Water for Us

The year had a rocky start for the communities in Puerto Rico, as January brought the first major earthquake felt in nearly 100 years. This 6.1 seismic event, left the whole island without power and many communities without water for a couple of days, and thousands living in formal and informal shelter structures. The epicenter was in Guánica, in the south region of the island, for the first three months they registered hundreds of tremors a day, although the frequency has decreased, they are still feeling the tremors on a daily basis. Access to water has become vital after the earthquakes and it has taken major relevance with our current COVID-19 situation.

 During the first quarter of 2020, we were able to provide a grant to Río Chiquito Aqueduct in Ponce – south region of the island – and provide technical support to these communities: Bayamoncito in Aguas Buenas; Juan Hernández in Adjuntas; Toro Negro in Ciales; Perichi in San German; Gabino in Aguada; Las Corujas in Aguas Buenas; Corcovada in Añasco; Villa de Oro in Caguas; and Villa Vigía in Cidra.

 It has been through these encounters and conversation that we’ve been able to identify some areas of need in the wake of this health crisis, summarized below:

• Many aqueducts rely on a fee for service system, this income allows for repair, infrastructure maintenance and disinfectant supplies to maintain the quality of the water. For many, these fees are not being collected due to physical distancing protocol or because many members of the community are lacking income to pay for their dues.
• Most of these aqueducts are very old structures that need constant maintenance and repair. Due to the commercial lockdown materials and supplies are not readily available.
• Aqueducts need to maintain a water quality standard, this is done through a disinfectant process that needs disinfectant supplies. Aqueducts are lacking the disinfectant supplies to provide access to drinkable water.  

 To topple these factors, there has been an increase in water demand as it is necessary to regularly wash hands, clothes and supplies to avoid spreading of the virus, thus putting more pressure on the already fragile structure.

 We’ve had the support of GlobalGiving, Hispanic Federation, Oxfam and other community foundations, with your collaboration we can continue to do more for these very needed community structures in the island of Puerto Rico.

 Our goal is to empower an association of community aqueducts in the island that can elevate the importance of these structures, strengthen them, and walk with them in the wake of future crises. Our long-term is to be able to strengthen 200 community aqueducts in Puerto Rico.