In a groundbreaking initiative, Cuba is conducting nationwide water quality tests to identify fecal contamination in households, a first for the country. The Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS7) will include direct water quality assessments in randomly selected homes across Cuba.
The National Office of Statistics and Information (ONEI) announced via Twitter on Tuesday that data collection began in November 2025 and will continue for four months throughout the nation, with progress already reported in provinces such as Ciego de Ávila.
The process involves trained surveyors, referred to as "measurers," who collect two water samples from each household they visit. ONEI explained: "Our team’s trained measurers gather water samples: one from a glass regularly used for drinking by household members and another directly from the drinking water source."
The collected samples are incubated for 24 to 36 hours. The presence of blue or green colonies indicates Escherichia coli (E. coli), a bacterium signaling fecal contamination. "This test will determine if the water is contaminated by E. coli, providing a nationwide perspective on the quality of drinking water in homes," the agency stated.
Supported technically and financially by UNICEF, this project marks the seventh international round of the MICS program and the fifth conducted in Cuba, following previous editions in 2000, 2005, 2010, 2014, and 2019.
Water Crisis Intensifies Amid Testing
This initiative is particularly significant given Cuba's severe water supply crisis. Data from 2025-2026 indicate that only 61.2% of the population has access to water services deemed "safe" by World Health Organization standards, showing a minimal increase of just 1.6% since 2023.
In provinces like Santiago de Cuba, Matanzas, Guantánamo, Holguín, Las Tunas, and Havana, residents face prolonged water outages, network failures, unresolved leaks, and reliance on unsafe sources. In Santiago de Cuba, UNICEF reported 50 inoperative supply systems and residents using contaminated water. In Guantánamo, over 180,000 people are affected by pumping and water quality issues. Many Cubans, driven by desperation, turn to the black market for water delivery, with prices in Las Tunas and Santiago ranging from 7,000 to 15,000 Cuban pesos.
Structural Challenges and the Need for Change
In Matanzas, the situation is equally dire, with all municipalities reporting months-long water system breakdowns. Residents have resorted to digging wells in sidewalks and yards to cope with shortages. In Havana, water issues extend beyond power outages, as recent analyses reveal.
Cuba's water crisis is rooted in structural problems: deteriorating water networks, power outages that halt purification plants, and a lack of supplies, all stemming from decades of neglect and insufficient investment. For the first time, MICS7 will provide a standardized and internationally comparable national diagnosis of the actual quality of water consumed by Cubans at home, beyond mere formal access to the service.
Beyond water tests, MICS7 introduces additional updates compared to previous rounds: modules on mental health and expanded data on violence against women. The survey measures approximately 200 indicators on health, education, water, sanitation, childhood, adolescence, and women. Its results will guide public policies for UNICEF Cuba’s new Country Program for the 2026-2030 period.
Understanding Cuba's Water Quality Testing
What is the purpose of Cuba's nationwide water quality testing?
The purpose is to identify fecal contamination in household water supplies across Cuba for the first time, providing a comprehensive view of the drinking water quality in homes.
How are the water samples tested for contamination?
Trained surveyors collect water samples from households, which are then incubated for 24 to 36 hours. The development of blue or green colonies indicates the presence of E. coli, signaling fecal contamination.
What challenges does Cuba face with its water supply?
Cuba faces structural challenges such as deteriorating water networks, power outages affecting purification plants, and insufficient investment over decades, leading to severe water supply issues.