Dozens of residents, many of them older adults, blocked part of Avenida Baldorioty de Castro near Calle Júpiter in Santurce on Monday morning, demanding that Puerto Rico’s water utility fix interruptions that have run for months — and in some buildings, more than a year.
The demonstration was organized by the coalition Exigimos Agua (“We Demand Water”). Organizer Alfredo Cuyar said the affected area stretches from Avenida De Diego through Machuchal, Ocean Park, Santa Teresita, Lloréns Torres, Atlantic View, Park Boulevard, Isla Verde and Piñones, up into San Jorge, San Mateo, Monte Flores, Barrio Obrero, Las Casas and Las Margaritas.
Annie Alfaro, a 44-year resident of Las Carmelitas, said her building has gone without water for roughly 150 days and that residents have spent close to $20,000 trucking water in for their cistern. She said the problem only began last year.
Cuyar and fellow organizer Dhara Rivera alleged the outages stem from mismanagement of the system’s manual valves rather than the region’s ongoing drought — a claim AAA has not addressed publicly. The Autoridad de Acueductos y Alcantarillados has not responded to those specific allegations.
The coalition’s demands include the removal of AAA executive president Luis González Delgado, a citizen seat on the utility’s governing board, reopening the Superacueducto to full capacity, compliance with the island’s Climate Change Plan, a halt on new construction permits in areas where water infrastructure can’t support them, and faster leak repair.
AAA’s rationing schedule for Carraízo reservoir customers remains suspended, but residents at Monday’s protest said that pause hasn’t reached their taps.
Related coverage: Puerto Rico Still Nearly 40% in Extreme Drought Despite Rationing Pause; Condado, Ocean Park and Miramar Remain in Zone 1 of the AAA Water Rationing
Sources: El Nuevo Día
