Amidst a worsening water crisis affecting hundreds of thousands in Havana, Cuban leader Miguel Díaz-Canel made a visit on Thursday to the Paso Seco water supply facility located in Boyeros. As the crisis persists, many residents have resorted to carrying buckets, purchasing expensive water deliveries, harvesting rainwater, and even using manual pumps.
The Cuban presidency reported that Díaz-Canel surveyed the emergency repair efforts aimed at restoring water flow to the capital. His visit came just two days after residents of Old Havana protested due to the lack of water and electricity.
Aging Infrastructure and Power Outages
The water crisis intensified on August 21 when a rupture in the 78-inch main from the Cuenca Sur left six Havana municipalities without water: Plaza de la Revolución, Diez de Octubre, Cerro, Centro Habana, Habana Vieja, and part of Boyeros. This issue, however, is not new.
Paso Seco is crucial for supplying water to southern and central Havana. The authorities themselves acknowledged the poor condition of its infrastructure during Thursday's inspection.
According to Rubén Campos Olmo, the general director of the Unión Eléctrica (UNE), the situation was already critical. The immediate response involves deploying backup generators to Paso Seco and other supply sources to ensure the pumps keep running during power outages or prolonged failures.
Campos Olmo explained, "These engines are expected to be delivered within the next seventy-two hours and connected to function during system failures or extended outages."
Expanding Impact Across Havana
Official statistics underscore the rapid escalation of the crisis. In April, approximately 200,000 Havanans experienced water supply issues. By May, the National Institute of Hydraulic Resources raised that number to 376,055. By July, experts estimated more than 500,000 people, about a quarter of the capital's population, were affected.
The problem extends beyond Havana. Official figures released in May indicated around 2.7 million Cubans lacked regular access to potable water, while many others received intermittent service.
Struggles of Daily Life
Behind these numbers lie the daily challenges residents face in securing essential water for drinking, cooking, or hygiene. On August 19, a Cuban named José Alberto shared on social media his futile attempt to fetch water due to a power outage that disabled the pumps.
He lamented, "Look at the struggle to get water. I couldn't fetch any because there was no electricity, so the water pressure was gone. I had to return home without it, trying to figure out what to do next."
His statement summarized the dire situation: "The greatest blockade we face is living without water, electricity, and basic necessities."
Other recent accounts illustrate how procuring water has become a daily burden for many families. In early August, two young girls were seen carrying heavy water jugs from a primary school cistern in Havana. Meanwhile, another woman reported going nine months without water in her neighborhood, and families in other regions have resorted to collecting rainwater to meet basic needs.
Innovative Yet Traditional Solutions
In response, authorities in East Havana announced the installation of 20 manual pumps to initially benefit around 3,000 people. The municipal government presented this as an "innovative manual pumping system," which sparked criticism and irony, as many questioned why a longstanding technology was being portrayed as a novel advancement.
The deteriorating service has also fueled an informal water market, where a water tanker can cost tens of thousands of pesos, beyond the reach of many families.
Energy Storage and Future Plans
In addition to Paso Seco, Díaz-Canel visited the "Habana 220" Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) under construction near the Havana University of Technology (CUJAE). This facility is part of four 50 MW systems planned across the country, aiming for a combined capacity of 200 MW.
The official schedule anticipates that the technical assembly of "Habana 220" will finish by September 30, with the facility set to become operational by October 30.
His tour concluded at the state microenterprise Servivip in Cotorro, which manages over 80% of the water supply via tankers in Havana. Díaz-Canel was joined by several officials, including Álvaro López Miera, the Minister of the Revolutionary Armed Forces, and Inés María Chapman Waugh, the Deputy Prime Minister.
Understanding the Havana Water Crisis
What caused the current water crisis in Havana?
The immediate crisis was triggered by a rupture in the 78-inch main from the Cuenca Sur, affecting six municipalities. However, the crisis is rooted in aging infrastructure and frequent power outages.
How are residents coping with the water shortage?
Residents have resorted to carrying buckets, purchasing costly water deliveries, collecting rainwater, and using manual pumps to manage the shortage.
What measures are being taken to address the crisis?
Authorities are installing backup generators and manual pumps, and there are plans to install solar panels at pumping stations. Additionally, new energy storage systems are under construction.