The reservoir climbed above a key threshold Tuesday morning, but AAA has not announced an end to the 48-hour water rationing schedule affecting Condado and other parts of the San Juan metro area.
The Carraízo reservoir climbed sharply Tuesday morning after heavy rainfall associated with the remnants of Dolly, returning to the “observation” level for the first time since the latest stretch of severe drought pushed the reservoir into more restrictive operating conditions.
Updated U.S. Geological Survey readings showed Carraízo at 38.53 meters at 10:45 a.m. Tuesday, an increase of approximately 1.39 meters from Monday’s reading. The level is significant because 38.50 meters marks the threshold at which Carraízo moves out of “operational adjustments” and back into the less severe “observation” category, according to El Nuevo Día.
The increase came only hours after the Puerto Rico Aqueduct and Sewer Authority, known as AAA, published its regular 5 a.m. reservoir reading of 37.20 meters.
The large difference between the two readings appears to reflect runoff continuing to reach the reservoir after overnight rainfall. AAA updates its published reservoir chart once daily, while USGS sensors provide readings much more frequently, so the full impact of Monday night’s rainfall had not yet appeared in AAA’s early-morning measurement.
Rainfall associated with Dolly’s remnants was particularly heavy across portions of eastern and southeastern Puerto Rico. Preliminary estimates included nearly four inches around Caguas and San Lorenzo, both within or near the watershed feeding the Río Grande de Loíza and ultimately Carraízo. One gauge on the Río Grande de Loíza recorded a flow peak of about 7,040 cubic feet per second as runoff moved toward the reservoir, according to TeleOnce.
For residents of Condado, however, the immediate question is whether the increase will bring the current water rationing program to an end.
For now, the answer is not yet.
AAA had not announced a cancellation or modification of the rationing schedule as of early Tuesday afternoon. El Nuevo Día reported shortly before noon that it was awaiting comment from the utility following the new USGS reading.
The distinction is important because AAA officials have previously identified 38.50 meters — the observation threshold — as the minimum level Carraízo would need to reach before the rationing plan could be eliminated. Carraízo has now crossed that benchmark, but reaching it does not itself automatically terminate the restrictions. A decision from AAA is still required.
The utility may also want to determine whether the improvement can be sustained as additional runoff reaches the reservoir and as water continues to be withdrawn for the metropolitan system.
AAA published a new September rationing calendar Monday, just one day before the reservoir’s sudden rise. Under that plan, customers continue alternating between two zones, with each interruption beginning at 6 a.m. and lasting approximately 48 hours.
Condado, Ocean Park, Miramar and Old San Juan are included in Zone 1, according to the sector assignments previously published by AAA and reported by Condado Daily.
Under the current September calendar, Zone 1 has water service Tuesday, September 1. Its next scheduled interruption begins at 6 a.m. Wednesday, September 2, as Zone 2 begins its two-day service period. Zone 1 is scheduled to return to service Friday, September 4.
Unless AAA announces otherwise, Condado residents should therefore continue planning for Wednesday morning’s interruption.
Carraízo has been under a 48-hour rotating rationing program since August 7 as drought conditions reduced water reserves serving portions of San Juan, Carolina, Trujillo Alto, Canóvanas, Loíza, Gurabo and Juncos.
The latest increase represents the most substantial improvement in the reservoir since the rationing program began and puts Carraízo in a materially different position than it was only days ago.
Whether that improvement is enough to end nearly a month of rotating water interruptions now rests with AAA.
Condado Daily will update this story if the agency announces changes to the rationing schedule.
Related coverage: Condado, Ocean Park and Miramar Remain in Zone 1 of the AAA Water Rationing
Sources: El Nuevo Día, TeleOnce
