Cuba's President Acknowledges Critical Water Supply Issues in Havana

Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel has directly addressed the severe water supply crisis plaguing Havana, highlighting the critical impact of persistent power outages on the capital's residents. During a visit to a strategic water source, Díaz-Canel stressed the urgency of resolving the issue, stating it must be done "in the shortest possible time."

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to resolve in the shortest possible time

The president's visit, accompanied by members of the Council of Ministers, focused on reviewing the strategy to improve water distribution, especially under conditions of prolonged blackouts. The report from the Presidency noted that this is "one of the most critical issues" for a city of nearly two million people. The Paso Seco source was prioritized for recovery, maintenance, and resource rescue, with a particular focus on securing engines for water pumping.

These pumping engines are considered a provisional solution until solar panels can power the pumping stations. The existing infrastructure is suffering from breakdowns and frequent power interruptions, which are essential for the operation of pumping equipment. Compounding these issues is the deterioration of the hydraulic infrastructure itself, a result of insufficient investment and maintenance over the years.

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This is one of the most critical issues for a city where almost two million people live.

This situation has been further aggravated by a significant breakdown in the hydraulic infrastructure last week, which forced the emergency shutdown of a main pipeline supplying the Central System. This interruption affected six municipalities, nearly half of Havana. The state company Aguas de La Habana reported the complex failure.

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a complex breakdown in the hydraulic infrastructure

Officials have pointed to external factors, including U.S. sanctions, as significantly impacting the water sector. In May, Antonio Rodríguez, president of the National Institute of Hydraulic Resources, stated that approximately 2.7 million Cubans face aggravated water supply difficulties due to the "energy blockade" and U.S. executive orders. He noted that power deficits increase equipment and pipeline breakages, and the inability to access financing and the withdrawal of suppliers directly affect the hydraulic sector.

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around 2.7 million Cubans have aggravated difficulties with the water supply due to the energy blockade and the latest executive orders issued by the United States government to the island.