Authorities warn about "high levels of turbidity" in drinking water in Santiago de Cuba

The Santiago de Cuba Water and Sewage Company has warned that drinking water is arriving at homes with "high levels of turbidity", due to maintenance work being carried out on the valve of a supply line that services 12 circuits.

The news reported by the state company and also shared on social media by journalist Yosmany Mayeta, indicates that due to repairs, it was necessary to empty the tanks of Las Cuabas, which caused sediment buildup in the pipes and resulted in the deterioration of the water quality supplied to more than 50,000 people.

"In the night of yesterday, service commenced with the Central South sector, which due to the aforementioned reasons received water with high levels of turbidity, stated Aguas Santiago, assuring that the quality would improve during this Sunday and Monday."

Authorities have urged the population to discard the received water and indicated that the service time would be extended so that Cubans can fill their containers when it becomes clear again.

The increase in solid elements in the liquid also caused the obstruction in the connections of more than 150 homes. According to the authorities, they were only able to address some of the complaints today and will continue the cleaning of the blocked pipes tomorrow.

The opacity of the water caused great concern among the residents of Santiago, who wondered about the potential health consequences.

In response to ongoing criticism and uncertainty, Orlando Romero, the director of engineering and networks at the Santiago Aqueduct management, dismissed any concerns about chemical or bacteriological contamination in the water.

In statements to the broadcaster Radio Revolución, he specified that after the manipulations on the main valve of the pipeline, it was necessary to "depressurize" the tanks in Las Cuabas. "This led to some blockages in the connections and dirty water due to the increase of solid elements following this work," he clarified.

At the same time, he insisted that the water is not contaminated from a chemical or bacteriological standpoint, but acknowledged that it is not advisable to consume the water if it showed "excessive turbidity" and urged to boil it and treat it with sodium hypochlorite.

The situation worsens the water outlook in Santiago de Cuba, where there are areas facing serious difficulties due to the lack of potable water supply.

Since October, residents of several neighborhoods have not had regular service, which has caused increasing discontent among the population, according to a report by journalist Yosmany Mayeta Labrada on the social network Facebook.

This has forced families to seek alternative sources for their supplies, which has increased the challenges, as the situation affects not only domestic needs but also hygiene and public health in these communities.

Frequently Asked Questions about the Water Crisis in Santiago de Cuba