Esencia proposes private wells, reverse osmosis and seawater desalination

On September 1, 2026, ES Noticia PR reported Roberto Ruiz Vargas telling the Senate that Esencia would obtain water with private wells, a reverse-osmosis plant, reuse and rain capture, without connecting to AAA. They rejected financing Betances expansion; seawater desalination appears as contingency.

The project estimates ~1.5 million gallons per day. Ruiz Vargas cited USGS hydrogeology placing regional aquifer capacity near 10 million gpd and regional flow of 14–20 MGD. Sen. María de Lourdes Santiago questioned reliance on data from the 1990s; Ruiz said experts used federal location, depth and transmissivity information, with a first stage of local tests and a second to configure wells.

Thomas Rivera Schatz warned: if the experts erred or federal estimates prove wrong, “you have a problem.” Ruiz replied they cannot develop without water and must meet law, regulation and approval conditions. USGS/proponent estimate ≠ DNER franchise or proven on-site capacity. Primary: ES Noticia 1 Sep 2026.

Source: ES Noticia PR. https://esnoticiapr.com/esencia-propone-abastecerse-de-pozos-privados-y-osmosis-inversa/