A young Cuban woman took to TikTok to share her ordeal of living without water for over two weeks, forcing her to buy overpriced water just to meet her basic needs. "I live in Cuba and have been without water for two weeks, yes, my dear, two weeks without water. I have no water to drink, to wash dishes, to clean my house, or even to wash myself, and forgive my language, but that’s the reality," said user @soy_thalyholguin in a video that lasts over a minute.
In her account, she explained how the absence of water service disrupts every aspect of her household routine: "I had to buy a bottle of water from a street vendor, which, by the way, was outrageously expensive because they are taking advantage of those of us without water, selling it at a premium, so I can at least bathe and cook basic meals."
She showed that she only had "a tiny bit" of water left in her refrigerator and confessed feeling overwhelmed: "I’m someone who likes to keep my house very clean and organized, and my place is filthy because I can’t clean. If I use water for cleaning, I can’t do basic things like cooking or washing clothes. I haven’t done laundry in ages, I just don’t know what else to do, I’m extremely stressed."
The video has garnered numerous comments, mostly expressing empathy and concern. "Two weeks, wow, that’s a long time," one user remarked. Others drew parallels to shortages in countries like Mexico: "We get water once a month and have to buy it at exorbitant prices from trucks," noted another commenter.
"That’s really tough," wrote a follower, while another summed it up: "It's not easy what we’re going through."
Widespread Water Crisis in Cuba
The testimony from @soy_thalyholguin is part of a growing number of reports highlighting the severe water crisis plaguing Cuba. In Sancti Spíritus, water arrives at homes "with larvae, worms, and even fish," forcing residents to filter it before using it.
In Santiago de Cuba, some areas have gone over 60 days without piped water service, relying solely on water trucks amid a historic drought and a failing infrastructure.
Other accounts reveal families resorting to extreme measures, like washing clothes in rivers due to the lack of water and electricity, caused by blackouts and failures in the water system.
The National Institute of Water Resources (INRH) itself acknowledged in July that nearly a million Cubans face daily disruptions in water supply due to resource shortages, breakdowns, and the ongoing energy crisis.
Understanding Cuba's Water Crisis
What are the main causes of the water crisis in Cuba?
The water crisis in Cuba is primarily due to a lack of resources, infrastructural breakdowns, and an ongoing energy crisis that affects water distribution systems.
How are Cubans coping with the lack of water?
Cubans are resorting to buying overpriced water, using alternative sources like rivers for washing, and relying on water trucks in areas with no piped water service.