A Cuban woman, who recently moved into a new apartment, shared her struggles on Facebook this past Friday after the water pump in her building malfunctioned, forcing her to haul buckets of water up to her third-floor residence.
In a brief 54-second video, Yenia Mayea detailed how the pump broke shortly after her move, leaving her unable to bring all her belongings from her previous home. "Back in my countryside house, I had a tank, but unfortunately, I couldn't bring it due to a lack of transportation. The only thing I managed to bring was the refrigerator, thinking it was essential, but here, everything turns out to be essential," she explained.
Faced with a shortage of water even for basic tasks like washing dishes, Mayea resorted to using a bucket and rope to manually transport water to her apartment. Her father-in-law helped, but both were left exhausted after carrying two buckets up to the third floor.
"It was such hard work getting those two buckets of water up to the third floor; you can't imagine the strength it took. My father-in-law was completely worn out," she recounted.
Mayea also expressed her fear of falling due to the physical strain involved in lifting the water. "I kept worrying about falling headfirst with all the effort needed to lift that water bucket," she confessed.
This situation highlights the ongoing struggles many Cuban families face when pump failures disrupt water supply, forcing them to transport water manually to their homes.
In July, Havana's water utility specialists reported that over 500,000 residents were impacted by the water crisis, a significant increase from the 200,000 affected in April.
Nationally, around 2.7 million Cubans lack regular access to potable water, with millions more experiencing intermittent supply. Structural issues compound the problem, as 87% of the water system relies on the electrical grid, meaning every power outage halts water pumping.
In cities like Havana, between 40% and 70% of pumped water is lost due to leaks before reaching homes, in a sewer system built between 1905 and 1915 for a city of 600,000 people, now home to 1.8 million.
Recently, another breakdown in the Gato System left several Havana neighborhoods without water, including Regla, Havana del Este, San Miguel del Padrón, Guanabacoa, and Diez de Octubre, with no restoration date in sight.
Images of Cubans carrying water up staircases have become increasingly common. In early August, two young girls around seven years old were seen hauling gallons from a primary school's cistern in Havana.
In Santiago de las Vegas, elderly residents living alone chase water trucks and carry buckets. Additionally, a resident complained about contaminated water resembling sewage coming from their pipes.
With no lasting solutions in place, the informal market charges up to 60,000 pesos for a water truck in Havana, nearly equivalent to 19 monthly minimum wages.
Challenges and Solutions to Cuba's Water Crisis
Why is the water supply so unreliable in Cuba?
Cuba's water supply issues stem from structural problems, with 87% of the water system depending on the electrical grid. Frequent power outages disrupt water pumping, and aging infrastructure leads to significant water loss.
What are the impacts of water shortages on Cuban families?
Water shortages force families to manually transport water, often resulting in physical exhaustion and fear of injury. The lack of reliable access also affects basic daily activities and hygiene.
How does the informal market respond to water shortages?
In response to water shortages, the informal market offers water delivery services at a high cost, charging up to 60,000 pesos for a water truck in Havana, which is nearly 19 times the monthly minimum wage.