In the Rivas Fraga neighborhood of Ciego de Ávila, a local resident has taken to Facebook to highlight a glaring issue: a persistent water leak on the city’s ring road is wasting precious resources, while her community has been deprived of running water for weeks.
The video, shared by Silvia Hernández, captures her frustration. Despite reaching out to the head of operations at the aqueduct service to address the problem, she was met with empty assurances. "They’re working on it," was the only response she received from officials.
"Look at how the water is wasted here, and yet we remain in the same situation. When it's Rivas Fraga's turn to receive water, not a single drop flows. Someone needs to take responsibility and do something about this," she voices in her video.
The video struck a chord on social media, garnering thousands of reactions and numerous comments that echo the community’s exasperation.
Community Outrage Over Water Mismanagement
Comments on the video reveal multiple facets of the issue. One pointedly highlights the disparity between those suffering from water scarcity and those managing the resource.
"This wasted water doesn’t affect anyone with power. The leaders in Ciego de Ávila have their cisterns full... and if not, they get them filled by truck," a user remarked.
Another viewer mentioned having worked near the city's elevated tanks, estimating the loss of millions of liters annually. "Go behind the elevated tanks, and you’ll see a real pool. I’ve studied there, and 20 liters of the best water spill every second... but nothing changes."
Impact of Power Outages on Water Supply
Irony was also present in the responses. A Havana resident joked about envying such a leak near his home, stating, "I've been hauling water for months, and it only reaches a few blocks away."
Back in April, another resident from Ciego de Ávila reported going 36 days without being able to store water as extended power outages prevented filling cisterns during the short supply periods. Since 87% of Cuba's water supply system relies on the electrical grid, every power cut translates into a simultaneous water cut.
In Cuba, a staggering 2.7 million people lack regular access to potable water, while about 10 million receive it intermittently.
FAQs on Ciego de Ávila's Water Crisis
What sparked the water crisis in Ciego de Ávila?
A local resident highlighted a significant water leak in the city, exacerbating the existing issue of water scarcity in her neighborhood.
How have residents responded to the water leak issue?
Residents have expressed their frustration and anger on social media, pointing out the inequality in water distribution and management.
What role do power outages play in water scarcity in Cuba?
Since most of Cuba's water supply relies on the electrical grid, power outages directly result in water shortages.