The state-owned company, Aguas de La Habana, announced a scheduled water outage on Wednesday, October 8, affecting various parts of the capital. This interruption is due to necessary maintenance and repair operations on the pipelines and electrical lines that serve the El Gato water supply source. The outage is slated to occur from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., impacting the districts of La Habana del Este, San Miguel del Padrón, Cotorro, Regla, and Diez de Octubre, according to an official statement released by the company on its Facebook page.
Specific neighborhoods to be affected throughout the day include:
La Habana del Este: Alamar, parts of Camilo Cienfuegos, and the Villa Panamericana.
San Miguel del Padrón: Jacomino, Afán, Luyanó Moderno, Juanelo, California, María Cristina, La Rosalía, Monterrey, Dolores, Rocafort, and Núñez.
Cotorro: Santa María del Rosario and the central area of the municipality.
Regla: Casablanca and partially the lower area.
Diez de Octubre: Lawton.
Aguas de La Habana clarified that this measure is part of a staggered hydraulic rehabilitation program for the Eastern System, following the completion of work on the Cuenca Sur pipeline. The company stated that the efforts aim to "address the repeated disruptions" experienced by these areas.
The company assured residents that service will gradually resume once the work is completed, requesting "understanding and support" from users and apologizing for the inconvenience. The official post has restricted comments, thereby limiting citizens' ability to express their views on the institutional page.
This announcement comes amid a prolonged water supply crisis in Havana, where tens of thousands of households continue to be affected by outages and low pressure. Vice Premier Inés María Chapman acknowledged the severity of the issue, admitting that the lack of coordination between the hydraulic system and the Electrical Union complicates the delivery of water to the population, according to statements made during a working session in the capital.
Meanwhile, the National Institute of Hydraulic Resources (INRH) reported that more than 300 hydraulic projects are underway in Cuba, with an investment of five billion pesos, although specifics were not provided. In their report, authorities acknowledged that over 184,000 Havana residents remain affected by the water shortage and that alleged "illegal acts" against the main pipeline of the El Gato system in Mayabeque have been reported.
Despite official announcements and substantial investments, Havana's residents continue to suffer from the lack of a basic service that should be guaranteed. Promises of rehabilitation and institutional coordination starkly contrast with the daily reality of thousands of families who rely on water trucks, store water in makeshift tanks, and wait, uncertainly, for the return of stable water supply.
Understanding Havana's Water Crisis
What areas in Havana will be affected by the water outage?
The water outage will affect La Habana del Este, San Miguel del Padrón, Cotorro, Regla, and Diez de Octubre. Specific neighborhoods include Alamar, Jacomino, Santa María del Rosario, Casablanca, and Lawton, among others.
Why is there a water outage scheduled in Havana?
The scheduled water outage is due to maintenance and repair work on pipelines and electrical lines connected to the El Gato water supply source, as part of a staggered hydraulic rehabilitation program.
How is the Cuban government addressing the water crisis?
The government has acknowledged the severity of the water crisis and is working on over 300 hydraulic projects with a significant financial investment. However, coordination issues and infrastructure challenges continue to affect water delivery.