Puerto Rico House At-Large Representative Tatiana Pérez Ramírez, who chairs the House Education Committee, filed House Bill 1434 to expand public education on the responsible installation and use of residential rainwater harvesting and treatment systems. The measure calls for clear, accessible information on system designs, materials, costs, and regulatory requirements to ensure harvested water meets state and federal quality and safety standards.
Pérez Ramírez said the bill responds to recurring challenges in Puerto Rico's public water system, including droughts, rationing plans, and service disruptions, stating that the island 'cannot continue to waste a natural resource that is within our reach.' She said the goal is to let residents adopt such systems 'voluntarily, safely, and in an informed manner.' The bill also directs government agencies to identify state and federal funding to incentivize rainwater harvesting installations in public and private buildings, and strengthens coordination among the Puerto Rico Aqueduct and Sewer Authority (AAA), the departments of Natural and Environmental Resources, Health, and Agriculture, the Permits Management Office, and other relevant entities.