August 6, 2026 / 1:43 PM EDT
/ CBS/AP
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A water crisis in Puerto Rico has reached a fever pitch as the U.S. territory will implement rationing measures amid a drought with no relief in sight. Residents of San Juan and neighboring communities have been without reliable water for more than 100 days.Starting Friday morning, more than 180,000 customer accounts will be without water for 48 hours at a time as part of an alternating schedule while government officials scramble to find a solution. In addition to affecting parts of San Juan, the rationing will extend to certain neighborhoods in the cities of Carolina, Juncos, Gurabo, Trujillo Alto, Canovanas and Loiza.Officials have not said when the rationing will end and have warned they could expand to 72 hours at a time."This situation is out of our hands," Gov. Jenniffer González said late Tuesday as she blamed weather conditions. "Nothing prevents this from worsening."July was the driest month on record for San Juan in more than 120 years – since 1899 – with just 0.54 inches of rain. It was also the second hottest for the capital. Almost 25% of Puerto Rico is experiencing a severe drought and another 36% is under a moderate drought, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor.Experts have predicted a milder 2026 hurricane season, with dry conditions persisting until at least September, said María Novoa García, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in San Juan.
