Rationing plans imminent because of a prolonged drought

On July 8, 2026, NotiCel reports that a drought period that will last for the next three months is, in the coverage, undeniable, and that it will bring as a consequence the activation of rationing plans, starting with sectors of Río Grande and Canóvanas if reservoir levels keep falling. Carraízo in Trujillo Alto, Toa Vaca in Villalba, and Lake Cidra are under watch. La Plata in Comerío, Río Blanco in Gurabo, Cerrillos in Ponce, and Fajardo in Fajardo are at safety. In overflow, according to the note, are Guineos in Orocovis and Caonillas in Utuado.

Jenniffer González Colón warned that months of scant rain are anticipated and that putting rationing in motion to stretch the life of the reservoirs is latent. The first executives of Juncos, Las Piedras, Loíza, and Canóvanas were among the first to receive notices of scheduled interruptions. Now, NotiCel writes, Río Grande and Canóvanas are days from taking effect. "A prolonged drought in Puerto Rico is in view throughout the summer," the governor held after meeting with a committee of Natural Resources, Housing, Public Housing, Tourism, and AAA. Ernesto Rodríguez, of the National Weather Service, said Puerto Rico is suffering a rainfall deficit, particularly in the east. For the past 14 days, he explained, El Yunque and the municipalities of Río Grande, Luquillo, Fajardo, Ceiba, Naguabo, and Juncos have seen about five inches less than normal; practically the entire eastern part has had a deficit of five to eight inches. The region from Cabo Rojo toward Santa Isabel and Salinas, he added, is suffering extreme drought.

On July 6, NotiCel had already covered the start of the 48-hour rationing at Guzmán Arriba. On July 7, Metro published OE-2026-032. This July 8 note is neither the start nor the order: it is the prolonged-drought frame and the reservoir map. Three dates. On July 9, NotiCel reported that 61.4 percent of Puerto Rico was already suffering some level of drought according to the Monitor. That figure is later. The reader who wants that day's map has the NotiCel URL at the foot.

Source: NotiCel. https://noticel.com/noticias/20260708/inminente-activar-los-planes-de-racionamientos-por-una-sequia-prolongada/