US Declares Drought Disaster in Puerto Rico as Water Crisis Deepens

The U.S. government has formally declared a drought disaster for 26 municipalities in Puerto Rico, a move that unlocks emergency loans for farmers and agricultural producers grappling with severe water shortages.

The declaration, announced Wednesday, covers areas including Cabo Rojo, Ponce, Yauco, Aibonito, and Lares. Governor Jenniffer González said she had requested the designation from the U.S. Department of Agriculture more than two weeks prior, emphasizing the urgent needs of the island's agricultural sector.

Agriculture Secretary Irving Rodríguez called the declaration an important step and urged affected producers to document their losses to access the federal assistance.

The disaster status comes as more than 33% of Puerto Rico experiences extreme drought, with another 30% under severe drought conditions. San Juan recorded its driest July in over 120 years, which was also the second hottest on record for the capital.

Farmers have been feeling the impact since May, according to Fello Pérez, a technical assistance provider with the nonprofit RAFI. Vegetable growers, including those using hydroponics, are among the hardest hit. Fruit cultivators report crops like coffee, cacao, plantains, and bananas falling green from trees due to lack of water. Livestock breeders have been unable to feed animals and have tried selling young bulls at reduced prices, but with no buyers amid the ongoing conditions.

The drought has forced some farmers to halt production entirely, with at least one returning to work as a mechanic to make ends meet.

Governor González declared a state of emergency in late July and activated the National Guard to help transport, distribute, and purify water. In early August, water rationing was introduced in San Juan and six other cities, affecting more than 180,000 customers who now receive water only every 48 hours on a rotating basis. Trucks are delivering water to priority sites, including hospitals and senior residences.

Meteorologists attribute the dry spell to El Niño, which has also impacted the U.S. Virgin Islands, where a similar disaster declaration was made earlier this month.

Beyond the weather, Puerto Rico's water woes are compounded by aging infrastructure. Thousands of residents had already faced shortages for up to a year before the drought. San Juan Mayor Miguel Romero filed a lawsuit against the island's Water and Sewer Authority in late May, and the governor has acknowledged the agency's infrastructure has suffered from decades of underinvestment.

Puerto Rico previously implemented water rationing in 2020 and 2015, when hundreds of thousands of customers received water only every third day.