New York City Bar seeks audit and accountability for the water crisis

The New York City Bar Association, through its Task Force on Puerto Rico, this Thursday urged the Puerto Rican and U.S. governments to account for and take action on the water-supply crisis affecting broad sectors of the island. It demanded explanations “for the decisions, omissions and failures that have contributed to the continued deterioration of Puerto Rico’s water system.” It cites the drought since April 2026, worsened by obsolete and poor-condition infrastructure, with recurring cuts and prolonged interruptions. At a time when AAA has reported systematically losing about 60 percent of the water it produces to pipe leaks and overflows, the Association held that the public corporation’s “mismanagement” has aggravated the situation.

It urged Congress — through committees with jurisdiction over Puerto Rico — to convene oversight hearings on the federal role, and Governor Jenniffer González Colón to seek a major-disaster declaration for better assistance to merchants and residents. It asked for a public record detailing agency functions and responsibilities — service reliability, maintenance, capital investment and emergency response — plus an independent evaluation of the system and a U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO)–style audit of federal water funds: amounts allocated, disbursed and spent; projects; status; and reasons for delays, cancellations or unfinished works. Allocated is not disbursed; disbursed is not theft. It also proposes a joint multi-year public plan with measurable parameters for service continuity, leak reduction, infrastructure repair and emergency supply.

Fuente: El Nuevo Día. https://www.elnuevodia.com/corresponsalias/washington-dc/notas/asociacion-de-abogados-de-nueva-york-reclama-accion-al-congreso-y-al-gobierno-de-puerto-rico-por-la-crisis-de-agua/