Energy · ArchivePuerto Rico Water Rationing Starts as Utility Official Resigns, and No End to Shutoffs in SightAired August 7, 2026 at 3:21 PM UTCWritten September 7, 2026 at 9:22 PM UTCRead the write-upThis storyTranscript · LOADING0:00Today, rotating water shutoffs begin0:01across Puerto Rico. Hundreds of0:03thousands of people in and around San0:05Juan will now spend two days at a time0:07without running water. And the agency0:09that [music] ordered the shutoffs cannot0:10say when the rationing will end. The0:12shutoffs will rotate through0:13neighborhoods in and around [music] the0:14capital following the driest July San0:17Juan has ever recorded. More than0:18[music] 1/3 of Puerto Rico is now in0:20severe drought or worse. The record dry0:23July pushed months of shortages into an0:25emergency and the political fallout0:26accelerated. [music] The mayor had0:28called the situation a disgrace in June.0:31Then just one day before the shutoffs, a0:32top utility official quit.0:34>> [music]0:34>> Now the shutoffs are underway and0:36officials say they do not know when they0:37will stop. San Juan's mayor publicly0:39criticized the situation as early as0:41June and the utility official's hours0:44before [music] shutoffs underscores the0:46division inside the agency tasked with0:48managing the crisis.0:53>> [music]0:55>> Anna told NBC News the situation is0:58extremely bad. She and other residents1:00are forced to [music] choose between1:01taking a shower and flushing a toilet.1:03For businesses, the cost is1:05quantifiable. One owner reports spending1:07[music] as much as $500 a day just to1:09fill a water tank from private sources.1:11In Loíza, water trucks are refilling1:13[music] home tanks, but the queue often1:15includes elderly residents who cannot1:17carry the heavy [music] containers.1:19In rural San Juan, neighborhood wells1:21have become a last resort. There has1:23been some rain, but not nearly enough to1:25ease the strain.1:26>> [music]1:26>> And the question that hangs over1:27everything remains the simplest one, how1:29long? Officials say they still do not1:31know when the rationing can end.Explore with HeyDexThe shortThe short ↗