The water supply crisis in Santiago de Cuba continues to severely impact the population, despite claims of substantial investments by local authorities to improve the service. Top officials appeared on the television program "Santiago Hoy" on Tele Turquino, boasting that the province ranks second nationally in sector investments, as reported by the state-run newspaper Sierra Maestra.
Nevertheless, residents of Santiago de Cuba are enduring extended distribution cycles, system failures, and inadequate infrastructure, which have all exacerbated the situation in recent months. The government has blamed its shortcomings on frequent pipeline breaks, depleted water sources, and an energy crisis in Santiago de Cuba that restricts the operation of pumping stations.
Prolonged Water Supply Cycles
In many areas of the province, prolonged water supply cycles are a harsh reality. For instance, in the municipality of San Luis, water delivery can be delayed for up to 60 days. In Palma Soriano, residents face significant delays in the rehabilitation of their aqueduct system, with distribution cycles extending to 17 days.
Infrastructure Failures and Delays
Despite some improvements in Contramaestre, where the water supply has been enhanced for approximately 15,000 consumers, other regions still experience interruptions lasting up to 24 days. In Songo-La Maya, system malfunctions have resulted in water cycles of up to 22 days, even as efforts are underway to install new equipment to improve service.
Limited Resources and Logistics
Only 26 out of 45 available water trucks are operational, affecting distribution in the 128 communities lacking hydraulic networks, according to the cited news portal. This issue, combined with fuel shortages, has further complicated water access for around 44,000 individuals reliant on this service.
Despite these critical conditions, authorities emphasize ongoing investments in the province, including the rehabilitation of networks, construction of new conduits, and an energy overhaul of pumping stations through the installation of solar panels at 70 out of the 105 existing stations. Provincial leaders Beatriz Johnson Urrutia and Manuel Falcón Hernández have been overseeing these projects, yet the population continues to report a lack of definitive solutions.
Community Involvement and Official Responses
Officials have urged citizens to report any irregularities, such as illegal water sales, which they claim must be controlled to prevent resource abuse. Currently, around 700,000 people in Cuba do not receive daily water due to power outages, as the hydraulic sector is the second-largest consumer of electricity after residential demand, according to official sources.
Antonio Rodríguez Rodríguez, president of the National Institute of Hydraulic Resources, described the current potable water distribution as "a very complex situation," attributing the continuous electricity cuts, referred to as "energy contingency," as the primary cause, as reported by the state-run newspaper Granma.