Large-scale breakdown leaves Sancti Spíritus without drinking water

Arip of magnitude in the conductor of the pumping station of the Tuinucú River leftwithout drinking water to more than 138 thousand residents of the municipalitiesHoly Spirit and Cabaiguán, in central Cuba.

Roberto Napoles Arias, director of Aqueduct and Sewerage in the provincial capital, explained that last Tuesday a break was detected in a 900 millimeter diameter pipe, which in turn caused seven other pipes to become uneven, weighing approximately 4.5 tons each.

The manager estimated that the repairs should be completed this Thursday, as long as no other problems arise, according to a report in the official newspaper.Escambray.

The companies Acueducto y Alcantarillado and Cementos Siboney have been in the area since the beginning working to solve the breakdown, where it was also necessary to deploy welders from the logistics company in the sugar sector.

"Once the work is completed, the water pumping can be restored, which has a nominal load of 800 liters per second," explained Nápoles Arias.

"However, due to the magnitude of the impact, it is not possible to determine exactly when pumping should be restarted to the Macaguabo Water Treatment Plant and from there to the cities of Sancti Spíritus and Cabaiguán," he warned.

The priority these days has been to supply drinking water to health facilities, mainly the "Camilo Cienfuegos" Provincial General Hospital, with a demand of a thousand cubic meters per day, of which it is only receiving 400 m³, so they complete the deficit with pipes.

A source assuredCyberCubawhatThe breakage left the patients, companions and workers of that hospital without drinking water service.until 8.00 p.m. from this Wednesday; and, despite the constant trips of the pipes, the cistern remained only 45% full.

“The situation created is very difficult, but we are working tirelessly, full time. The workers will not return to their homes until the work is completed,” said Nápoles Arias.

This news comes at a critical time for the province of Sancti Spíritus, which has been going through an intense period of drought for months.

For this reason,several municipalities lack service and in others they face long dry periods, which are alleviated only with tanker trucks.

The breakdown of equipment,the exits and the lack of investments are also other problems that prevent the population from obtaining supplies of the precious liquid.