The Provincial Bureau of the Communist Party (PCC) in Pinar del Río revisited the ongoing water supply crisis this past Friday, acknowledging repeated complaints about the service without any improvement for the residents, as reported by the official newspaper Guerrillero.
Yamilé Ramos Cordero, the First Secretary of the PCC in the province, conceded that "the criticisms directed at this sector by the Bureau are recurring" and admitted to a lingering failure to provide timely information to Pinar del Río's citizens regarding water supply, malfunctions, and investment and maintenance projects.
Robert Hechevarría Ramírez, Director of the Waterworks, detailed that the situation is exacerbated across all municipalities due to a lack of equipment and insufficient electrical power. According to him, some areas are entirely reliant on electricity for pumping, while pump failures further destabilize service.
Additional challenges include what Hechevarría labeled as "subjective" issues, such as the mishandling of operations, which he acknowledged as negatively impacting supply stability.
Julio César Rodríguez Pimentel, the Hydraulic Resources Delegate, revealed that the initial investment plan for this year was 84 million pesos, but spending has already exceeded 100 million. These resources have been allocated to both the aqueduct system and the general hydraulic infrastructure of the area, yet the expenditure has not prevented the service from remaining one of the most criticized by residents, as the source highlighted.
Ramos identified priorities like the legalization of water trucks, eliminating illegalities, and transitioning the pumping system's energy matrix. She also proposed improving the economic conditions of the Waterworks Company to make it more appealing as an employment option for young people.
The authorities also referenced the 176 economic measures approved in June as a potential means to enhance the company's situation, though they noted that these benefits hinge on achieving effective payment collection for services rendered.
The PCC's first secretary assured that both the provincial leadership and the Cuban government are closely monitoring the issue "in detail" due to public dissatisfaction, a scrutiny that, according to the official assessment, has yet to yield a resolution to the water crisis.
The recurring pattern from this session is nothing new. As of April, the Entronque de Herradura in Consolación del Sur had been without potable water for over two years, with its approximately 12,000 residents heavily dependent on private water trucks charging 4,000 pesos at the time. Similarly, Viñales had been without regular service for over six months.
The water crisis also carries severe health consequences. By the end of August, Pinar del Río reported three active hepatitis outbreaks—in Jagüey Cuyují, Los Palacios, and San Luis—and high infestation rates of the Aedes aegypti mosquito, prompting health authorities to recommend manually chlorinating drinking water due to the collapse of the purification system.
Data from the National Institute of Hydraulic Resources indicates that about three million Cubans face severe difficulties accessing potable water, while 87% of aqueducts rely on the National Electric System, which is deeply troubled by fuel shortages and outdated thermal power plants.
Understanding the Water Crisis in Pinar del Río
What are the main reasons for the water supply issues in Pinar del Río?
The primary challenges include a lack of equipment, insufficient electrical power, reliance on electricity for water pumping, pump failures, and operational mishandling.
How are the authorities addressing the water crisis?
Authorities have prioritized legalizing water trucks, eliminating illegalities, changing the energy matrix for pumping, and improving the economic conditions of the Waterworks Company.
What health risks are associated with the water crisis?
The water crisis has led to outbreaks of hepatitis and high infestation rates of the Aedes aegypti mosquito, prompting recommendations to manually chlorinate drinking water.