Puerto Rico to cut water supplies due to prolonged dry weather

Puerto Rico has ordered water rationing measures which can affect thousands of the residents and local businesses in the Caribbean island, forcing them to compromise on their daily showers or car washes.

Puerto Rico’s water and sewer firm executive vice-president Alberto Lazaro was quoted by Associated Press as saying: "This is not the time to be filling up pools, washing cars or using hoses to clean."

The new regulations will be applicable for over 160,000 people living in and near the island’s capital San Juan.

Water access will be provided to the residents on alternative days, according to the rules which could be effective for several months.

The authorities may, however, disconnect service entirely for up 36 hours if water levels at the island’s main reservoirs keep dropping.

Puerto Rico has been hit by a dry spell which had led to this declaration as an emergency redressal initiative. Thermostat recordings have risen up to mid-90s in the island, which is also facing fire breakouts due to the dry conditions in absence of rain.

The announced water rationing measures can be extended to cover another 70,000 people if similar conditions prevail.

Dominican Republic, a neighbour to Puerto Rico, has also been affected by the dry spell. Nearly 800 neighbourhoods in the Caribbean country face water service interruptions at present.

The conditions have resulted in withered crops and forest fires which has consumed around 1,260ha of natural greens.