CubaHeadlines

Power Outages in Cuba Responsible for 70% of Water Supply Issues, Says State Official

Saturday, July 5, 2025 by Felix Ortiz

Junior González Núñez, the First Vice President of the Superior Organization of Business Management (OSDE) for Water and Sanitation, recently disclosed on official television that the persistent power outages and voltage drops have a "directly proportional" impact on the water service, halting the pumping of water across much of the nation. "Approximately 70% of the service disruptions we're experiencing today are linked to problems with the national electrical service, whether due to generation deficits or specific issues within the service where there are outages, low voltage, and other challenges that the Cuban people are currently facing," he acknowledged.

González further explained that although water is a natural resource, in Cuba, it requires a complex industrial process to meet potability standards, all of which depend on electricity. Most wells are situated far from urban areas, necessitating the water to be pumped up to seven times before reaching homes. However, without power, the entire system grinds to a halt. "Once the electricity service is restored, it takes between six to eight hours for water to reach the cities," he noted, highlighting the fragility of the infrastructure and the hardships endured by the population, particularly in vulnerable neighborhoods where the wait can extend for days.

The Impact of Power Cuts on Water Supply

The ongoing power cuts exacerbate other structural issues worsening the water crisis: prolonged droughts affecting the island, outdated pumping equipment, lack of spare parts, and the technological obsolescence of the national hydraulic network. González detailed that the infrastructure relies on a "costly, complex, and almost entirely comprehensive" technological park, which frequently breaks down. "The country allocates substantial financial resources to replace and ensure that these devices suffer fewer breakdowns," he stated, without providing specific figures or explaining why this long-standing crisis, affecting the population for years, hasn't been resolved.

As a partial measure, the Cuban government has begun installing solar panel-powered pumping systems. According to González, 866 photovoltaic systems have been imported to aid rural areas in ten provinces. Nonetheless, this effort, while positive, remains marginal relative to the scale of the problem and underscores the regime's lack of foresight in diversifying its energy matrix over past decades.

A Thirsty Population, A Delayed Response

About 80% of Cubans rely on the 24 state-owned water and sewage companies. The remaining 20% must fend for themselves with wells or alternative infrastructures, often without sanitary guarantees. In this context, promises of water transfers and modernization seem as distant as the water itself when the power is out.

The interview, rather than providing reassurance, confirmed what millions of Cubans endure daily: the state's inability to ensure basic services. Years of underinvestment, erratic political decisions, and an extreme reliance on a centralized system have left the country at a critical point where even turning on the tap offers no assurances.

While the official reiterated the embargo as a cause for the energy deficit, the fact is that the water and power crisis in Cuba stems from an inefficient, corrupt, and technologically backward state structure that for decades has prioritized propaganda over real solutions.

Meanwhile, millions of Cubans on the island wait, without power, without water, and without answers, hoping for change.

Understanding Cuba's Water and Power Crisis

What percentage of water supply issues in Cuba is linked to power outages?

Approximately 70% of water supply issues in Cuba are attributed to disruptions in the national electrical service.

How does the lack of electricity affect water distribution in Cuba?

Without electricity, the water pumping system halts, delaying water delivery to cities by six to eight hours once power is restored.

What measures has the Cuban government taken to address the water crisis?

The government has begun installing solar-powered pumping systems, importing 866 photovoltaic systems to aid rural areas in ten provinces.

What are the structural issues exacerbating the water crisis in Cuba?

Factors like prolonged droughts, outdated equipment, lack of spare parts, and technological obsolescence of the hydraulic network exacerbate the crisis.

© CubaHeadlines 2025