"U.S. citizens in the San Juan area are waiting hours in line for water."
"U.S. citizens in San Juan, Puerto Rico, are spending hours waiting for water trucks after water rationing went into effect amid drought on the island archipelago. Puerto Rico Gov. Jenniffer González declared a state of emergency in late July as the water in key dams dropped below levels that can support communities.
Seven of the most populous of the 78 municipalities on the island archipelago are experiencing a rotating schedule of 48 hours – or more – without water, with more than 500,000 people affected. ...
How did this water crisis get so bad? Read on to get up to speed.
Seventy-two percent of the land area of Puerto Rico is experiencing drought, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. But this water crisis isn’t just about a lack of rain: high temperatures, lack of dredging sedimentation in reservoirs, deteriorating infrastructure, and mismanagement have led to Puerto Rico facing one of its worst water crises since 2015. "
Rafael Méndez Tejeda and Pearl Marvell report for Yale Climate Connections August 13, 2026.
