Current:Home > NewsSurpassing:Puerto Rico has lost more than power. The vast majority of people have no clean water -FundPrime
Surpassing:Puerto Rico has lost more than power. The vast majority of people have no clean water
SignalHub View
Date:2025-04-11 09:09:27
The Surpassingvast majority of Puerto Rican homes have been plunged into darkness after Hurricane Fiona wiped out the power grid, but people on the island are facing another devastating emergency: How to access clean water?
With no electricity, there's no power to run filtration systems and no power to pump water into homes. That means no clean water for drinking, bathing or flushing toilets.
As of 10 a.m. ET on Tuesday, more than 760,000 customers of the Puerto Rico Aqueduct and Sewer Authority had no water service or were suffering significant interruptions, according to the government's emergency portal system.
AAA, as Puerto Rico's water agency is called, is the only water company on the island and serves 1.2 million clients, which means only 40% of households currently have clean running water. AAA President Doriel I. Pagán Crespo explained that in addition to the power outages, water supplies have been severely impacted by the flooding and surges of Puerto Rico's rivers.
"Most of the rivers are too high," Pagán Crespo said during an interview with WKAQ 580 AM on Monday, El Nuevo Día reported.
"We have 112 filtration plants, and most of them are supplied from rivers. ... As long as the rivers continue to decrease in level and it is safe for our personnel to carry out cleaning tasks, that is how we will be doing it," she added.
When the monster Category 4 Hurricane Maria slammed into Puerto Rico in September 2017, it took months to restore municipal water services, forcing people to rely entirely on bottled water or for those more desperate, to bathe and drink from natural sources that had raw sewage flowing into them. The Associated Press reported that a month after the storm, 20 of the island's 51 sewage treatment plants remained out of service. Meanwhile, Environmental Protection Agency officials could not inspect some of the island's highly toxic Superfund sites that were knocked out of service.
Even a year later, a Washington Post-Kaiser Family Foundation survey found that 50% of Puerto Ricans reported their households could not get enough clean water to drink.
For now, those communities whose water has been restored are under a boil-water advisory.
veryGood! (88594)
Related
- Selena Gomez engaged to Benny Blanco after 1 year together: 'Forever begins now'
- NewJeans is a new kind of K-pop juggernaut
- More than half of dog owners are suspicious of rabies and other vaccines, new study finds
- Michigan State, Tennessee exhibition hoops game to benefit Maui wildfire charity
- Sarah J. Maas books explained: How to read 'ACOTAR,' 'Throne of Glass' in order.
- Pope Francis again draws criticism with remarks on Russia as Ukraine war rages
- No injuries reported in train derailment, partial rail bridge collapse in South Dakota town
- Pope Francis again draws criticism with remarks on Russia as Ukraine war rages
- John Galliano out at Maison Margiela, capping year of fashion designer musical chairs
- You may have to choose new team to hate: College football realignment shakes up rivalries
Ranking
- EU countries double down on a halt to Syrian asylum claims but will not yet send people back
- Jihad Ward gives his perspective on viral confrontation with Aaron Rodgers
- Judge holds Giuliani liable in Georgia election workers’ defamation case and orders him to pay fees
- U.S. job growth cooled in August. Here's what that means for inflation and interest rates.
- Trump wants to turn the clock on daylight saving time
- John Legend Reflects on Special Season Ahead of His and Chrissy Teigen's 10th Wedding Anniversary
- Forecasters warn of increased fire risk in Hawaii amid gusty winds, low humidity
- 'Unbelievable': Watch humpback whale awe Maine couple as it nears their boat
Recommendation
Off the Grid: Sally breaks down USA TODAY's daily crossword puzzle, Triathlon
Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood's Marriage Advice for Robin Roberts Will Be Music to Your Ears
A sesame allergy law has made it harder to avoid the seed. Here's why
Bear cub with head stuck in plastic container rescued by park manager, shared on Instagram
Charges tied to China weigh on GM in Q4, but profit and revenue top expectations
Autopsy reveals what caused death of former American champion swimmer Jamie Cail
Nonconsensual soccer kiss controversy continues with public reactions and protests
Inmate gives birth alone in Tennessee jail cell after seeking medical help