A resident from San Agustín in the Havana neighborhood of La Lisa took to Facebook on Tuesday to highlight an ongoing issue with water leaks that have plagued the streets for over two years. Meanwhile, the community endures long stretches without water in their homes.
Elizabeth González Aznar detailed two significant water waste sites that, despite formal complaints filed two years ago, remain unresolved by any institution.
The first leak is at the junction of 240 and 39 streets, near the San Agustín Lisa Popular Council office, home of the council's president, known as "compañero Chamizo."
"The water spills out like a river on both sides of 240 street, flowing down to 33 and sometimes even further. It mixes with overflowing trash heaps, creating a truly disgusting scene," González Aznar described.
The second leak originates from a building's cistern on avenue 33, between 238 and 234 streets, losing several cubic meters of water each pumping cycle. Building residents blame a broken float or cracked cistern. González Aznar bluntly called it "a real crime."
She recounted reporting this second leak two years ago to the former director of La Lisa's water department, named "Claudia." She was told the issue fell under Housing's responsibility, not the water department's. "And so it remains, with no action from housing, water, or anyone else. Indifference prevails," she lamented.
In addition to these two leaks, González Aznar identified other high-volume leaks in San Agustín, including one on 39 street between 240 and 244, opposite Olof Palme High School, and another at the corner of Ramón López Peña Primary School.
The criticism is aimed squarely at local authorities' inaction. "These streets don't resemble a neighborhood where people live; it looks more like a pigsty," she wrote, questioning why the council president witnesses the leak daily from his office and does nothing.
La Lisa's history of water crises is well-documented. In January 2026, another San Agustín local reported 22 days without water, and in April of that year, a malfunction left families in the Novia del Mediodía Popular Council without water for over 10 days.
In July, La Lisa residents protested outside the municipal PCC office following more than fifty hours without electricity, demanding water, food, and freedom.
This issue extends beyond the neighborhood. According to a recent Infobae report, over 3.1 million people across Cuba face total or partial water outages.
In October 2023, the government acknowledged more than 4,000 leaks nationwide, with over 2,000 in Havana alone, yet the situation remains unimproved.
González Aznar concluded her post with a direct appeal to the country's president: "The leadership of this country needs a complete overhaul; otherwise, the people's problems cannot be solved. Drive through the streets with your windows down, and you'll see it all."
She added: "This community is exhausted, surrounded by worsening issues daily, and these are basic needs we can't live without."
Understanding La Lisa's Water Crisis
What are the main causes of water leaks in La Lisa?
The principal causes include infrastructure neglect, broken floats, cracked cisterns, and lack of timely interventions by responsible authorities.
How has the local government responded to these water issues?
Despite numerous complaints, there has been little to no effective response from the local government, with blame often shifted between departments.
Who is affected by the water crisis in Cuba?
Over 3.1 million people across Cuba are affected by full or partial water outages, impacting daily life significantly.