana, a temporary pause to the water rationing plan affecting thousands of customers served by the Carraízo reservoir. The pause follows rains linked to the remnants of former tropical storm Dolly.
The reservoir reached the "observation" level after leaving the "operational adjustments" category, which is expected to allow rationing to stop within the next 48 to 72 hours. Alfredo Cuyar, spokesperson for the group Exigimos Agua, expressed concern that the Puerto Rico Aqueduct and Sewer Authority (AAA) may not be able to follow through, calling the decision "more populist than anything else." He noted that communities including Condado, Ocean Park, Santa Teresita, Lloren Torres, Atlantic View, Isla Verde, Piñones and San Juan's highlands have gone 14 months under rationing, and that drought conditions are expected to persist until December.
Cuyar suggested the governor should have first evaluated removing AAA president Luis González Delgado from his post, and said he doubts water service will actually be restored as promised, predicting continued system recovery problems and excuses instead.