“These Issues Are Not New”: While We Celebrate, Some of Us Cry

Puerto Ricans On and Off the Island Still Wait for Answers Amid Crisis

Photography By Keren Carrión

While thousands lined up to celebrate New York's 69th Puerto Rican Day Parade, more than 40,000 residents on the island faced dire water shortages. As the crisis enters its second month, Puerto Ricans on and off the island say the shortages come as no surprise.

On June 12, Puerto Rico Gov. Jenniffer González activated the National Guard following a prolonged depletion of water service on the island due to a 72-inch break in the island’s deteriorating aqueducts. Residents attribute the break to a lack of maintenance by the Puerto Rico Aqueduct and Sewer Authority (PRASA), with reports of intermittent water services dating back to 2025.

Bianca Alba, a resident who has lived on the island for 10 years, explains that while the crisis has brought renewed attention to the problem, for many residents it is simply another chapter in a much longer story of infrastructure challenges that continue to affect daily life.

“Living here, I've witnessed firsthand how disruptions to basic services impact families, businesses, and entire communities,” Alba said. “It creates uncertainty and forces people to constantly adapt, even when they shouldn't have to.”

The National Guard began distributing water throughout the island’s most populous municipalities through four trucks, each holding 2,000 gallons of water. In areas like Guayanbo, mini water tanks are being given out to help mitigate the problem for the most vulnerable. Still, the measures taken by the island’s administration have resulted in Puerto Ricans needing to buy potable water to flush toilets, cook, and shower.

AP Photo Danica Coto

González last acknowledged the island’s weakened infrastructure on May 21 during her annual address, where she promised to alleviate electrical and water outages, asking locals for patience. Nonetheless, many question how much patience they need following a June 1 announcement where the government declared the island “ready for the current hurricane season.”     

Maia Soriano, a Puerto Rico native who left the island in part due to shortages, admits that González’s statements are “hard to believe.”

“Many residents have heard similar promises from different administrations over the years,” Soriano explained. “For a lot of Puerto Ricans, it’s frustrating to hear the island is ready when many communities are still dealing with unreliable access to essential services like electricity and water. To this day, there are still elderly living in ‘el campo’ with no power following Hurricane Maria, but since they don’t live near San Juan, they’re forgotten.”

Soriano recalls going three months without reliable water and electricity following Hurricane Maria, the devastating storm that struck nearly nine years ago. With no real solution and hurricane season officially here, concerns about the government's ability to mend the island's infrastructure and provide residents with basic needs keep growing.

“Preparedness isn't just about having a plan on paper. It's about ensuring people have confidence that essential services will function when they're needed most,” Alba said. “Right now, many residents don't feel that confidence.”

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