Rains between November 4 and 9 brought relief to parts of Puerto Rico still facing drought, particularly the watershed of the La Plata reservoir in Comerío. According to National Weather Service (NWS) San Juan estimates, interior and eastern areas received between three and six inches of rain, and some spots locally six to ten. The La Plata watershed, the land area that collects rainwater and channels it to the reservoir, received an estimated 5.75 inches on average, with a maximum of 8.49 inches.
NWS said the recovery takes time and urged people to keep conserving water. On Monday, the Puerto Rico Aqueduct and Sewer Authority (AAA) reported that La Plata rose 13 centimeters in the past 24 hours. The lake stands at 42.51 meters and is the only one of the 19 reservoirs the AAA monitors that remains in the Adjustments band.
Its level could rise further because of forecast rain and runoff. La Plata serves more than 130,800 customers in Dorado, Guaynabo, Naranjito, Toa Alta, Toa Baja, Vega Alta, Bayamón, Cataño and Corozal. It was built in 1974 and its water is used only for household consumption in the metropolitan area.
Last week, AAA executive president Luis González Delgado urged customers served by La Plata and the Enrique Ortega Filter Plant to use water prudently, limit use to essential needs, report leaks, and avoid washing vehicles, filling pools, hosing sidewalks or watering yards. On October 13, he confirmed the agency concentrates its cloud-seeding program operations in the La Plata basin.