For the first time, Miguel Díaz-Canel has set a specific deadline to assess the outcomes of the Cuban government's strategy aimed at alleviating Havana's severe water supply crisis: the end of September.
The leader indicated that by the end of this month, initial effects should become evident in two or three of the capital's primary water systems. During October, other sources are expected to be strengthened, with a move towards a more stable solution through renewable energy sources by year's end.
This timeline sets the coming weeks as a crucial test for a strategy announced after months of power outages, leaks, and pump failures, leaving hundreds of thousands of Havana residents with irregular or no water supply for extended periods.
However, despite the timeline and stages being outlined, significant questions remain regarding the available resources, funding, and the real capability to implement the plan.
September's End: The Initial Commitment
During a visit to the South Basin System, Díaz-Canel stated that the government anticipates seeing the first results by late September in "two or three" of Havana's main systems, according to the Presidency's website.
Following the announced schedule, other supply sources should be consolidated in October, with solutions powered by renewable energy expected to begin functioning by late 2026.
The strategy aims to address a key issue exacerbating the crisis: the extreme dependence on water pumping from the deteriorated National Electric System.
Díaz-Canel acknowledged that hydraulic systems require ten to twelve continuous hours of stable electricity to operate correctly, a period that the country currently struggles to guarantee, even with attempts to prioritize energy for these installations.
From Diesel Generators to Solar Energy
The initial measure involves supporting 29 selected supply sources and pumps in Havana with diesel generators.
Authorities have inspected around 70 installations to determine how to maintain pumping during power outages. However, only the energy support for the first 29 has been disclosed so far.
The government has not publicly specified plans for the remaining inspected installations, which will be incorporated later, or under what timeline.
The second phase involves using distributed generation, and the third phase includes installing systems based on renewable sources, such as solar parks and energy storage mechanisms.
The stated goal is to ensure that pumping can continue even when Havana experiences prolonged power outages.
Fuel Concerns with Diesel Generators
While diesel generators might provide an immediate solution to power outages, they shift part of the problem to another scarce resource in Cuba: fuel.
If stations require long continuous hours of energy to stabilize pipelines, pumps, and rebumping systems, the generation equipment will also need to operate for extended periods.
Authorities have not yet disclosed how much fuel these generators will need, how much is specifically allocated for water pumping, or how long this scheme can be sustained.
This uncertainty is particularly significant following months of energy difficulties and fuel limitations affecting both power generation and other essential services.
A Plan Without a Public Budget
The government acknowledges that the strategy will require investments, but has not disclosed the cost.
The Presidency has mentioned pump recovery, leak elimination, pipeline rehabilitation, infrastructure maintenance, automation, distributed generation, renewable sources, and energy storage systems.
However, no figures have been published regarding the necessary budget, the electrical capacity to be installed, the number of solar panels or batteries required, or the specific source of funding.
For the South Basin System, which supplies over 336,000 residents in Plaza de la Revolución, Diez de Octubre, Cerro, Centro Habana, Old Havana, and parts of Boyeros, the government also announced pump recovery, leak elimination, pipeline rehabilitation, and other investments, but again without publicly quantifying the necessary resources.
Lack of Concrete Targets for Water Restoration
The official strategy still lacks public indicators to precisely determine the "impact" promised for late September.
No information has been provided on how many people should have stable service by then, how many hours of supply are intended to be guaranteed, how many stations should be supported, or how much the volume of pumped water should increase.
The absence of these indicators makes it challenging to assess the program's success based solely on the announced dates.
In July, more than half a million Havana residents faced supply difficulties, following 200,000 affected in April and over 376,000 in May.
During these months, reports documented neighborhoods without service for over a week, families forced to purchase water at high prices, distribution via tankers, installation of manual pumps, and numerous public complaints and protests due to the combination of power outages and water shortages.
Government Acknowledges Current Model's Failure
Beyond specific measures, Díaz-Canel's statements include a significant admission about the crisis's depth.
The leader stated that the situation necessitates "reinventing the entire water supply management system" because the instability of the National Electric System makes it impossible to maintain the electricity needed by hydraulic systems for sufficient time.
In practice, the strategy seeks to progressively detach a portion of the pumping infrastructure from complete dependence on the national electrical grid.
It's not just about installing generators. The official program recognizes issues with pumps, leaks, pipelines, maintenance, distribution, and management that will also need to be addressed to stabilize the service.
An Open-Ended Timeline
While establishing late September, October, and year-end as benchmarks, Díaz-Canel also cautioned that the timeline "might shift."
He attributed this uncertainty to U.S. sanctions and the so-called "energy blockade."
This warning introduces a margin for potential delays in a program whose execution will depend on investments, fuel, equipment, and resources that have yet to be publicly detailed.
Thus, late September becomes a particularly critical date to assess whether the diesel generators and initial interventions bring about a noticeable improvement in selected systems or if the program remains hindered by the same shortcomings that have plagued Havana's water crisis for months.
Addressing Havana's Water Crisis: Key Questions
What is the timeline for improving Havana's water supply?
The initial results are expected by late September, with further consolidation in October and a stable solution through renewable energy sources aimed by the year's end.
How does the strategy address the dependence on the National Electric System?
The plan involves using diesel generators, distributed generation, and installing systems based on renewable sources to reduce reliance on the national grid.
What are the challenges related to using diesel generators?
The use of diesel generators presents a challenge due to the need for a consistent fuel supply, which is scarce in Cuba, to maintain prolonged operation during power outages.