The Puerto Rico Aqueduct and Sewer Authority (AAA) denied a message circulating via WhatsApp and other social media claiming that its drinking water is contaminated with bacteria and not being properly treated. AAA Vice President of Operations, engineer Ismael Robles Maldonado, said there is no evidence or official information supporting the claims, which referenced alleged findings of Leptospira and Salmonella bacteria in water samples taken at various points in Puerto Rico.
Robles Maldonado said AAA complies with disinfection regulations, maintaining residual chlorine levels between 0.2 and 3.00 parts per million (ppm). He stated the false, malicious message lacks official results or information from the Authority, and urged customers to remain calm. He noted AAA’s water systems undergo treatment, sampling and quality monitoring per regulatory parameters, and that a continuous water quality surveillance program is in place; any results indicating noncompliance or public health risk trigger protocols and required notifications to local and federal regulatory agencies.
AAA also rejected the message’s claim that Puerto Rico’s government and the federal government are trying to hide information about water quality or leptospirosis cases. Robles Maldonado asked citizens not to share unverified information, warning it can generate unnecessary public concern.