Water Supply Aligned with Power Availability: Cienfuegos' New Strategy Amid Energy Crisis

The authorities in Cienfuegos are adjusting water service schedules in the provincial capital to match the rolling blackouts, aiming to optimize periods when both electricity and water supply coincide.

While the water distribution will maintain its usual frequency—every third day—the timing will be synced with the power schedule. This adjustment enables residents to know when both services will be available simultaneously.

This announcement was made on the local radio show "Aquí el pueblo," hosted by the Communist Party Provincial Committee, as reported by the official newspaper "5 de Septiembre" on Saturday.

Addressing Public Concerns

Governor Yolexis Rodríguez Armada explained that the decision addresses one of the most common complaints from the public: the lack of synchronization between the two essential services.

Germán Suárez Pérez, Deputy Director of the Provincial Water and Sewer Company, noted that the change resulted from a joint study with the Electric Company. He highlighted that the period from 12 PM to 4 PM allows for the protection of the maximum number of circuits.

Energy Deficit Challenges

Airobis Otero Martín, head of the Provincial Load Dispatch, acknowledged that Cienfuegos experiences the highest levels of electrical deficit in the nation.

Some measures implemented include connecting the Palmira aqueduct to a 33 kV uninterrupted line, operating the Aguada de Pasajeros aqueduct around the clock, and powering the Cumanayagua pumping system through a dual-circuit supply.

Provincial and Pediatric Hospitals are equipped with certified generators and fuel to withstand up to 18 hours of electrical outages. Furthermore, the water pumping systems in these facilities have been modified to receive power internally, reducing dependence on circuit 17.

Limitations of the New Plan

However, this synchronization plan is not extended to other municipalities within the province. Otero Martín clarified that the rotation applies only to the provincial capital as it uses the load from circuits supplying hospitals and other protected facilities.

The scheduling itself still faces ongoing issues. Circuit five, encompassing major commercial arteries and banking institutions, experiences outages every morning. Meanwhile, the telecenter Perlavisión has reduced its broadcasts to once a week due to the electrical rotation.

Authorities highlighted that one of the main challenges remains aligning the water and electricity supply, a task complicated by the megawatts needed to safeguard certain circuits.

Broader Context of National Crisis

This announcement comes amidst a nationwide water and energy crisis. The government has admitted that 2.7 million Cubans are entirely or partially affected in their access to potable water, a figure that mirrors that of May.

The situation is particularly severe in the central southern province. August saw power cuts lasting between 50 and 60 consecutive hours, and in June, the Real Campiña locality went 27 days without potable water, with only three hours of electricity daily.

In August, dozens of Cienfuegos residents protested outside the provincial government headquarters, demanding answers for prolonged blackouts and food spoilage—one of the most visible expressions of discontent in the province this year.

The government's long-term solution involves installing 200 MW of solar photovoltaic generation for water pumping in Havana, with a target completion in early 2027, indicating that the crisis will persist for several more months.