Psssst! As if a hurricane had passed': Puerto Ricans at breaking point after weeks without water

[malaise]

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jul/13/puerto-rico-water-shortages

Jonathan Collazo owns two restaurants in a bustling section of San Juan, which has been plagued by water outages, severely disrupting the daily lives of residents and businesses alike.

The water scarcity is part of an escalating frustration felt by thousands of customers of Puerto Rico’s water utility over the past several months, prompting the governor to activate the national guard to distribute drinking water across the US territory. The shortages extend beyond San Juan, with sectors in municipalities including Loíza, Guaynabo, Bayamón and others experiencing interrupted service.

Water distribution stations have been set up in some of the archipelago’s most densely populated areas, but after weeks of scrambling to secure water for bathing, flushing toilets and drinking, many Puerto Ricans say they have reached breaking point.

To stay open, Collazo relies on two cisterns, including a 1,000-gallon tank that he needs to refill every two days at a cost of about $300 per fill. On Thursday alone, he spent $600 just to keep running water available for his customers in both restaurants. At times, when logistics become too complicated, he has had to close some of the restaurant’s bathrooms.