A young Cuban voiced concerns over the ongoing water shortage affecting the residents of La Reforma, a community in the special municipality of Isla de la Juventud, which has been without running water for nearly a week. A video shared by X user @DiazVismar38292 brought attention to the young man's complaint, showcasing the dire situation faced by the nearly 1,800 inhabitants of La Reforma, according to EcuRed.
"We've been without water for four days. Look at this water, this is what we're drinking. This is no lie, this is here in the village of La Reforma. This is the water we're drinking from the wells we're hauling," said the young man, displaying the dirty water stored in containers in his backyard.
Government Response and Infrastructure Challenges
In late February, Cuban leader Miguel Díaz-Canel visited Isla de la Juventud and was informed about the critical water supply issues faced by its residents. An official report from the state-run television news program praised the arrival of five new pumps, which were expected to improve water access for several communities in the area.
Isla de la Juventud has 15 reservoirs with a total storage capacity of approximately 230 million cubic meters of water. According to the website isladelajuventud-cuba.com, most of these reservoirs are designated for agricultural irrigation, fish farming, and some for supplying water to the population and fish hatcheries.
At the end of April, the delegate of the Hydraulic Resources department in Isla de la Juventud, Ihosvany Juliá, stated that efforts were being made to ensure water supply to the 83,583 residents of the territory despite ongoing drought conditions. The official noted that 96.1% of the population, approximately 80,343 people, received water through the aqueduct network, while 1.9% relied on water delivered by tanker trucks.
Juliá also mentioned that as part of the National Institute of Hydraulic Resources' (INRH) energy matrix change program, two solar photovoltaic pumping systems had been installed in the municipality, with plans to install 24 more in the future to enhance infrastructure that ensures water service from natural sources to rural areas.
By that time, the reservoirs held 147.8 million cubic meters of water, representing 64% of the territory's total storage capacity. Of the 13 reservoirs, La Guanábana was completely dry, and La Fe was below 25% of its total capacity.
Juliá explained that the territory was experiencing significant drought. In April, precipitation in Isla de la Juventud was only 32.8% of the historical average, with just 17 millimeters of rain. From November to April, rainfall was 47% of the historical average for the period.
In late May, INRH President Antonio Rodríguez Rodríguez acknowledged that around 700,000 people in Cuba did not receive water daily due to power outages, as the hydraulic sector is the second-largest consumer of electricity after residential demand. Rodríguez described the distribution of potable water as "a very complex situation," attributing the challenges to continuous power cuts, which he referred to as an "energy contingency."
Although the number of people lacking daily water service due to blackouts is alarming, only half of the Cuban population receives water reliably, with the rest facing various issues such as drought, lack of distribution networks, breakdowns, and corruption.
Understanding the Water Crisis in Isla de la Juventud
In light of the recent water shortage in Isla de la Juventud, several questions arise concerning the causes, responses, and potential solutions to this crisis. Here are some frequently asked questions and their answers to provide more insight into the situation.
What are the main causes of the water shortage in Isla de la Juventud?
The main causes include prolonged drought, insufficient infrastructure, reliance on outdated water distribution networks, and frequent power outages affecting water pumping operations.
How is the Cuban government addressing the water crisis?
The government is attempting to address the crisis by installing new water pumps, implementing solar photovoltaic pumping systems, and working on improving the overall water distribution infrastructure.
What impact does the drought have on the water reservoirs in Isla de la Juventud?
The drought has significantly reduced water levels in the reservoirs, with some like La Guanábana experiencing total depletion and others like La Fe operating below 25% capacity.
How does the energy crisis in Cuba affect water distribution?
The energy crisis leads to frequent power outages, which disrupt water pumping operations, thereby exacerbating the water shortage and affecting daily water distribution to the population.